Gators Are "Neck and Neck" with Aggies for TAMU DL Commit Dealyn Evans

The Gators have seen a promising uptick in the recruiting department during the 2024 cycle.

Reeling in three commitments this spring and seven total, Florida ranks tenth in team rankings and holds the highest average player rating of any squad in the nation, according to 247Sports' Composite.

With the foundation firmly established and more names trending toward the orange and blue, the trenches remain a point of emphasis on both sides of the ball. Defensive line coach Sean Spencer has set his sights on an SEC pledge to fill a glaring void in his position group.

Since extending an offer to Texas A&M defensive line commit Dealyn Evans on March 22, the Gators have applied a full-court press to earn his talents and they have made up ground quickly. As a result, Florida now sits "neck and neck" with the team he pledged to in July 2022 to earn his services at the next level.

"They're the closest team by far, like it's not even close," he told All Gators on Wednesday. "I just like Florida overall. That was my dream school growing up, so it just feels good."

Despite growing up in Texas, the Pine Tree (Longview) High standout isn't reserved to remaining in his home state for his collegiate career. Instead, he expressed interest in heading east to attend Florida if he deems it the best spot for him.

"I would kind of like to try something new," he pondered when asked about the possibility of leaving The Lone Star State. "Just different environment, different places, different people and, you know, football."

Off-field assistant Joe Hamilton, the primary Texas-area recruiter who's been busy this cycle as the Gators dip into the talent-rich region, is looking to ensure that move is made.

Recently visiting UF for the first time, Evans got a taste of what that life outside of Texas would be like. He said he better understood what the program could offer as he met face-to-face with the coaches and toured the campus.

Ultimately, he left impressed by the Gators.

"I'll say it's different, a lot different from Texas," Evans said. "You know, I like the facilities. I like the staff. I like the environment. It's like an environment where I can strictly focus on football."

A major point of on-field intrigue in Florida's favor rests in their projected alignment of the versatile defensive lineman. While most programs have pursued him to fill a spot on the interior at three-technique, the Gators have presented him an opportunity to occupy a defensive end spot in the three-man front they operate out of.

"They want me to play an end role, which is pretty different from everybody else," he said. "They think that my flexibility and my versatility, they like me more on the five-tech pass rush type stuff.

"It intrigues me a lot. I kind of wanted to play end in the first place, but then I kind of just stuck with, 'Hey, I'm going be big. Inside it is.' But, that pretty much caught my eye because I always wanted to play end in college."

Evans will focus on deciphering the pros and cons between the two programs remaining in contention — at least at this stage — throughout his recruitment process before deciding on Signing Day.

Residing just over three hours away from A&M, Evans has made the commute numerous times, understanding what the program, coaches and campus offer. He recently got a taste of Florida but still has much to learn compared to the school he's currently pledged to.

That will be his main focus over the next several months.

"Pretty much just trying to get a better feel because I've been to A&M a lot of times," Evans noted. "I pretty much know how it goes down, how it works, this and that. So I'm just pretty much trying to get a feel [for Florida]."

As a result, the Gators are expected to get an official visit in the summer and an in-season unofficial from Evans. The dates aren't set in stone, but he has an idea of when each will happen.

"Like 85%," he said when asked if the OV was scheduled. "I'll tell you this; it's going to be the first weekend of June."

The in-season visit will come toward the close of the Gators 2023 campaign, just before he officially shuts down his recruitment.

Continuing to win him over on those two treks to campus will be paramount for the Gators to seal the deal on flipping the talented defensive lineman.

"I honestly don't know if it's like a specific thing," Evans said when asked what Florida — or any team — has to do to steal him away from the Aggies, "but when I know it, I'll know it."

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