RB Jerrick Gibson Places Gators in Top 5

The Gators are in the top five for former Florida running back commitment Jerrick Gibson.

Photo: Jerrick Gibson; Credit: Alex Shepherd 

Gainesville, Fla. native and class of 2024 running back Jerrick Gibson included his hometown Gators among the top five schools remaining in his recruitment on Tuesday evening.

Florida made the list alongside Texas, Tennessee, Georgia and Miami. 

A former UF commitment from July 2021 to Feb. 2022, Gibson reopened his recruitment following former Gators head coach Dan Mullen's Nov. 2021 dismissal and his high school transfer to national powerhouse IMG Academy in the months to follow.

Current Florida head coach Billy Napier and his staff have remained in the mix for Gibson, however, hosting the talented running back on four unofficial visits since arriving in Gainesville.  

Naturally, Gibson was highlighted by All Gators among running back recruits to know in the class of 2024 in March:

A one-time Florida Gator commitment, the industry views Gibson as the nation's best back in the cycle thanks to breakout years at IMG Academy against its national schedule. It has resulted in a true national race for the Gainesville native, with programs holding buzz at different times -- yet Florida remains in the hunt.

Texas holds a lot of the national news relative to the Floridian, a post held at different points by Georgia, Florida and others. Official visits will be the next big step for Gibson this summer, with Alabama and Tennessee joining the in-state options and Texas in the mix for trips and increased consideration. Texas and Texas A&M hosted the rising senior back in January. He has of course visited Florida the most to date, most recently for a game last fall.

Can the UF staff stay in the mix for the former pledge looking throughout SEC country? It would be a relative surprise if the Gator hat wasn't at least on the table, though the buzz has been steadier elsewhere in the New Year.

Since, 247Sports has reported that Gibson will officially visit Georgia, Miami, Alabama, Tennessee and Texas in June. Alabama's lack of inclusion in Gibson's top five begs the question if the trip to Tuscaloosa will go on as planned, whereas, Florida's continual involvement warrants wondering if the Gators will receive an official visit, too. 

Gibson is considered the No. 1 running back and No. 26 overall prospect in the class of 2024, according to the 247Sports composite rankings. He rushed 83 times for 608 yards and eight touchdowns in nine games as a junior, per MaxPreps. 

Florida possesses two running back commitments in the class of 2024 — from North Palm Beach (Fla.) The Benjamin School's Chauncey Bowens and West Point (Miss.) High's Kahnen Daniels. The Gators' coaching staff has pitched the possibility of taking a third running back commitment to numerous prospects in the current cycle. 

Stay tuned to All Gators for continuous coverage of Florida Gators football, basketball and recruiting. Follow along on social media at @AllGatorsOnFN on Twitter and All Gators on FanNation-Sports Illustrated on Facebook.

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