Gators Land in Top 10 for Coveted 2025 In-State Linebacker

Florida's linebacker recruiting exploded during the 2024 cycle as position coach Jay Bateman acquired commitments from three top-100 players in the country, Buchholz High's Myles Graham, Largo (Fla.) High's Adarius Hayes and Our Lady Good Counsel's (Olney, Md.) Aaron Chiles.

As Bateman moves forward into the 2025 cycle, he remains steadfast in his desire to add elite-level talent, with several of the nation's top players at the position expressing interest in UF.

On Thursday, Vero Beach linebacker Tarvos "TJ" Alfrod III re-affirmed his name on that list as he released his top ten schools. Alford included Florida alongside Florida State, Georgia, Louisville, Miami, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, Tennessee and UCF.

God blessed me! Wheres home?🏡 https://t.co/V2slSh7KY1
— Tarvos “Tj” Alford II (@TarvosAlford_II) October 26, 2023

Rated as the nation's No. 12 linebacker and No. 91 overall player in the country per the 247Sports Composite rankings, the Gators have dedicated significant time to recruiting the Port Saint Lucie, Fla., second-level defender.

During his sophomore campaign in 2022, Alford proved to be an uber-effective 'backer at John Carroll Catholic, accounting for 103 tackles, six tackles for a loss and two sacks. The breakout campaign earned him vast recognition from several of college football's top powerhouses.

Florida, however, recognized the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Alford's talents before then, extending him an offer in June 2022, marking just his fourth reported offer. He's visited Gainesville eight times since June 2022 — once before his offer rolled in on his second trek to campus — to position the Gators as the presumed favorite to land his services at this stage.

The timetable for the rest of Alford's recruitment is uncertain at this stage, but his decision to narrow his 25-team offer sheet to ten suggests he is well on his way to pinning down his program of the future.

The Gators will strive to remain a top contender for his services until his decision is made.

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