Florida Safety Target Jordan Pride Pledges to Texas A&M

Blountstown (Fla.) product Jordan Pride announced his pledge to Texas A&M on Tuesday afternoon, electing to align with the Aggies over Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, Ole Miss and Tennessee.

Following his decommitment from Florida State on April 12, Pride stopped by UF for the team's Orange and Blue Spring Game one day removed from rejoining the open recruiting market.

He spoke glowingly of the Gators program and his relationship with the staff, placing them as a top team in his recruitment alongside Alabama, Tennessee and Texas A&M. Florida was the presumed favorite to win his services at that point.

However, as UF looked to monitor Pride's progress from a knee injury suffered during his high school basketball season this weekend, Jimbo Fisher and Co. made up considerable ground to swoon the former IMG Academy athlete toward A&M.

"I talked to Coach (Austin) Armstrong ... and Billy (Napier)," Pride said after the Gators spring game. "They were glad to have me back here and just told me to make sure I take it slow with my knee, because I'm hurt."

The Aggies ultimately did enough to pluck Pride off the market just two days after he released his top six schools in his newly reshaped recruitment process.

Pride becomes Texas A&M's sixth commit in the 2024 class and first in the secondary.

Meanwhile, the Gators remain firm in their safety class even without Pride's servicing, anchored by Xavier Filsaime and Josiah Davis' pledges to position coach Corey Raymond.

The duo joins Florida's 11th-ranked 2024 class, according to 247Sports, with eight verbal pledges in the mix after adding speed on the perimeter with Carrollwood Day wide receiver Izaiah Williams' commitment on Friday.

Florida looks to continue compiling talented pieces into the summer, with several players at varying positions showcasing vast interest at this stage. Wideout TJ Moore, defensive back Zavier Mincey, tight end Walter Matthews, offensive lineman Jordan Seaton and a plethora of others stand out as top priorities.

They'll be prospects to monitor over the next several weeks.

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