Florida football recruiting: WR Caleb Douglas commits to Gators on National Signing Day

Football

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Head coach Billy Napier aimed to haul in talented prospects for the Florida Gators on 2022 National Signing Day and landed an important one as a key offensive playmaker linked up with the program. Three-star Caleb Douglas (Missouri City, TX) made his commitment official Wednesday afternoon, joining the Gators as the only wide receiver in the recruiting class.

Douglas (6-foot-3, 185 pounds) is a speedy playmaker who was a key target for position coach Keary Colbert and one-time commit under Colbert at USC. He pledged to Florida over LSU but also had overtures from Baylor and other programs.

The Gators are lacking massively at wideout with just eight scholarship players returning on the roster entering the 2022 season and no current incoming transfers at the position. As such, it’s expected that Florida will focus on the running game next season with an emphasis on recruiting top-tier receivers in the 2023 cycle.

Douglas, despite being ranked the No. 474 overall prospect in the class, is an important signee who will have an opportunity to make an immediate impact if he can show out during the offseason. He’s believed to be far more talented than his rating given his quickness and long-term upside.

The addition of Douglas keeps the Gators at No. 19 in the 247Sports Composite team rankings, one spot ahead of rival Florida State. Florida has rebounded well from a low ranking of 79th in the nation last December after Napier took over, and it still has space to potentially climb before National Signing Day concludes.

All rankings via 247Sports Composite