Florida football recruiting: Five-star EDGE Jamonta Waller commits to Gators in blockbuster

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A successful recruiting weekend for the Florida Gators hit a level not even head coach Billy Napier could have anticipated as the program followed a fireworks-filled Saturday with a trio of commitments Monday — none bigger than the third of that group. Despite planning to announce a commitment in late August, five-star EDGE Jamonta Waller (Picayune, MS) instead decided to make his pledge to the Gators following an official visit.

“FAMILY – means having someone to love you unconditionally in spite of your shortcomings. It also means investing in relationships and practicing trust. So I’m trusting my new Family @GatorsFB 1000% COMMITTED,” Waller wrote on Twitter.

Waller (6-foot-2, 225 pounds) committed to Florida over Auburn and Penn State, though Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas A&M were top contenders for his services, and it’s believed he canceled a planned official visit to Georgia as well.

The fifth blue-chip prospect and third ranked among the top 108 players in the 247Sports Composite to commit over the last three days, Waller checks in as a four-star prospect at No. 71 on that list. 247Sports’ internal rankings are even more bullish ranking him at No. 28 overall as the top player in Mississippi.

Waller’s friendship with four-star running back commit Kahnen Daniels (West Point, MS) undoubtedly helped bring him into the fold. Daniels committed to UF over Mississippi State back on April 10.

The commitment of Waller pushes Florida up two more spots to No. 3 in the 247Sports Composite team rankings. The Gators entered the weekend ranked No. 22, moving up 14 spots to No. 8 on Saturday before jumping to No. 5 earlier Monday.

Waller is the third five-star prospect committed to Florida, joining quarterback DJ Lagway (Willis, TX), No. 22 overall, and safety Xavier Filsaime (McKinney, TX), No. 32 overall. It is the first time since 2012 that Florida has three such players committed in the same class. Waller is also the fifth defender pledge ranked among the nation’s top 80 overall prospects, four of which are linebackers or pass rushers.

On Saturday, the Gators saw a foursome of four-star prospects commit to the program, including linebacker Aaron Chiles (Olney, MD), tight end Amir Jackson (Portal, GA) and defensive linemen Amaris Williams (Clinton, NC) and Nasir Johnson (Dublin, GA). Earlier Monday, three-stars offensive lineman Marcus Mascoll (Snellville, GA) and defensive lineman Michai Boireau (Hampton, GA) pledged. Plus, three-star OL Mike Williams (Upper Marlboro, MD) and OL Noel Portnjagin of Germany, a top international prospect, committed earlier last week.

In total, Florida has hauled in seven commitments over the last three days and nine over the last eight.