Florida football recruiting: Four-star DL Will Norman commits as Gators move towards top-10 class

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Image Credit: Twitter / GatorsFB

The Florida Gators’ recruiting surge continued Saturday evening with the program bringing in a second big-name prospect at a key position of need inside of a five-hour span. Four-star defensive lineman Will Norman (Bradenton, FL) of IMG Academy committed to Florida, choosing to make a verbal pledge despite originally having plans to take multiple official visits.

“My Home Away From Home… 1000% COMMITTED!” he tweeted.

Ranked 143rd in the 247Sports Composite, Norman (6-foot-5, 290 pounds) is widely considered one of the best defensive front players in the nation, a prospect who many believe has a massive upside at the next level despite only starting to play football in 2020. His pledge comes the same day fellow four-star DL Kelby Collins (Gardendale, AL), the 70th-ranked player in the nation, committed to Florida primarily over Alabama.

Norman took his first and only official visit thus far to UF back on June 10. He had mentioned Texas, Tennessee and Jacksonville State as other programs he planned to drop by before making a commitment but changed course and grabbed a spot in the Gators’ recruiting class Saturday night. Co-defensive coordinator Sean Spencer was the primary contact in this recruitment; Spencer has been on an absolute heater that could continue before the weekend concludes.

Norman and Collins link up with four-stars T.J. Searcy (Thomaston, GA) and Gavin Hill (Gainesville, FL) to create a one of the best defensive line classes in the nation. Norman is the 14th blue-chip prospect head coach Billy Napier has acquired in the last 53 days with all 14 being the highest-ranked players in Florida’s Class of 2023.

Norman boosts the Gators over the Volunteers with a one-spot rise to 11th in the 247Sports Composite team rankings, and he is notably the 16th of 19 commitments from the Sunshine State. He is also Florida’s second pledge from IMG Academy alongside four-star offensive lineman Knijeah Harris (Bradenton, FL). The Gators have never signed two prospects in one class from the nation’s premiere prep school.

Florida now sets its sights on a decision from four-star DL Kamran James (Orlando, FL), who is set to announce his commitment Sunday in a battle between UF and Georgia.