Florida football recruiting: Four-star LB Shemar James rejoins Gators on National Signing Day

Football

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Image Credit: Alex de la Osa / UAA

Apparently, you can go home again. For the second time in seven months, four-star linebacker Shemar James (Mobile, AL) committed to the Florida Gators on Wednesday, allowing the program to add a big piece to its Class of 2022 during the early National Singing Day.

James (6-foot-2, 212 pounds), who originally pledged to Florida over Alabama back in June, decommitted just four months later in October. At the time of him leaving the program, he was the top-ranked recruit in the class.

However, with new head coach Billy Napier in pursuit soon after he took the reins of the program, James gave the Gators a second look. The coaching staff has been on top of him since, and the result is Florida snagging the No. 64 overall recruit in the 247Sports Composite over not only Bama but Georgia as well.

James’ commitment serves as another statement from Napier, who is quickly delivering on his promise to bring a dedicated, aggressive recruiting effort back to the program. The fact that his staff — defensive coordinator Patrick Toney in particular — was able to reel James back into the program after he appeared to put UF completely on the back burner should provide significant optimism of what will be possible not only in 2023 but perhaps as soon as February’s traditional National Signing Day.

Florida’s class was elevated from No. 79, where it started the day, to No. 50 in the 247Sports Composite team rankings. The Gators now have 11 commitments for the Class of 2022 with 10 of them having already sent National Letters of Intent into the program.