The Gators' football team’s future got a little bit brighter this past week following the additions of several talented prospects to its 2018 and 2019 recruiting classes.
Five-star quarterback Matt Corral committed to UF on Saturday after attending its annual recruiting showcase, Friday Night Lights. The 2018 prospect from Long Beach, California, had previously announced his intent to attend USC in February 2016 but decommitted from the Trojans last month.
Corral completed 64.3 percent of his passes with 22 touchdowns and three interceptions during his junior year at Long Beach Poly High School. He also ran for 346 yards and recorded seven rushing touchdowns on 61 carries. He is the No. 7-overall rated prospect in the 2018 recruiting class, according to Rivals.
Coach Jim McElwain then landed four-star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase on Sunday. Chase, a native of Metairie, Louisiana, chose the Gators over LSU and TCU. He is the No. 149-overall rated prospect in the 2018 recruiting class.
Other 2018 prospects who announced their intent to attend Florida this past week were four-star offensive lineman Curtis Dunlap Jr. from Bradenton, Florida; four-star tight end Kyle Pitts from Warminster, Pennsylvania; three-star defensive lineman Dante Lang from Boca Raton, Florida; three-star defensive back Randy Russell from Miami; and three-star wide receiver Tyquan Thornton from Miami.
The Gators have 14 total commits for 2018, a class that is ranked ninth overall by Rivals.
Other top players set to join UF one year from now are four-star athlete Amari Burney from Clearwater, Florida; four-star running back Iverson Clement from Mount Holly, New Jersey; and four-star defensive back Divaad Wilson from Miami.
McElwain also received two commitments for its 2019 recruiting class this past weekend: three-star offensive lineman Wardrick Wilson and three-star defensive lineman Cameron Williams.
Wilson enters his junior year at Norland High School in Miami standing at 6-foot-5, 295 pounds, while Williams enters his junior year at Chaminade-Madonna Prep in Hollywood, Florida, standing at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds.
Wilson and Williams bring UF’s 2019 recruiting class up to 11 members, a group that also features four-star wide receiver Maurice Goolsby from Dunnellon, Florida; four-star defensive back Jaleel McRae from New Smyrna Beach, Florida; four-star wide receiver John Dunmore from Delray Beach, Florida; and four-star athlete Tyrique Stevenson from Homestead, Florida.
Contact Dylan Dixon at ddixon@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @dylanrdixon.
Jim McElwain leaves the field after UF's 32-0 win over North Texas on Sept. 17 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
