1st and Goal: The latest Florida Gators recruiting intel

all right what's going on everybody Keith neber with gators online joined by Corey Bender he's got his Detroit Lions gear on which means he means business this is first and goal we're gonna try to do this as much as we can where one of us goes out to a game gives you a Friday Night Live report from that game and then we'll try when we can to do a show afterwards Cory's looking around like Security's coming to get him here all right Cory you watched will Griffin play tonight Florida's fourstar 2026 quarterback and I'll let you know if the sound is good so far it's good uh 2026 quarterback will Griffin of Tampa Jesuit his team just lost to a very good Valdosta Georgia team 35 to 28 just some quick impressions of will Griffin and then we'll get to some other stuff Corey yeah no I think overall when you kind of see his body of work you can see why Florida fans like him so much and Florida coaches alike um a big kid about 63 230 pounds more athletic than I think he gets crit I mean he should get more credit for his open field ability he's a guy not compar him to Tim T but I want people to get confus that but he's a guy has that same type of frame that same type of running style um so that's one of those guys where you see him in open field he's a gamer um as far as his velocity man he can kind of make all the throws I know people might look at a stat line tonight and they might say hey it could have been a better completion percentage but there's a lot of there's a few drops in this game um a lot of pressure you know on him in the back field there's many of his completions he was on the run and actually had to kind of evade the Defenders to complete those passes so I think overall when you kind of look at that also too there's about three to four pass interference penalties on Vasa so I think when you put that whole body of work um I think it was a decent game from him he he was a good he managed the game very well I think that's the best way to put it um he's a guy you can tell he's a face of that team he's the punter as well he's the guy that's always out there cheering his teammates on and I just think overall when you look him as a quarterback his velocity he can make all the throws there's one play in the fourth quarter where it was actually a comeback route on the sideline it was a big third down and you know went right through his receiver's hands but it was tight coverage but it was a difficult throw and he it was right there on the money that was actually it wasn't complete but it was probably one of his better passes of the night but also when he did score in the first quarter he threw a corner route in the back left of the end zone and man it was put in a perfect spot just for his receiver and he kind just got you know both of his feet and you know to record that touchdown so I think overall I was definitely impressed seeing him for the first time live in a game environment I guess if there's I don't want to say criticism but I you know if there's something that people were like okay tell me about this guy they want to know what kind of arm strength he has is it up there with grubs Noah grubs who's a four star in the same class from Orlando is it up there with Brady Hart the four star from Coco is it up there with diaab bell who potentially could be a five star from South Florida who's committed to Texas in the same class you're telling me that arm strength was was pretty solid was it better than you thought it would be yeah I want to say better than I thought it was going to be just because the kid has huge hands he's just a big kid in general when you see him it's just shocking that he's only a junior in high school but no I thought if there was any room of improvement that I kind of saw that he needs to work out is probably just the accuracy and but a lot of it at the same time man I mean this is a very talented theas team um obviously Todd Robinson the Georgia commit he obviously orchestrates the the offense at quarterback but on defense man they have some big guys they're always in the back field and with Griffin yeah I I think overall the velocity was there there like I said there were some passes he fit in the tight window was a few passes he actually might have thrown too hard and went through the running backs again but overall I thought it was a good solid performance considering the competition he was playing against and like I said man once these highlights come out I think people will see that man it was a tough team and he was on the Run quite a bit tonight yeah Shelton Felton's the head coach up at Valdosta Cory you and I know of him uh he had been the coach I think at I want to say Crisp County Georgia back when Big Cat Bryant played there he also one time coached I want to say um actually I don't know if he was H he also was at another schol might have been at jie County too he's been all over that Middle Georgia and now is down south Georgia and I should also point out at one time he was an onfield coach I believe for Jeremy puits Tennessee volunteer step doing a good job of out tough competition I guess that's what I was getting at tough competition for Will Greer all right next on the list Cory tomorrow Florida plays host of Samford at at the swamp you know it's a a football championship subdivision team fla just hosted Miami which had a really strong visitors list not going to be as strong this week as expected with Texas A&M uh coming to town next weekend but it's a good week for Florida to lay the groundwork with some of the younger kids the Juniors which are in the 2026 class Corey a couple guys I wanted to mention and we're just gonna go from topic to topic really quick Janar I can never pronounce his name Janar Carr of braon IMG Academy is an offensive lineman fourstar kid but he's actually from Okala was I believe at Trinity was he at Trinity C before yeah he was a so he's an aala guy but he's now down at braon IMG he'll be there and then three star safety Devin Jackson the Florida commit from Orlando First Academy who is having a big season already he's already 20 plus tackles um I just saw his stats this morning uh but again not a huge huge visitors list I just wanted to get out there more closely what we're following Corey is some of the Florida commits visiting other schools I'll give you three of them I'm going to talk about two and then you could talk about one we'll start with yours first actually running back commit Chad Gasper of ktie Jordan High School in full Shear Texas committed to Florida earlier this year he's gonna be at the Texas A&M game this weekend Cory what can you tell us about that yeah I think with Chad Gasper I know obviously it's not ideal when you have any your commits visit elsewhere but I think with Gasper at least as it right now it's nothing too much I'm worried about he doesn't have an offer from A&M but obviously some interest had to be there for him to get invited and you know with him you know he didn't play last week but I know from what I heard in the offseason and just the early Returns on him after you know being injured a little bit last year that he's looked pretty solid so I A&M's class um I have to kind of kind of glance at to see who's in their class at running back but there isn't too much butd I I I too much Buzz I talked to someone close to him who kind of said that hey it's just a visit it's not too far from home um he's still all in with the Gators I think if you're a Florida fan especially after the Lost of Miami any positive news right now is obviously good so right now I'm not too worried about it I think someone offers on the table then you have to worry all right two defensive linemen Florida only has two defensive line commits well technically to one other uh Jaylen Wiggins is a defensive end Edge he says Florida's recruiting at Edge so I list him at Edge but they've got two true defensive lineman committed one of them is uh Jeremiah McLoud from leeburg Lee County Georgia the school that produced The Great baseball player Buster posie uh and then Joseph imbach you who plays at the great program Grayson up in uh North Georgia Northeast of Atlanta in Gwynette County now uh Jeremiah McLoud committed to Florida earlier this year he is going to visit Georgia this weekend he does have a an offer from Georgia it's a written offer it came just uh in last month how hard is Georgia recruiting him that's really what we don't know look if they put the foot on the gas that's absolutely gonna be something to watch because his program has sent people to Georgia before but again we don't know where he on the board we know George is recruit some other defensive line to something we're tracking Joseph andachi the defensive line commit from Grayson this one we're really tracking he is visiting Auburn this weekend he's also going to visit Texas Southern Cal uh Georgia Alabama he's gonna visit a lot of schools but he does have he might be the busiest guy in the Southeast yeah I mean this the guy Florida offered him on July 27th it was his first Power four offer he committed to Florida the next week South Carolina offered that day Auburn since offered tennessy LSU southerncal Alabama Auburn and Georgia but Auburn one of their recruiting heads you to have a strong connection or or he still does two Grace and I so that's one we're we're watching a little bit there Cory let's go back to last week I know you're getting a you got a lot going funny because the light was in the background I think now it's a little bit better well unfortunately unfortunately we have a clear view of you that's the bad news but that's the bad news for everyone watching us I'd rather put the camera on you than me this isn't exactly uhh Brad Pit and Denzel Washington here okay all right so let's go back let's wrap it up by talking about Five Guys that visited last weekend I'm just going to name a guy and we'll each give our thoughts on where things are there was only one five star at the game the other one bailed that's another story for another day DJ picket the fivar LSU cornerback from zepher hills you know him well you know his dad well he said fora needed to show him something this season and Miami's also in the picture trying that was not ideal to me that doesn't look good quick thoughts for yeah no yeah he's visiting Miami this week weekend and like he said he he was they Florida wanted him to OV this weekend but that was very unlikely and then he said that Miami in Miami Al the only schools he's probably gonna visit Never Say Never but yeah that that I think to me it would have to be a miracle if he land at Florida why is there always one ridiculous high school kid screaming for no apparent reason in the background yeah I don't know if it's like a reunion it looks like a girl just saw her boyfriend or something I don't know what's going on over here but godess the Cory Bender fan club at Tampa Jesuit all right uh next two guys javar dice offensive line commits Auburn Malik autrey defensive line commits Auburn they were both at the swamp last weekend I'm not hearing great things about dice I'm hearing Auburn is really back in the driver's seat again autrey who knows he's been to Florida eight nine times he keeps visiting he'll probably be back again uh but you know again those are guys that Florida needed to sort of impress now nil's a factor too there's other variables believe of course if you don't impress then your nil donations aren't exactly where they need to be either so it it impacts you one way or the other whether they didn't like the product or the products not good and donors may be hesitant to chip in but anyway I'm not feeling too optimistic about those two guys right now maybe a little bit better with autrey I I don't know 20% for him yeah you know 18% for the other what do you think about tavar dice Malik Audrey yeah I think with tarus dice I just think with him you know flor's always been Auburn's main competition but I think right now now obviously there's a big gap between those two schools um and even on top of that I just think he hasn't ruled out another visit to Florida but you have to kind of go off with Florida what's up will how you doing hey Keith you had me y you're back you're back no will came out to me will said came out to me and said hi and thanks for coming great will Griffin will Griffin okay you can we get him on there yeah he was funny after a loss yeah I didn't want I wasn't going to try and stretch it um no with AAR dice so I I think maybe he comes back for another game but okay about Florida would have to win a good amount of games and I hate to even say this but see if there's a coaching change maybe someone came in later in the year maybe that's something that kind of gets his interest but same thing with you Keith I think a is probably a little bit more likely and Ohio Florida was kind of neck and neck with auburn for like a year and a half but Ohio State's kind of in the picture too he said that loss didn't really affect him too much it's just one game but I still think Auburn has so much momentum on the field in off it's going to be difficult yeah I think both those guys may be at Auburn on Saturday I don't we'll see I mean look it's one game it's a long season but right now I'm not loving Florida with DJ picket tavar St or Malik AR now Joshua Moore Florida's fourar receiver God the guy's playing like a festar Joshua Moore out of West Broward came up to you after the game said hey man I'm solid I'm locked in but then he went to Miami on Monday now his dad subsequently gave an interview to on three Steve Wong and said the kids all Florida right now what's Your Gut say I mean he has said he has said Florida cannot struggle this season but but he he's all in right now and I think that's a good that's good news I appreciate his honesty too I mean like you say you don't see many kids are upfront saying hey Florida has to do this or this is my situation and same type of thing when he came out of the facility after that game last week his dad came right up to him and said hey before you talk to him he's 100% committed Joshua said the same thing but Joshua did say hey but I'm still going to take my visits you know 100% committed I'm monitoring the season closely but I'm going to take my visits that I think that game is probably going to make a good impact on him especially if Miami continues to win yeah close to home it it's just a tough situation like you said not only did he visit another school it was two days later to the school that Florida lost to that's kind ideal you know yeah all right last one I mean I still feel like Florida if look this the cab out here is if Florida gets it together and wins some games I think they'll they'll keep they have a strong well we'll say a better than average chance of keeping Josh Moore but if if Florida loses to A&M and the wheels come off you know obviously all bets are off I think everybody knows that I think the coaching staff knows that to last guy big time Gator Legacy Big Time recruit top 40 National recruit wide receiver Vernell Brown you spoke to him after the game I think this guy's gonna end up Florida no matter what I mean Florida's really gonna have to screw this thing up big time uh to lose Vernell Brown when he committed he basically admitted this is where I've always wanted to go so I think he's discouraged by the loss but discouraged because he bleeds orange and blue I think he's all in on Florida Cory thoughts here yeah I do too and like even talking him kind of off the Record too just hanging out with all the media after the game you could tell that yeah that's where his heart is disappointed but also optimistic just knowing hey it's just one game and just the way the kid carries himself he's never too high never too low um and he was just discussing hey you know I was working on recruits I still feel good about Florida he's still you know even last week he was sing with DJ picket um at The Game and his father so he was recruiting last week obviously you want to put on a good performance with him dance but same thing I I I think it would have to take so I don't like I said I don't know what it would have to take for him to go elsewhere I just don't see it right now I think just overall like when you it's not only a legacy you just go and check those family connections I mean Keith you would know more than me how many Ian it's like three or four family members it's a bunch of them yeah I mean he just likes Florida and also he likes the idea of making Florida an elite program again so if mcra was last cycle same thing want to be part of a rebuild yeah yeah you know um we'll see how that works out all right Cory Bender live from Tampa Jesuit where Jesuit and quarterback will Griffin have just Fallen to V AA High 35 to 28 sounds like it was an entertaining game we will be back again next week for a couple of shows take care Corey yeah thanks Keith