Coach Jon Sumrall is aggressively targeting a Tallahassee standout with daily communication to secure the elite defender and revitalize the Gators’ struggling secondary for the future.
Ever since Jon Sumrall stepped foot in Gainesville, the Florida Gators have been relentless.
The 2028 recruiting trail has been a major priority for the Gators, as they continue to push hard for the nation’s top recruits.
One of those recruits is the one of the nation's top defensive backs, Izayah Vickers out of Tallahassee.
With one of the most inconsistent secondaries in the SEC, the Gators are on the hunt for premium defensive backs in the country in Vickers.
Vickers has gone on record to say how hard Florida has pushed for him.
“Everything with them has been going really good. I probably keep up texting with them almost daily,” Vickers told Gators Online. “They’ve made it a focal point that they want to keep building a relationship with me by texting me daily and calling me every once in a while. It’s been really good… Florida is pushing the hardest.”
As Vickers continues to build a relationship with the Gators, the biggest constant has been Florida defensive backs coach Brandon Harris.
“He’s made it a focal point that he really wants me on the team,” said Vickers. “He keeps up with me daily not about just football but random stuff throughout the day. He also talks about his family and that’s really big to me.”
Vickers has an excellent ability to bridge the gap in zone defenses, but is also an incredibly sticky defender when playing man. Standing at 6-foot, 180 pounds, he has top notch speed and an appetite to tackle.
Florida’s pursuit of high-end defensive backs shouldn’t come as a surprise. The position was a major weakness for the Gators last season, and is expected to be a pain point coming into this season as well.
The two starting cornerbacks this season are projected to be Cormani McClain and Dijon Johnson. McClain, a former five-star recruit, has struggled in his three-year college career, while Johnson is working his way back after two surgeries on his knee.
With Sumrall coming in for his first season at the helm, he understands that this season will be a stepping stone to the future – a future that he hopes Vickers can be a part of.
For now, Florida appears to be making a strong impression on Vickers as he makes it clear which program has been pushing hardest for his commitment.
