The Florida Gators have secured a commitment from Joseph Mbatchou, a defensive lineman from Loganville (GA) Grayson, who has emerged as a sleeper prospect in the 2025 class. Mbatchou, who stands at 6-foot-6 and weighs 285 pounds, is in his first year of playing football, with only a spring season under his belt. Despite his limited experience, the Gators were impressed by his potential and extended an offer to him last weekend. Just a few days later, Mbatchou returned to Gainesville and informed the staff of his decision to commit during his visit on Tuesday.
“During the visit, I committed,” Mbatchou said. “They provided me with information that I couldn’t get clear answers to from other schools. Everything was laid out clearly, so I didn’t have many questions because of how well they presented everything. The people I met there changed my perspective on some things, and I got a genuine feeling from them. We were all on the same page, and that’s how I feel about the people at Florida.”
Mbatchou felt confident that Florida was the best fit for him, and when he shared his commitment with the coaching staff, there was excitement all around.
“I was with Coach [Gerald] Chatman and Coach [Mike] Peterson when I first told them. They were ecstatic. They were happy, I was happy, my family was happy. We then told Coach [Billy] Napier, and he was happy too. He reassured me that they are fully committed to me. They believe in me and are happy for me. They also mentioned that other big schools might try to recruit me, but I told them the door is closed, and I’m all in on Florida.”
Though Mbatchou is still developing, the Gators see great potential in him and believe they can help him reach new heights.
“They say I’m already using my size effectively. You can’t teach size and aggression, and I play aggressively on the field. They pointed out small things I can improve on now, and they can help me fix those and become a better player.”
Mbatchou plans to attend Florida’s game against Miami on August 31 for an unofficial visit and has scheduled his official visit for the LSU game during the weekend of November 15-17.
With Mbatchou’s commitment, Florida now has 12 verbal commitments in their 2025 class, which includes a mix of highly rated prospects and solid three-star recruits. Notable commitments include four-star wide receiver Vernell Brown III, four-star edge rusher Jalen Wiggins, and four-star running back Waltez Clark, among others. The Gators have also added safety Demetres Samuel Jr., who will reclassify to the 2025 class.
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