Adam Dubbin
May 8, 2024 2:21 pm ET
Billy Napier and his army of staffers continue to grind away on the high school football recruiting trail and their efforts have begun to bear fruit. Still, the Florida Gators continue to sow the fields with seeds of hope for promising prep prospects in the upcoming classes with official visit season just on the horizon.
The Orange and Blue has been handing out scholarship offers the past few months to recruits the brain trust believes will help the program return to glory. Four-star safety Ladarian Clardy out of Pensacola (Florida) Escambia in the 2025 cycle was among the recent recipients, having been offered last week after an in-school visit from defensive backs coach Will Harris.
Clardy talks about Florida's scholarship offer
Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun
Harris sealed the deal, but the foundation with Clardy was set early on with a visit last season before the nascent coach’s arrival.
“I went to one of their camps last year, and I had did good. They were always checking up on me, but we lost contact near the end of the year. Coach Harris came to see me a few days ago, we chopped it up, and then he gave me a call (on Sunday) and offered me.”
Clardy also talks about his relationship with Coach Harris
Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun
“It’s been good,” he said. “He’s been telling me about himself, and telling me about his resume. I feel like he’s got the resources from coaching in the league, and what they have at Florida to develop me. I just need to go over and meet him, keep talking to him, and build that relationship with him,” Clardy added.
“He said everyone has been coming to him asking why they haven’t offered yet out of Florida. He said he’s seen my tape, and he told me I play like I’m in the NFL already. He just watched my tape and loved it.”
Talking about the significance of Florida's offer
Sam Greenwood/Getty Images
“That’s the home state. They kind of threw a curve ball in my recruitment. This one was a game-changer. I’ve been waiting on those guys to offer me for a couple months now,” he said of the Gators.
“It’s really about me going up there and building a relationship with the coaches now. Seeing more about how they coach since it’s been a year since I been up there. I gotta get back up there and ask the players what they think about the coaches.”
Clardy could make a campus visit soon
Syndication: Gainesville Sun
With an offer in hand, Clardy is looking to soak in the campus experience again after a long layoff from his last trip.
“I may get over there on Friday. I gotta talk with my dad about it to see if we can make it. They just offered me today, so I haven’t gotten a chance to talk with my dad about it. It’s not exactly confirmed yet since I haven’t talked to my dad yet, but Coach Harris was saying he wants to get me over there on Friday, so I will check with him to see if we can make that happen.”
A face-to-face with Harris in the coming days would greatly benefit all parties involved.
Clardy's top schools so far
Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Clardy has been eyeing the Mississippi State Bulldogs, Washington Huskies, Vanderbilt Commodores, Georgia Bulldogs and Ole Miss Rebels as the closest so far in his recruitment — but the door is still wide open for suitors to roll out their respective red carpets.
His response to Florida’s offer suggests that the Gators could elbow their way into the upper echelon of his preferred destinations in due time.
Clardy's overall interest in Florida football
Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun
“Florida I am interested in a lot though. I’m trying to go to a school that can develop me on and off the field. Being developed as a player and as a young man. I want to feel wanted, so that is what I am looking for. It’s just me getting there to talk to the coaches, meet the head coach. Stuff like that. So I’m not closing the door on anyone else, and am interested in Florida. Just need to do that first.”
Official visit schedule for Clardy so far
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Clardy has already burned one official visit with Washington this past weekend. He also has OVs set with the UCF Knights, Vanderbilt and Ole Miss as well. However, there is still room for at least one more.
“I don’t have any visit set up for that weekend of June 14, and I don’t have any other trips set this month till the very end of May. I know I am going to try and set up visits to Georgia and Florida. Those are two places I plan on taking official visits to for sure. Coach Harris said he’s going to keep talking to me, and we are going to get something figured out to visit. We should do it for June when I get the dates figured out.”
Clardy added that his goal is to complete his full slate of official visits this summer and have his verbal commitment submitted by the opening of the fall football season.
Recruiting Summary
Syndication: El Paso Times
Clardy is ranked No.222 overall and No.21 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos.202 and 18, respectively.
Ole Miss holds a 247Sports crystal ball prediction for the talented safety as well as a lead in On3’s recruiting prediction machine with a solid 36.2% chance of signing him; UCF (24.0%), Washington (20.5%) and the Mississippi State Bulldogs (6.1%) trail behind.
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