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Florida Gators 2025 RB Recruiting Board Beginning to Take Shape

The Gators have evidently shifted their focus in the running back market to the 2025 class. Who are four candidates shaping up to hold top spots on Florida's board?

Brandon Carroll

Florida Gators 2025 RB Recruiting Board Beginning to Take Shape
Florida Gators 2025 RB Recruiting Board Beginning to Take Shape /
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Early returns from the Billy Napier regime in Gainesville have been difficult to read, defined by peaks and troughs on the field and in the talent acquisition department. But what hasn't been arduous to identify under the microscope is the offensive philosophy he's instilled into the Gators program since his Dec. 2021 arrival. 

Florida wants to run the football.

The 2022 season brought profitable returns in that area thanks to a stout offensive line and a two-headed monster in the backfield, Montrell Johnson Jr. and Trevor Etienne. UF's rushing offense accounted for 200.2 yards per game, 5.51 yards per carry and a 56.3% split of rushes-to-passes.

The duo will return in 2023, expecting to produce similarly in an otherwise new-look offense. But, there's a desire to sustain Johnson and Etienne's production once they depart from Florida.

UF running backs coach Jabbar Juluke set out to replenish his position room for the future in 2024. The puzzle pieces fell seamlessly into place in the early stages as Chauncey Bowens and Kahnen Daniels joined the commitment class before mid-April.

However, the loss of Bowens to Georgia on June 10 threw a wrench into Florida's plan.

While it wasn't what Juluke envisioned when he entered the recruiting cycle, it doesn't impede the unit in a fashion that warrants panic entering the closing stretch of 2024. There will be no reaching for an underrated prospect to fill the void. 

Florida, seemingly, feels comfortable moving forward sans another running back to complement Daniels in the nation's No. 3 commitment class. He’ll join a room consisting of Etienne and Treyaun Webb in 2024. Their comfort allows Juluke to now shift focus.

Thursday illustrated that reality as the Gators extended offers to three elite-caliber 2025 ball carriers: Jordon Davison, Ousmane Kromah and Alvin Henderson.

The trio makes up three of Florida's top five highest-rated running back offers in the class. Harlem Berry, a Louisiana native with direct ties to the staff who received his offer on June 20, is another in the mix to earn a full-court press recruiting pitch in the crucial period for pursuing ball carrier talent.

As parts of Florida's staff begins to shift focus toward the subsequent recruiting class, All Gators will do the same.

Learn about four potential candidates to fill running back voids in 2025 below. 

Jordon Davison, Mater Dei (Calif.)

No. 1 RB, No. 33 overall (per the 247Sports composite rankings) 

A true all-purpose back.

The Gators have expanded their recruiting territory since Napier arrived, but only for the prospects they deem All-SEC-type players.

As a result, eyebrows are raised when an offer is extended to a prospect hailing from outside the six-hour radius they've largely stuck to.

Davison is the latest example.

At 5-foot-11, 210 pounds, Davison is a prototypical back for the Gators' offense. 

Possessing the mixture of power, burst and ball carrier vision that the new regime has coveted when equipping a member of the running back by committee backfield it yearns for, the California prospect possesses attributes from both Johnson and Etienne, notably displaying a lethal jump cut in the hole and the open field to avoid traffic.

When he does encounter would-be tacklers, his bulky build and stout lower half allow him to run through arm tackles and continue working upfield.

The one-cut-and-go style would help exploit the vertical rushing lanes in Florida's zone-blocking scheme.

Florida's limited west coast recruiting success — and late entry to the recruitment party of Davison as offer No. 50 on Thursday — will make for a difficult road to landing the elite ball carrier's services. Powerhouses like USC, Ohio State, Alabama, Texas and Georgia are involved.

That won't stop Juluke and the staffers with ties to California from striving for it.

Harlem Berry, St. Martin's Episcopal School (La.)

No. 2 RB, No. 39 overall

Family ties to The Swamp.

Juluke's ties in Louisiana have paid dividends for the Gators in their recruitment efforts of The Boot over three recruitment cycles. That won't change in 2025 as his nephew, Harlem Berry, currently sits as one of the top prospects on the program's big board. 

It gives the Gators a vital relationship to capitalize on in the search for an elite ball carrier.

Berry can be just that.

Testing as the fastest athlete at the latest rendition of Under Armour’s Future 50 camp in Bradenton, Fla. — hosting a collection of the nation’s top 2025 prospects, the 5-foot-11, 175-pound RB clocked a 4.27 40-yard dash to put a verified testing number on record to match his sophomore highlights.

The tape is reminiscent of former NFL standout LeSean McCoy.

As a speed back, Berry builds a full head of steam quickly and showcases an impressive change of direction in tight spaces to often evade defenders. He can play through contact, a plus despite his relatively slender frame, but is most valuable when working outside the tackles into space on the boundary.

There, he can use his impressive assortment of jukes and natural agility to find lanes toward the end zone, a place he became privy to as a sophomore as he reached pay dirt 37 times. 

He'd likely step in as a rotational back early in his Florida career while he grew into the frame desired of him at the SEC level. However, his speed and elusiveness in the open field, traits the Gators have looked to instill within the skill positions, would bring a game-changing entity to the backfield.

It's one Florida would look to use early and often on offense and special teams.

While landing Davison is a long shot, the probability of acquiring Berry is much higher, given the two parties' familiarity. He’s the only player listed to have taken a visit to Florida at this stage, while the other three test the waters of their rapport with the staff after receiving an offer just one day ago.

Consequently, Berry is a must-land candidate in 2025.

The biggest obstacle to hurdle is plucking him away from an LSU team with a stronghold on in-state talent, especially those with the quality of Berry.

Ousmane Kromah, Lee County (Ga.)

No. 3 RB, No. 43 overall 

Of the four names listed, Ousmane Kromah is the closest in proximity to Gainesville. 

Florida's aforementioned desire to pursue talent close to home before expanding outward positions Kromah to be a consistent contact for Juluke from now until 2025's signing day — even if he makes a verbal commitment before then.

Ousmane, 5-foot-11, 200 pounds, is another all-purpose back with the muscular build and impressive burst through rushing lanes to present a three-down back at the collegiate level. His stature aligns with the mold of backs Florida has strived for since Juluke took over the position.

In nine games as a sophomore, Kromah accounted for 1,504 yards and 20 touchdowns on 181 attempts with 187 yards and two touchdowns added on 18 receptions, showcasing his worth from a variety of positions, including his regular backfield spot, wildcat quarterback and other spots on occasion.

His build, efficiency and versatility have rightfully caught Florida's eye.

Programs pursuing Kromah include Florida State, Georgia, Alabama and others. As the Gators jump into the mix, fending off some of their biggest foes to potentially acquire the multifaceted back.

Alvin Henderson, Elba (Ala.)

No. 6 RB, No. 75 overall

Similarly to the Gators 2024 running back commit, Kahnen Daniels, Alvin Henderson performs in a gimmick offense at the prep level that aligns them in an untraditional ball-carrying role, usually as a wildcat quarterback.

For some evaluators, the offense will limit their ranking of Henderson. It put a glass ceiling on Daniels' status in 2024, namely due to uncertainty regarding their traits as pure backs despite evidence of their speed, burst, vision, elusiveness and unexpected strength between the tackles even from behind center.

Henderson is the smallest statured back of the quartet of options recently offered by Juluke and Co. However, he possesses similar strengths to Berry as a viable speed-back candidate for the next level.

A breakout sophomore campaign for the 5-foot-10, 180-pound Yellowhammer State product — 2,636 yards, 13.5 yards per carry and 47 touchdowns — led to an influx of offers from power five programs. Forty-two total, to be exact.

The Gators, as a result, will have several programs to combat if Henderson aligns as the target they look to pursue. Based on their recent activity in Alabama over the last few cycles, it's not far-fetched that Henderson could become a priority target over the next several months.

Their arrival at his recruitment party marks the beginning of that potential avenue.

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Brandon Carroll
BRANDON CARROLL

Brandon Carroll is a recent graduate of the University of Florida. He serves as the lead reporter for the Florida Gators FanNation-Sports Illustrated website, covering football, basketball and recruiting. When he isn't hard at work, he enjoys listening to music, playing flag football and basketball, spending time with his friends and family, and watching an array of television shows. Follow him on Twitter @itsbcarroll.

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