Blue-Chip OT Fletcher Westphal Signs With Florida

Florida's marquee offensive line commitment in the class of 2024, tackle Fletcher Westphal, has signed his National Letter of Intent with the Gators.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Much-needed blue-chip offensive tackle help is on its way to The Swamp in the form of Fletcher Westphal. The class of 2024 product of Leesburg (Va.) Tuscarora officially signed with the Gators during the Early Signing Period on Wednesday. 

“Can look forward to me being accountable, hard working, and dedicated to being a leader for this team.”

Welcome to The Swamp, @FletcherWestph1!
#2THESW4MP pic.twitter.com/cKyokeOmjS

— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) December 20, 2023

Westphal, the nation's No. 18 offensive tackle by the 247Sports composite rankings, is the highest-ranked prospect at his position to align with the Gators out of high school since Issiah Walker in the class of 2020, excluding Roderick Kearney, who was listed as a tackle but was recruited to UF as an interior lineman in the 2023 cycle. 

He chose the Gators over scholarship offers from more than three dozen other programs, including Clemson, Arkansas, Auburn and Georgia, schools that rounded out his recruitment finalists alongside Florida.

"85 college visits to 44 different schools. It's been my honor to have met so many great coaches and football players along the way," Westphal wrote via social media in his July pledge to the Gators. 

"I picked a school where my educational and football opportunities are matched. I will [be] committing to the University of Florida." 

Westphal is one of five offensive line pledges to Florida in the class of 2024, joined by San Diego State transfer tackle Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, high school offensive tackles Mike Williams and Marcus Mascoll, and international guard Noel Portnjagin.

Learn more about Westphal's Florida commitment and his skill set via his All Gators recruit profile below. 

Westphal's commitment to Florida over Clemson, Arkansas and 37 other offers was monumental considering the Gators' not-so-short-term struggles to secure blue-chip offensive tackle talent from the prep level, dating back to the previous coaching staff. A consensus top-205 recruit in the 2024 cycle, Westphal broke that trend.

Possessing a towering presence [6-foot-8, 335 pounds], Westphal is an ideal tackle projection with the height/length profile Florida covets for the position. Westphal utilizes his big frame to bully and out-physical just about every defender he takes on in the trenches. Although his movement skills are naturally a bit limited at his size, Westphal has shown adept flexibility, a strong initial punch and solid hand-fighting technique in pass protection and should only continue to develop positively in this area. His experience as a defensive lineman aids his understanding of rush moves from a blocking perspective. 

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