Florida OT Target Michael Uini Pledges to Georgia

A pair of top offensve tackle talents and Gators recruiting targets opted for other schools on Friday, including Michael Uini, who picked Florida's SEC rival Georgia Bulldogs.

2024 Copperas Cove (Texas) High offensive tackle Michael Uini ended his recruitment in favor of Georgia on Friday, picking the defending national champion Bulldogs over Florida and at least 40 other suitors.

im home!! https://t.co/V3pEg10WPg

— MichaelUini ✞ (@mikeuini1) July 1, 2023

Florida was on the outside looking in on Uini's final three schools released on June 26, which consisted of UGA, Alabama and Michigan. 

But, the Gators were in Uini's previously announced top six with those programs, Clemson and Texas, which the elite left tackle prospect shared before taking an official visit to Florida from June 9-11. 

Uini, considered the No. 9 OT in the class of 2024 by the 247Sports composite rankings, was not Florida's only miss at the offensive tackle position on Friday.

Mooresville (N.C.) Lake Norman bookend blocker Ethan Calloway — the No. 18 OT per the consensus rankings, who officially visited UF the weekend before Uini's trip to Gainesville — pledged himself to LSU earlier in the day. 

Florida currently has two offensive tackle commitments in the 2024 cycle, from Upper Marlboro (Md.) Charles Herbert Flowers' Mike Williams and Snellville (Ga.) South Gwinnett's Marcus Mascoll. Both are regarded as consensus three-star prospects and Mascoll's size profile suggests he could play along the interior at the next level.  

Of the seven offensive tackle prospects to officially visit UF in June, three remain on the recruiting market: San Marcos (Texas) High's Ory Williams, Oviedo (Fla.) High's Tye Hylton and Leesburg (Va.) Tuscarora's Fletcher Westphal. Florida is expected to continue pursuing these recruits and additional prospects at the position in the coming months.  

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