Coveted Florida Pass Catcher Jayden Gibson Talks Vols, Sets Official Visit

Coveted Florida Pass Catcher Jayden Gibson Talks Vols, Sets Official Visit

Orlando, Fla.-- 2022 Wide Receiver Jayden Gibson is being targeted by several of the nation's top programs. Gibson is working to narrow the focus in his recruitment, and he continues to be a priority for Tennessee's staff.

"I am taking it slow, trying to see how things are going," Gibson said of his recruitment. "I scheduled some official visits; I got one left. I am going to schedule that too once I see what other offers come in. I'm not really done yet and trying to get to spring to see what happens."

Gibson has locked in official visits to Tennessee, Miami, Baylor, and Florida. He talked about each school here.

All three of the major schools in the state of Florida are showing Gibson and lot of love, and he plans to give all of them a look.

"I just want to take a visit there," Gibson said of Miami. "It is in-state, so I really could have gone without it, but the city of Miami is so nice. I just want to see that."

"We talk a bunch," he added about his relationship with Miami QB commit Jacurri Brown. "We met out at a tournament in Atlanta. He is pretty cool; I have known him for a while. That is definitely a big plus in Miami's category. He is definitely a great player."

"UF, I have always wanted to take an official visit there since I was little," he said of Florida. "They are not necessarily ahead of anybody else, but it's just something I've always wanted to do."

"There definitely is," he added on the appeal to play in the Florida offense.  "They don't have Kyle Trask anymore, so it is just making sure the next dude can step up and throw the ball just as well, and they don't shy away from the passing offense to run the ball more. With all of the schools I am considering heavily, I have looked at the main concern with each one, and that is the main thing at Florida. They just lost a really good Heisman candidate quarterback, so I just want to make sure they don't shy away from what they did in years past. If they continue to keep doing that, it would be a great opportunity for me there, especially with my size. I know I would be able to compete and play early. I am not scared of competition. I know I can go in there and get on the field at least some, and I know Coach Billy G can develop me as well."

"Florida State, I am probably going to give them an official in the fall," he said. "I am going to see about it. I scheduled all four kind of fast, and I've been to Florida State a lot, so  I don't know, I might take an unofficial there if another school comes in, but I'll see what's up with that. As of now, I will probably give that one to them. They want me to come one of the weekends they have a big game in the fall, so we will see what happens between now and then, but Florida State is one of my top schools, so that is definitely one of the schools I am messing with the most, and that's not a bad thing.

Coming from the Sunshine State, Gibson understands playing against elite competition, and he knows the state of Texas is full of it, which is why he is giving Baylor a deep look.

"A school that loves big receivers and has a ceiling that can grow even more than they already have," he said.  "Two years ago, they had first-round receiver. Coach Stuckey, the receiver coach, is my guy. That is how I really started my relationship with Baylor. I like him, and that helped me to learn more about the school. I look at the people they have, and I know I can come in and play, so it is just a great setup. Texas is also good football."

The new staff at Tennessee has a long-standing bond with Gibson, which they are using to make him a priority.

"I didn't have an offer from the old staff, so when Coach Heupel got there, they offered me the first night they were hired officially," Gibson said.  "I was already close with Golesh, I have been knowing him for about two and a half years now. I have known Heupel for about a year now, so I know good amounts about both of them, especially Golesh; that's my guy. Coach Burns, the receiver coach, we are building a good relationship, so it is a plus to get to know him. We did a zoom the other night and a virtual visit. It was really good. I learned a lot and see a lot about their facilities and stuff that I like. I just see the opportunity there, especially since it is the first recruiting class the coaches are recruiting at the school there, so coming in and being that first group would be a plus. I feel like Coach Golesh and Coach Heupel are going to put the ball in the air. They have told me that multiple times, so that is a great opportunity to start something that hasn't been necessarily national championship-worthy in a while and bring it up. That is the trend of how I have done things at my high school, just come up with the program and help build it."

I don't know," Gibson said of his timeline. "I was thinking early summer, but I pushed it back to late summer or the start of the season because I am going to get out to some games and stuff. I am planning on enrolling early, so I know I will have to have it done by November or December. Early senior season is what I am thinking right now."

So what will it take for one of these schools to land him? He offered up insight on that as well.

"Really it is a combination of all the things I have said and the feel I get when I go up there just because I have really never been anywhere. So it will be the vibe I get when I go to all these places. I am just trying to get a vibe with everybody and see what is going on. I am a really good judge of character, so once I see the place in person, I will know if they are lying to me or telling the truth."