In the college football landscape, attention turns to the 2021 season as the teams’ spring games are over and the latest high-impact transfers settle on their next destination. However, the Gators are already making progress in their recruiting class for the 2022 season. That early work landed a hiring from cornerback Julian Humphrey, one of the top 150 players in the class, on Thursday.

Engagement is a big deal for the Gators, who face the monumental challenge of getting out of the hole they are in from a team defense standpoint. Pundits were quick to applaud Florida’s newest addition, including praise from three relevant experts from the 247Sports network.

Recruiting manager Steve Wiltfong had nothing but positive things to say about Humphrey immediately after being hired, indicating that his features are desirable for an outside corner.

“On his film, he’s a high school playmaker. He’s got his hands on football and he’s got the change of direction fast, ”Wiltfong wrote. “He can play press, he can play, he covers the pitch, has the makeup speed you’re looking for, and he can hook up to receivers. He shows physicality and ticks a lot of boxes.

Another 247Sports network expert Andrew Ivins got to see Humphrey ahead of his engagement and walked away feeling like he could be a big contributor to the Gators on the road.

“I think he has a chance to be a really special player,” said Ivins. “He’s a guy with a ton of kicking speed, but he’s also got a big, long frame and a bit of a measurable ideal to be a corner from the field. I saw him at Pylon Atlanta last March and thought he was pretty good on cover and on male cover. He’s still not the smoothest of guys, but when he’s trained it will all come together. He’s absolutely a guy who can be a starter in the SEC. “

Texas area expert Gabe Brooks is also all-in on traits, saying his physical gifts could make him a viable option to be deployed as a versatile part of Florida’s defensive backfield.

“It’s a big corner, which has a high level of speed, which has proven itself in a track environment with the 10.55 which is verified, which smokes. I think he’s in the low 21s in the 200 so he’ll transfer that elite track speed to the football field in college. You bet on size, length, speed and you usually aren’t going to go wrong with that, ”Brooks wrote. “He’s someone who could potentially play anywhere if they needed to move him to high school.”

Obviously, the Gators seem to have been very successful in convincing Humphrey to be a part of the future of the program. The team is building a vision for their future after losing their hearts in the 2020 draft and 2022 appears to be the target year for Florida’s resurgence. Humphrey has a chance to be a part of something special as head coach Dan Mullen works to add the right players to his system.