Welcome to Gators Nation Xavier Filsaime! (Photo via Xavier Filsaime, twitter)
The biggest play of the Florida Gators’ spring game came at halftime.
Elite 2024 safety Xavier Filsaime has committed to the Florida Gators. On the border between a four-star and a five-star prospect (depending on which service you trust), Filsaime becomes the seventh member of the Gators’ 2024 recruiting class- and the sixth of consensus four-star-or-higher caliber.
For years now Gator fans have clamored for major recruiting victories, and now they’ve got one. While there have been a few in recent years- Jason Marshall, Kamari Wilson, Kaiir Elam, Kelby Collins, and Shemar James come to mind- Filsaime represents a massive turn of the tide in the Gators’ 2024 class, which to this point has been considered a strong one but was lacking in numbers. This, of course, was the main complaint with the 2023 class (well, that and Jaden Rashada).
Now, Florida has another win over schools like Georgia and Alabama, which have been few and far between. With Xavier Filsaime now committing in April of 2023, Florida has four consensus top 100 players now committed for the 2024 class.
What makes Xavier Filsaime the number two ranked safety in the country? Well, with one look at his Hudl film, it is easy to see his quick burst and athletic ability flash. Filsaime played his first two years at receiver before switching to safety his junior year, and while the transition proved to be the right move for him, that understanding of what makes a great wideout has helped in a big way with his transition over to defense.
Since moving to the other side of the ball, he has shown an impressive physicality that many elite college safeties have. This knack for being around the ball allows him to cover all areas of the field including up in the box with the front seven. And that football IQ he brings is going to make him very, very difficult to keep off the field.
Going into this cycle, the safety position was one area that needed to be addressed. Since Corey Raymond moved over to coaching both corners and safeties, that has started to be addressed with the commitment of Josiah Davis and now Xavier Filsaime. Davis has some talent and can do some nice things- by no means should he be dismissed as an option in the secondary- but Filsaime represents that elite level of athlete that Billy Napier has strived to pull in since his arrival.
Now leet’s look at the big picture. While more work will have to be done to bring in additional talent- Florida has seven commits, and will likely look to bring in another fifteen or so prospects- it is clear as day recruiting in Gainesville is trending in the right direction. Another piece of evidence of this was when, last night, longtime Florida target Jordan Pride decommitted from FSU. Since then, several predictions both from On3 and 247 have come in for Florida to complete the flip. That would put Florida’s class with 5 Top 100 commitments and a Top 5 class.
It is times like this why a position coach and elite recruiter in Corey Raymond was hired. And he’s only just gotten started.
