Live blog: UF football National Signing Day tracker

GAINESVILLE – Florida football expected National Signing Day to provide salvation and hope following the Gators’ dismal 5-7 season.

Instead, the Gators’ 2024 class is reeling entering a pivotal day for the future of Billy Napier’s program.

All is far from lost, either, despite several top targets changing their commitments, including 5-star safety Xavier Filsaime.

UF expects a pair of 5-star prospects, defensive lineman LJ McCray and quarterback DJ Lagway, to sign Wednesday and headline a class expected to finish among the nation’s best — just not where it appeared destined entering the season.

Linebacker Myles Graham is another top-100 prospect on track to join the Gators, where his father was a top running back two decades ago. Offensive tackle Fletcher Westphal of Virginia and tight end Amir Jackson are top-10 players at their positions, according to 247Sports.

Florida quarterback commit DJ Lagway poses during a late July visit to UF for the Gators’ Friday Night Lights recruiting showcase. (Florida Gators Creative Media)

Lagway is scheduled to sign at 4:30 p.m., at the tail end of a busy day for Napier, who is scheduled address reporters shortly thereafter. MaxPreps tabbed the Willis, Texas, star its National Player of the Year Tuesday following a record-setting season featuring 74 total touchdowns in 13 games, including 58 scoring throws.

Napier and Co. hoped Lagway’s presence would lure other top prospects to Gainesville, akin to Chris Leak’s Pied Piper effect in 2003, when the Gators inked the nation’s No. 1 class under Ron Zook.

But Florida ended 2023 with its third straight losing season, including the past two under Napier. A class that entered the season No. 3 entered National Signing Day No. 10.

Besides Filsaime, the Gators lost 4-star cornerback Wardell Mack to Texas, 4-star defensive tackle Nasir Johnson to Georgia and 3-star lineman Kendall Jackson of Gainesville to Texas A&M.

Follow here to find out how Napier’s third recruiting class shakes out:

Legacy Gator kicks of NSD

Graham’s signing to start off National Signing Day is a nod to the past.

Graham’s father Earnest played four seasons (1999-2002) at UF, leading the team in rushing in 2001-02. Myles, the No. 7 linebacking prospect in the 2024 class, stars on the other side of the football.

He totaled 275 tackles the past three seasons, including 82 as a senior at Gainesville Buchholz. He also rushed for 600 yards, averaging 9.7 per carry in 2023.

The Gators are in dire need of playmaking linebackers to join Shemar James and Scooby Williams on a defense that struggled under first-year coordinator Austin Armstrong.

Florida Gators defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong directs his players during the Gators’ 39-36 overtime loss to Arkansas Nov. 4 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel) Playmaking tight end signs

Amir Jackson is among the more versatile athletes and intriguing playmakers in the 2024 class.

The 6-foot-4, 223-pound Georgia native recorded 44 catches for 727 yards and 12 touchdowns this past season. He also had 57 tackles, 6 for loss in 2023.

During his basketball career at Portal High, he averages 13.6 points and 10.9 rebounds in 88 games.

Jackson, the No. 9 tight end prospect and 139th overall recruit, offers the Gators size and explosiveness perhaps no player on the roster can match.

But redshirt freshmen Arlis Boaringham and Hayden Hansen came on during the 2023 season, giving the Gators options at a position Napier relies on heavily.

UF inks speedy IMG WR

Jerrae Hawkins can blaze.

The 5-foot-9, 165-pound receiver has elite speed. During a summer camp at Ohio State in 2022, he was clocked at 4.25 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He ran the 100-meter dash last spring in 10.37 seconds.

A native of West Virginia, he finished the 2022 football season at Wheeling Park High School with 1,127 yards and 14 touchdowns. He had 26 catches for 483 yards (18.6 ypc) and 4 touchdowns in nine games at IMG Academy in 2024.

Hawkins ranks No. 36 at his position and No. 229 overall, per 247Sports.

UF receivers coach Billy Gonzales will be eager to get IMG Academy speedster Jerrae Hawkins on campus. (Courtesy of Alex de la Osa/UAA Communications)

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com