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Florida Gators football: 5 must-have recruits

By Connor Muldowney

Jan 1, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA;Florida Gators helmets during the second half in the 2016 Citrus Bowl at Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium. Michigan won 41-7. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA;Florida Gators helmets during the second half in the 2016 Citrus Bowl at Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium. Michigan won 41-7. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 4, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain speaks to the media during the SEC coaches press conference at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain speaks to the media during the SEC coaches press conference at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Dontavious Jackson, 4-star ILB

This spot was going to be for five-star linebacker Lyndell Wilson, but he wound up cutting the Gators out of his list, narrowing it down to a top two before signing day. Missing out on Wilson probably stung a little bit, but the Gators are still in the race for four-star inside linebacker Dontavious Jackson from Texas.

Wilson is an outside linebacker and Jackson is an inside linebacker so this isn’t the perfect replacement, but there’s no reason as to why Dontavious couldn’t play any of the linebacker positions.

Not too long ago, the Houston-native released a top-five list with Alabama, Florida State, Florida, Texas and Michigan on it, and he will be announcing on National Signing Day. He would fit in nicely with a tough Gator defense that allowed very few big games for opposing offenses, and a hard-nosed coach in McElwain.

Florida is losing two starting linebackers from 2015 and one happens to be the middle linebacker position, which Jackson could compete for right away. The Gators already have a middle linebacker committed for 2016, but Jackson and David Reese would push each other in a good way.

Jackson is listed as the No. 65 player in the class and the nation’s fourth-best inside linebacker prospect.

Next: 2. Kristian Fulton

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