Latest news with #HezeKent
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida football adds blue-chip ATH Heze Kent to 2026 recruiting haul
It may be the dog days of summer, but Florida football's recruiting efforts remain in high gear. On Saturday, the Gators added four-star athlete Heze Kent out of Brunswick (Georgia) to their 2026 recruiting class. The 6-foot-6-inch, 310-pound prospect chose the Orange and Blue from a list of 38 offers, which included the Florida State Seminoles, Miami Hurricanes and Texas Longhorns, who were included among his top four destinations. Kent's main focus when evaluating various schools was the ability to remain at the tight end position, where he has logged the most time during his prep playing days. However, his size and athleticism make him a great fit on both the offensive and defensive lines — and many programs have noted this — but Florida was among the few who believed in his ability to play tight end. To that point, his relationship with offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Russ Callaway helped seal the deal on his verbal pledge. "That's like a father or a brother to me," Kent told Swamp247. "My coach had told me how he was as a person, like the same person he is on the field is the same person he is off." He also added, "My relationship with Florida is how you see Kyrie (Irving) and LeBron (James)." Heze Kent's Recruiting Summary Kent is ranked No. 149 overall and No. 9 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite, while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 158 and 14, respectively. "One of the more unique evaluations in the 2026 cycle," 247Sports national analyst Hudson Standish. "Jumbo athlete hovering around 6-foot-6, 310 pounds who primarily plays tight end at the prep level but likely projects to offensive tackle or defensive tackle on Saturdays... Shows significant developmental blocking upside when asked to stay attached, possesses nimble movement skills and redirection ability that directly translate from his work as a forward on the basketball court... "Uncommon movement skills from a player of his size in the open field and will make acrobatic ladder-climbing snags in the red zone... Dominates South Georgia 5A competition in a variety of ways and has even found success as a ball carrier... Could start his career as a specialty tight end in 12/13 personnel groupings before transitioning to a long-term positional home... "Sheer size and athleticism point to obvious long-term NFL upside, especially if he embraces a role along the offensive or defensive line at the next level." Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
31-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
TE prospect Heze Kent eyes Florida as recruitment heats up
Four-star tight end Heze Kent has been a familiar face around Gainesville since earning an offer from the Florida Gators in the spring of 2023. With multiple visits under his belt, Kent's interest in Florida has remained strong as he continues to navigate his recruitment process. Most recently, Kent made the trip to Gainesville earlier this month to watch Florida's basketball team upset the then-No. 1 Tennessee Volunteers. In addition to his frequent visits, the Gators' coaching staff has reciprocated the interest. Co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Russ Callaway, along with head coach Billy Napier, have made their way to Brunswick, Georgia to check in on the talented tight end. While nothing is set in stone for the spring, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Kent return to campus before summer rolls around. He recently trimmed his list of college programs to five: Alabama Crimson Tide, Florida Gators, Florida State Seminoles, Miami Hurricanes and the Texas Longhorns. As part of his next steps, Kent has already penciled in an official visit to Florida for the weekend of May 30-June 1, Swamp247 has confirmed. Although it's still early in the official visit scheduling process, Kent is one of only two tight ends currently locked in for an official visit to Florida. The Gators also have a visit lined up with four-star tight end Camden Jensen, who is set to be in Gainesville during the weekend of June 13. With his recruitment heating up and Florida maintaining a strong presence in the race, Kent's upcoming visits—including his official stop in late May—will be key in determining whether the Gators can land the dynamic playmaker in their 2026 class. Recruiting Summary Kent is one of the top tight end prospects in the 2026 recruiting class, boasting an impressive combination of size and athleticism. Standing at 6-foot-5-inches and weighing 300 pounds, the tight end out of Brunswick, Georgia, has the physical tools to be a dominant presence at the next level. 247Sports currently ranks him as the No. 147 overall prospect in the country, while ESPN lists him at No. 149. Rivals places him at No. 138 nationally. According to the On3 recruiting prediction machine, Kent is favored to go to the Gators (27.1%), followed by the Georgia Bulldogs (23.7%) and the Miami Hurricanes (15.4%). Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
