Gator football received a plethora of talent for 2017 Spring football, among them five new mid-year football players. All are freshmen and are officially enrolled at the University of Florida.
Spring 2017 Mid-Year Enrolled Players:
Kyree Campbell: Defensive Lineman (Woodbridge, Va./Wyoming Seminary Upper School)
Kyree Campbell finished his senior year of high school at Woodbridge High School, the same high school that produced Alabama tackle Da’Shawn and 1980s Gator Tony Lilly. He successfully finished his senior season with 62 tackles, eight sacks, four pass deflections, two interceptions and three blocked kicks. Campbell played in the 2016 Offense-Defense All American Bowl. In 2015, Campbell was named to the Virginia 6A all-state first team as a senior. As just a sophomore in high school, Campbell posted 12.5 sacks, leading the Freedom Eagles to the playoffs for their first time in school history. Before signing for Wyoming Seminary College Prep in 2016, Campbell attended Freedom High School in Woodbridge, Virginia.
I'm thankful for the schools that have recruited but today I decided to be a Gator for live 🐊🐊
— Kyree Campbell (@CampbellKyree13) December 11, 2016
Kemore Gamble: Tight End (Miami/Miami Southridge)
Keymore Gamble is a 6’4, 216 pound athlete from Miami Florida. Gamble received offers from Florida, Cincinnati, Louisville, Miami, Temple, West Virginia and Wisconsin. In high school, Gamble helped bring the Spartans to the 2016 FHSAA Class 8A State Championship. Southridge started off the season 2-2, but won nine games in a row towards the state championship. In 2016, Gamble participated in the Opening Miami. He traveled with a 7-on-7 all-star football squad called WarZone and went to the Pylon 7 verse 7 National in Dallas the same summer. In 2015, Gamble notched 15 receptions for 184 yards and five touchdowns.
Excited to officially welcome @kemoregamble15 to the @GatorsFB family!! #GoGators #Swamp17 pic.twitter.com/uofzC0UtL2
— Jim McElwain (@CoachMcElwain) January 11, 2017
James Houston: Linebacker (Fort Lauderdale/American Heritage)
James Houston is a 6’1 225 pound man who suffered an ACL injury that prevented him from playing his senior year of high school. His junior year of high school, he successfully made 37 tackles. Of those 37 tackles, 20 were solo. In the same season, he also made a sack, an interception and a forced fumble.
Excited to officially welcome @Jthouston_4 to the @GatorsFB family!! #GoGators #Swamp17 pic.twitter.com/m5rQYxtsDO
— Jim McElwain (@CoachMcElwain) January 17, 2017
Kadarius Toney: Athlete (Eight Mile, Ala./Blount)
Kadarius Toney standing at 6’1 and weighing 180 pounds is an athlete from Blount and a 3-star recruit. Toney helped the Tornadoes makes the semi-finals in the 2016 FHSAA Class 4a State Championship and finish off the season with a 9-4 record.
Receiving offers from all of the following schools, Toney still chose Florida:
- Florida
- Alabama
- Coastal Carolina
- South Alabama
- Georgia Tech
- South Carolina
- Tulane
- South Florida
- Wake Forest
Toney said where he sees himself this upcoming season.
“They already told me from the meeting, saying I was going to play everything,” Toney said. “I’ve got a mindset to where anything will work for me. I’m not really too big on just one position.”
Will former Blount star Kadarius Toney get shot at quarterback for Florida?https://t.co/yyh49s5NgA
— Gator Football (@GatorF00TBALL) January 6, 2017
Kadeem Telfort: Offensive Lineman (Miami, Fla./Booker T. Washington)
Kadeem Telfort stands 6’7 weighing 300 pounds and received offers from Florida, Auburn, Kentucky, Lousiville, LSU, Miami, Mississippi State, North Carolina State, South Florida, Syracuse, USC, and West Virginia. Telfort finished his senior season2,894 yards, 32 touchdown passes, and ran 894 yards for 15 touchdowns. During Telfort’s last two seasons, he helped blount to a 20-5 record. He played in the 2016 AL.com Super All-State team, the 2016 Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic. Of the 2016 AL.com All-Coastal Alabama team, he was named Offensive MVP. In his junior year of high school, he was selected to the AL.com Coastal Alabama first team and Class 6A All-State second team.
https://twitter.com/Nosackzone___/status/820749105727238144
Freshmen Players’ Importance
Throughout Jim McElwain’s first two seasons, freshman have continued to play an important roll. McElwain continues to recruit freshman and sees the potential in them.
#ChompChomp!!!!!! #AllBite18
— Jim McElwain (@CoachMcElwain) January 13, 2017
Freshmen Statistics During McElwain’s First Two Seasons:
- 231 total games played
- 59 starts on offense/defense
- 17 total touchdowns
- 172 rushes for 778 yards
- 87 receptions for 1,522 yards
- 150 tackles
- 15.5 tackles-for-loss
- 5.5 sacks