Weekend Visitor Preview: Friday Evening Update

Despite Matt Corral backing out of his commitment, and thus plans to visit Florida, this is still a star-studded visitor weekend for the Florida Gators.

As we reported earlier today on our Recruiting Wire - Florida four-star receiver commit Tyquan Thornton visited UCF this weekend instead of Florida.

That isn't a surprise. In the initial update, as you can see below, he was the one we were watching to see if he actually made the trip.

The other no-show is an even bigger name. Brendan Radley-Hiles also didn't visit this weekend and Florida, for as much as they were ever under consideration, is now likely completely out of the running.

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* Dean bringing entire family to Florida

* Wire: Corral flips from Florida to Ole Miss

* Alley: Updates on two Florida wide out targets

* 10 2019 R250 defensive targets to know

* 10 2019 R250 offensive targets to know

* Four-star JUCO has Florida leading

* MSU four-star commit has a lot of interest in Florida

* 30 DAY FREE TRIAL OFFER (PROMO CODE Gators30)

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Auburn was thought of as the main competition for this Arkansas commit, but he was unable to make it to his official visit on the Plains. He is currently visiting Texas, but will fly to Gainesville at the end of his visit to Austin. This is now thought of as a Florida-Texas battle if he is to flip his pledge from the Razorbacks. Jerome Carvin cancelling is unofficial visit to UF this weekend to instead visit Tennessee likely raises Banks on the Gators offensive line board.

This is a two-team battle between Alabama and Florida. Dean, along with his entire family, will take his final visit to Gainesville this weekend before signing on Wednesday. Normally you have to like he Tide's chances when battling any other team, but this has felt like the Gators are trending for the last two weeks.

This is sort of a strange spot to take an official visit for the former Florida State commit. Florida, Todd Grantham in particular, has been all over Huggins, but he isn't projected as an early signee. He is considering Florida, Florida State (again), Louisville and Nebraska. He will take his remaining visits in January.

Here is an interesting late addition to the visitor list. Andrew 'Dead Eye' Olson noticed and posted on the Alley on Thursday that Florida coaches and support staff members had started following Jefferson on social media. Hours later he was set to visit the Gators. Jefferson has a year remaining and because of the Ole Miss bowl ban is immediately eligible for playing time. Michigan was thought to be the leader just last week, but he didn't commit there with his former teammate Shea Patterson.

He is taking his fifth and final official visit, but he isn't an early enrollee or expected to sign next week. Florida has been hanging around the perimeter when it comes to BRH, never leading or being more than mentioned as a possibility. Despite his contention that he grew up a Florida fan, strangely enough, though he attended IMG Academy this season, he didn't make it over for any of the Gators home games. It would have definitely been much better for Florida had Matt Corral been on hand this weekend. As it is, we'll see what the reviews are coming out of this visit.

As the class begins to sort out after the coaching change, Reese may be one of the most important parts of the puzzle this cycle. He has had a monster year at a position of need. With a brother who plays for Mississippi State, he is already familiar with Dan Mullen and most of the staff already on board. He has been solid since the start and will sign with the Gators next week.

Thornton committed to Florida over the summer as a little known three-star, but has seen his profile grow since then. He has been somewhat 'semi-solid' in his pledge to the Gators, visiting Baylor and thinking of taking a couple others along the way, but he has held on. Of those expected to visit this weekend, he is the one to watch to make sure it happens. He is another who is scheduled to sign next week.

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