5-star Waller chooses Gators, promotes ‘flexible’ defense

• Blake Baumgartner, ESPN Personnel WriterJun 19, 2023, 10:18 PM ET

Luxury defensive end Jamonta Waller dedicated to Florida on Monday night.Waller (No. 16

in the 2024 ESPN 300), from Picayune Memorial High School in Picayune, Mississippi, ends up being the highest-ranked defensive member and 2nd luxury possibility of Billy Napier’s 2024 class. Quarterback D.J. Lagway is ranked No. 14 total.

“It simply felt like home when I went there, both on my regular check out and my OV,” Waller informed ESPN. “(Defensive organizer) Coach (Austin) Armstrong, he hired me when he was at Southern Miss, Alabama and at Florida. So that’s really special to me.

“They do so much on defense and their defense is so versatile, and that’s how I am as a player. I can do so much and I feel like I’ll simply stand apart in the defense and be able to come off the edge and simply do so much (and) move around a lot.”

Editor’s Picks

2 Associated

He’s the fourth ESPN 300 player the Gators have actually protected a pledge from considering that Saturday, following linebacker Aaron Chiles (No. 63 general), tight end Amir Jackson (No. 102) and defensive end Amaris Williams (No. 279).

The presence of both Waller and Willis High School (Texas) signal-caller Lagway, who devoted in December, will only increase Florida’s momentum on the recruiting trail. The Gators’ 2024 class is currently ranked 11th by ESPN, and 9 players have dedicated to the program given that June 12.

“We prepared, baby,” Waller said. “They’re thankful I’m home, ready to get to work and get The Swamp to how it used to be. (This 2024 class is going to get) even much better since I’m going to start recruiting now.”

Waller– the third-best defensive end in this year’s cycle– took official check outs to Auburn and Penn State previously this month.A three-sport professional athlete (football, basketball, track and field), the 6-foot-2, 230-pound Waller tape-recorded 106 deals with, 24 deals with for loss and 11.5 sacks.Under protective planner Armstrong, the Gators’ defense ranked 12th in the SEC in both overall defense (415.8 YPG) and scoring defense (28.8 PPG) in 2022. With the infusion

of protective skill entering the program this year and next (10 ESPN 300 recruits integrated )in the last 2 hiring cycles, Waller understands he can be part of the modification in Gainesville while running in the Jack position as an outside linebacker. “I ‘d say my leave is most likely one of the quickest in the nation,”he said.” My leave and my effort and how I play the game. I’ll just state my effort that I give the table every game– few out there that can match it.”