Friday starts the first weekend for official visits, which means a Florida Gators recruiting visitors list that is full of talented prospects.

The Gators coaching staff is expected to host eight official visitors this weekend and those eight players are all guys that are very talented.

This weekend is a key weekend for the Gators as they hope to start some momentum to help them finish off the class and also gain a leg up with some of these prospects.

Here’s who the Florida Gators recruiting visitors list as of Friday A.M.

Two commits visiting

The Gators will host two commitments this weekend when linebacker Ventrell Miller and defensive back Elijah Blades visit Gainesville. Miller is very solid to Florida and isn’t expected to take any more trips but Blades on the hand is someone Florida is fighting to keep. Blades has trips planned to USC and Nebraska following this weekend’s trip to Gainesville and running backs coach Tim Skipper would love to get those visits canceled. Skipper and Blades have developed a really solid relationship and that bodes well for Florida but this weekend’s trip is more about Blades’ parents. Blades’ dad speaks with Skipper regularly but he and mom have never visited Gainesville so this is a big thing for them.

Big receiver coming to town

Receiver James Robinson has been someone that Gators fan have been hoping for since his junior year and now it looks like Florida is in prime position for the instate receiver. After rocky communication during the season, Robinson and receivers coach Kerry Dixon are rebuilding the relationship and that should take a step forward this weekend. Robinson is still planning trips to Alabama and Ole Miss to finish off the month but the Gators would love to end those visits this weekend. Robinson has made no secret that his family wants him in Gainesville and they will be on the trip with him this weekend.

DMV prospects coming down

The Gators will host two prospects from the Virginia/Washington D.C. area this weekend. Maryland defensive tackle commit Cam Spence and safety Devon Hunter are both scheduled to visit Gainesville. Spence is an interesting visitor because he’s someone that Florida hasn’t been mentioned a lot with but because Maryland lost its defensive line coach Spence is looking around. Spence visited Gainesville before when he was at IMG before moving back home to Washington D.C.

Hunter has made several visits to Gainesville in the past and is very close with quality control assistant Mark DeBastani and defensive backs coach Torrian Gray. Hunter is scheduled to make his decision on January 20th and the Gators and Virginia Tech are thought to be the leading contenders with the Hokies likely having the edge.

The Randy Shannon connection

Linebacker Levi Jones has a connection to defensive coordinator Randy Shannon due to his dad playing for the coach at Miami when he was coaching there. Jones will make his first trip to Gainesville this weekend with his parents in tow and it will also be a time for Jones’ father and Shannon to reconnect. The Gators and FSU are the thought to be the top two teams for Jones heading into a signing day decision.

Instate pass rusher to visit

Defensive end Jarez Parks has always had an interesting recruitment where nobody knew what he was doing and that still stands true today. Alabama is thought to be the team to beat for Parks but out of nowhere, he decided to visit Gainesville this weekend. Parks’ family is Gators fan so getting them on campus this weekend could sway the defensive end’s mind some and he’s already used official visits to Florida State and Alabama.

Out of state speedster

Athlete Eric Stokes is slated to be a defensive back in college but his impressive 4.33 forty time is what has most teams intrigued by him. Stokes is thought to be favoring Ole Miss at this time but visits to Florida and Georgia before his trip to Oxford could change that.

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