The Florida Gators saw their recruiting stock soar in the month of June by way of landing seven verbal commitments leading up to the summer recruiting 'Dead Period'. The Gators recruiting has been anything but dead since the calendars move to July with another verbal commit after Cocoa (Fla.) three-star offensive guard Richard Leonard pulled the trigger. The in-state big man picked the Gators over other finalists UCF, Miami, Florida State, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia Tech.

The Gators have spent most of their evaluating Leonard and went into the spring evaluation period with eyes on him. Following their scouting, it was Florida offensive line coach John Hevesy that pulled the trigger in May. Leonard didn't waste much time getting on campus in early June where he was able to bond with the coaches in The Swamp once again.

It was during that trip to Florida, things started to trend towards the Orange and Blue with ties not only to former players that have come and gone to Gainesville, but also one of his current coaches on his high school staff.

"My high school offensive line coach actually played for Coach Hevesy at Florida so we talked about that connection that we had there and I got to know more personal things about him and his family and his life."

Leonard Florida's third verbal commitment along the offensive line joining Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Cardinal Gibbons three-star offensive tackle Gerald Mincey and Miami (Fla.) Christian School three-star offensive guard Jovens Janvier. The Gators are looking to continue to bolster their front line under Coach Hevesy, and Leonard is eager to learn under his guidance.

"He is a real no games, no messing around type of coach and he really likes hard work," Leonard said of Hevesy. "Some guys may not want someone who is going to push them that way but I don't mind it as long as I am doing what I am supposed to do and taking the coaching how I should. It's the message, not the tone of the message."

The Gators now have a total of 19 prospects committed in the 2020 recruiting class, and their average grade per commit sits at 89.57 currently. Florida's pledges include Gainesville (Fla.) Eastside four-star quarterback Anthony Richardson, Ocala (Fla.) Vanguard four-star wide receiver Leonard Manuel, Portsmouth (VA) I.C. Norcom four-star defensive end Antwaun Powell, Tampa (Fla.) Middleton four-star defensive tackle Johnnie Brown, Lake Wales (Fla.) four-star defensive tackle Gervon Dexter, Dunnellon (Fla.) four-star wide receiver Jaquavion Fraziars, Hartford (CT) St. Thomas More four-star defensive tackle Lamar Goods, Missouri City (Texas) Fort Bend Marshall four-star cornerback Avery Helm, Valdosta (Ga.) three-star athlete Jaheim Bell, Lakeland (Fla.) Lake Gibson three-star defensive end/outside linebacker Morven Joseph, Miami (Fla.) Christian School three-star offensive guard Jovens Janvier, Marietta (Ga.) three-star safety Rashad Torrence II, Lakeland (Fla.) three-star athlete Fenley Graham, Homerville (Ga.) Clinch County four-star tight end Jeremiah Johnson, Tampa (Fla.) Jesuit three-star tight end Jonathan Odom, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Cardinal Gibbons three-star offensive tackle Gerald Mincey, Jacksonville (Fla.) Bartram Trail defensive back Tre'Vez Johnson, Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas four-star linebacker Derek Wingo, and the aforementioned Leonard.

The 247Sports Composite, an industry generated average, currently ranks Leonard as the Nation's No. 726 overall prospect in the 2020 recruiting cycle.