The Florida Gators‘ 2017 recruiting class may not wind up the way fans want it, but head coach Jim McElwain has begun a solid close leading into National Signing Day. The Gators added a commitment from four-star defensive tackle Elijah Conliffe (Hampton, VA) on Tuesday, their fourth new pledge in as many days.

Conliffe (6-foot-4, 305 pounds) chose Florida over Tennessee and Penn State with his official visit to UF on Jan. 20 sealing the deal and holding off late pushes by PSU and Louisville. He committed at a fun ceremony in front of his family and friends (skip to 14:00).

With the Gators in need of defensive tackles and only having one player, four-star prep school prospect Kyree Campbell (Kingston, PA) in the class as an early enrollee, Conliffe obviously saw an opportunity to play early and learn under position coach Chris Rumph.

Florida is hoping to add at least one more defensive lineman to its class with four-star Tedarrell Slaton (Fort Lauderdale, FL), the No. 69 player in the nation, announcing his decision on Wednesday. Slaton can play on both sides of the ball but is said to be targeting defense.

With the addition of Conliffe, the Gators creep up to No. 19 overall in the 247Sports Composite team rankings, seventh in the SEC and behind both in-state rivals. Florida is hoping to add another handful of recruits and sneak its way into the top 15 come National Signing Day.