Gators 2024 Defensive Signees Revel As The Team Welcomes Them With Gratitude…
During the early part of National Signing Day, the Gators added four more talented defensive backs to their roster, expanding the pool of players in Florida’s secondary room.
Trikweze Bridges
Thirteen days after logging onto the transfer portal on December 5th, the former Oregon Duck committed to the Gators. Trikweze Bridges finished his tenure in Eugene with 91 total tackles (54 solo), six interceptions, nine passes defended, and 2.5 tackles for loss. Bridges signed a safety commitment with Oregon but later switched to cornerback for the Ducks.
“Trikweze Bridges is height, weight, speed, ton of production. The guy has played corner but has got some position flexibility,” Napier said on Bridges. “He can play safety. Very intelligent. Was on the leadership council at Oregon. He’s got one year of eligibility, and I think looking to create some more value for himself a little bit closer to home, being from Lanett, Alabama. So really excited about the flexibility that he offers and experience that he has.”
The Alabama native held 22 offers back in the Class of 2019 as a three-star prospect and the No. 38 safety in the country according to 247Sports. With teams like Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma and Ohio State seeking interest, the final two teams in play for the 6’3, 200-pound safety came down to LSU and Oregon.
Josiah Davis
The native of Georgia participated in multiple sports at Berrien High School and represented the Rebels on both sides of the football field. During his junior year, Josiah Davis was a complete player, accumulating 70 total tackles, one interception, and 895 rushing yards with 12 touchdowns on offense. The 6’0, 182-pound player posed a serious threat on special teams as well, having recovered seven kickoffs for touchdowns in total. Davis gained 614 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns on 132 carries as a senior. The new Gator made 38 total tackles on defense and had one interception.
Davis was a three-star recruit coming out of Berrien High School and received 16 total offers from teams like Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia Tech and Louisville. The No. 53 safety in the 2024 class according to 247sports should be a valuable piece on both special teams and in the secondary for the Gators.
Teddy Foster
The versatile player played defensive back and wide receiver in his junior year at Cardinal Mooney High School. In addition, Teddy Foster was a multisport athlete who participated in football and basketball during his junior and senior years. Throughout his 11 games as a junior, the 6’0, 170-pound corner gained 38 total tackles, two tackles for loss, two interceptions, and one forced fumble. Foster had three touchdowns and 242 yards gained through 17 receptions on offense. Even more impressive were the 47 total tackles, 8 passes defended, 4 tackles for loss, 1 interception, and 1 sack that the Florida native recorded as a senior. Though he was specifically signed as a cornerback, Foster amassed 433 yards and five receiving touchdowns.
The No. 60 cornerback in the country was a three-star recruit with teams such as North Carolina, Oregon State and Indiana in the mix. Foster also received offers from Miami, Tennessee and USC but didn’t take any official visits. Foster originally committed to the Gators on July 14th and hasn’t wavered since.
Gregory Smith
On signing day, the underappreciated safety gave the Gators a significant commitment, making Smith their third safety in the 2024 class. Gregory Smith was a multi-sport athlete in high school who played football, basketball, and long and triple jump competitions. In his junior season, the 6’4″, 200-pound safety was mostly used as a quarterback, completing 60.9% of his passes for 1,423 yards and 14 touchdowns. Smith moved from quarterback to safety as a senior, finishing with 29 total tackles, 4 passes defensed, 1 fumble recovery, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 interception. According to MaxPreps, the Florida native completed 1633 passes for 1633 yards, 32 touchdowns, and four interceptions while playing quarterback.
As a three-star prospect, Smith got a bump in the rankings after making the switch to safety, bringing plenty of potential to the table at his size. The No. 35 athlete in the nation held 26 total offers including Florida State, Texas A&M, Mississippi State and Louisville. The main teams that were in contention for Smith were Vanderbilt, Virginia and Florida.
A safety room that consists mainly of Jordan Castell, R.J. Moten, Bryce Thornton, and Ahmad Covington will now include Bridges, Davis, and Smith.
Foster will join a group of cornerbacks that includes Jason Marshall, Aaron Gates, Dijon Johnson, Jaydon Hill (STAR), Ja’Keem Jackson, and Sharif Denson (STAR).