Florida football recruiting: Four-star 2024 CB Jameer Grimsley joins Gators from Alabama

Football

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Image Credit: Mallory Peak, UAA

The retirement of legendary head coach Nick Saban had led to fallout spanning both the coaching carousel and transfer portal. The Florida Gators on Sunday benefited from the chaos caused by Saban’s departure when four-star cornerback Jameer Grimsley (Tampa, FL) committed to join the program.

Grimsley (6-foot-3, 185 pounds), the No. 189 prospect in the Class of 2024, pledged to Alabama over Florida on July 1. Despite an official visit to UF just 12 days before the early signing period commenced, he decided to retain his commitment by signing a National Letter of Intent to join the Crimson Tide.

Because Grimsley already enrolled at Alabama, he was forced to enter the transfer portal following Saban’s departure — unlike four-star defensive lineman D’antre Robinson, who was able to be released of his NLI by Texas following the departure of his position coach.

As such, Grimsley’s prospect ranking will not count toward the Gators’ recruiting numbers for 2024. That is simply a technicality as adding a talented player at a position of need is a victory no matter how it transpired. As such, UF remains No. 15 in the 247Sports Composite team rankings (though it would have moved up to No. 13 if Grimsely’s rating could be added).

Grimsley decided to join Florida over LSU, which made a late push for his services after bringing back defensive backs coach Corey Raymond, Grimsley’s primary recruiter prior to being fired by the Gators and rejoining the Tigers. This marks the first significant acquisition for new Florida secondary coach Will Harris.