Florida football recruiting: Legacy ATH Creed Whittemore commits to join Gators’ 2023 class

Football

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Image Credit: Tim Casey / UAA

The Class of 2023 is steadily growing for the Florida Gators with the program adding two important commitments to its haul on Saturday. After earning a pledge from four-star offensive lineman Knijeah Harris earlier in the day, Florida saw athlete Creed Whittemore commit to the program in the afternoon.

Whittemore (6-foot, 175 pounds), like his brother and current Gators redshirt sophomore wide receiver Trent Whittemore, is a local product from Buchholz High School in Gainesville, Florida, who ultimately chose UF out of a group of significant offers from the Power Five and Group of Five ranks.

“Every venue I visited failed to compare to the connection I have with the school right here in my back yard. I have dreamed of running out of a college football tunnel ever since i was a kid and I always envisioned it being for the team I’ve cheered for my whole life,” Whittemore wrote in a tweet. “With all that being said I am thankful to say that I will be committing to the University of Florida and joining the gator nation.”

Unlike Trent, who originally committed to Florida as a defensive back in 2019, Creed is a higher-rated prospect whose position has yet to be defined. He currently plays quarterback for Buchholz and is considered one of the best athletes in the entire district. Given his size and speed, Creed is also likely to line up at receiver with head coach Billy Napier utilizing his throwing ability for the occasional trick play.

Trent filled that role for Florida’s offense under former head coach Dan Mullen. In fact, he had as many passing touchdowns in 2021 (two) as receiving touchdowns in his two-year playing career. Trent has caught 29 passes for 338 yards and completed 3 of 4 passes for 41 yards. Creed, meanwhile, has thrown nearly 50 touchdowns in his high school career for Buchholz.

“Special moment! Been dreaming about this since I can remember,” Trent tweeted about his brother’s commitment. “Love u boy! Gator Nation we just got a good one trust me on that!”

Though Creed is rated as a three-star prospect ranked 423rd overall in the 247Sports Composite, the recruiting service’s internal rankings list him as a four-star prospect and the 223rd-best recruit in the nation. Whittemore’s commitment boosts the Gators four spots to No. 34 in the 247Sports Composite team rankings.

Florida is one of a handful of major programs (Alabama, Clemson, LSU, Oklahoma) with fewer than five commits at this point in the cycle as others (Notre Dame, Georgia, Ohio State) have already reached double digits.

There are still seven months until the early signing period in December, and with the transfer portal — and name, image and likeness payments — factoring into roster building more than ever before, there are myriad methods Napier and his staff can employ as they aim to build the program’s talent base ahead of his second year in Gainesville, Florida.