Florida Football Recruiting: Justin Denson is an underrated ballhawk
![A pylon sits on the field before the game during the Florida Gators Orange and Blue Spring Game at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 13, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]Ncaa Football Florida Gators Orange Blue Spring Game](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F18d0ade0114e06dfbf898e3fcc611eb34549fd113af04f345c6811efd6fdaf16.jpg "A pylon sits on the field before the game during the Florida Gators Orange and Blue Spring Game at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 13, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]Ncaa Football Florida Gators Orange Blue Spring Game")
When evaluating Florida football prospects, there is a tendency to scoff at players that don’t have crazy high star ratings. Four-star or bust seems to be the mantra.
But then you get three-star prospects whose film tells a story of a player that should be on more radars than they are.
Justin Denson is one of those players.
Florida Football: The Rhode to Gainesville
Denson is a three-star safety listed at 6’2″ and 185 pounds. Playing for La Salle Academy in Providence, RI, Denson is the top-rated prospect in Rhode Island.
Nicknamed “The Slim Reaper,” Denson’s film should create fear for opposing QBs and WRs. His reading of plays is outstanding. Often playing as a single high safety, Denson is able to track and disrupt plays at a rate that is impressive for a high school safety.
He also has outstanding athleticism, with a 4.51-second 40-yard dash, via a laser time, to back this up. On the first play of his junior season film, his first step starts to his left, but then he explodes to the right into the throwing lane to collect the interception. Beyond his solid hands, he is also a sure-handed open-field tackler and isn’t afraid to create contact.
He’s a fascinating prospect because the On3 composite ranking has him rated 664th in the country, even though he is the top-rated player in Rhode Island. On3 and ESPN have him as a top 50 safety, while Rivals barely has him rated at all.
247 Sports doesn’t even have him rated.
There are reasons to be skeptical because the level of competition isn’t as good in Rhode Island. But his film is solid enough that he should be able to translate and assimilate into the SEC once he puts on a little bit of weight.
Florida is among Denson’s final 12 schools, and for what it’s worth, he announced on Twitter this week he was not going to take a visit to Miami. Michigan State is considered the favorite, but if Billy Napier wants Denson one would hope he could beat out Sparty for his services.
Denson will take his official visit to Gainesville on June 9.
After a lot of thought and consideration I feel that these 12 schools have showed me and my family the most love and hospitality! My recruitment is still 100% open but these are the schools I’ll be focusing on ! HAPPY MOTHERS DAY MOM ❤️🤞🏾 @EboniCatala @JoeMento @MarconeGeoff pic.twitter.com/GcXjXr5pJa
— Justin “The slim reaper” Denson Jr. ✞ (@Jetdenson) May 14, 2023
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