Florida Football Recruiting: DJ Pickett explodes to the ball
![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")
While all eyes this weekend have been on the 2024 prospects that Florida football has had on campus for their official visit, that didn’t stop Billy Napier from having members of the class of 2025 on campus for unofficial visits.
And while the number one-ranked safety in the country may have an unassuming frame, his film highlights some attributes that few other members of the 2025 class can claim.
Florida Football: Go DJ, That’s My DJ
DJ Pickett is listed at 6’2″ and 170 pounds out of Zephyrhills High School. On3, ESPN, and Rivals have him listed as the number one safety in the country for the class of 2025, while 247 has him ranked second.
His first play on his sophomore year film doesn’t scream a five-star prospect. He has a pick-six, but if you watch enough recruit film, the play itself isn’t anything we haven’t seen elsewhere.
But as his film progresses, there are two things Pickett is outstanding at:
- Reading QBs to jump routes
- Exploding downhill to ball carriers
There is a burst that Pickett has that very few prospects have, and it’s backed up from his 2023 track season when he ran the 100-meter dash in 10,62 seconds. That was good for 15th in class 3A in Florida and 37th overall in the state across all classifications.
The two main critiques of Pickett are that he will need to add 35 pounds to his frame to be viable in the SEC, and playing in the Three Suburban classification in Florida means he doesn’t see some of the top competition Florida has to offer.
But regardless of classification, Pickett can play ball anywhere once he gains the muscle.
Right now, Florida football is the favorite to land Pickett, though it is still early in the process and far from a lock. But when the 2023 high school season ramps up, expect the hype surrounding Pickett to grow more and more.
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