Florida football: 247 Sports names four Gator freshmen to look out for
By Will Thomas
![Florida Gators wide receiver Andy Jean (6) keeps his eye on the ball while running pass routes Thursday. The University of Florida Gators held a Spring football practice at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, March 9, 2023. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]Gai Uffootballspring3](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2Facf0ca8e295d525a6db3327d1462f0656499d3aa2b37b89145bc7875134c5111.jpg "Florida Gators wide receiver Andy Jean (6) keeps his eye on the ball while running pass routes Thursday. The University of Florida Gators held a Spring football practice at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, March 9, 2023. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]Gai Uffootballspring3")
![Florida Gators wide receiver Andy Jean (6) gestures for a first down during the second half 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%2Ffb31a7e4ab98e3d6332ca3625bc90d8902791649eeef22a4c8af1e77800541f0.jpg "Florida Gators wide receiver Andy Jean (6) gestures for a first down during the second half 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")
Florida football freshmen to watch: Andy Jean
Andy Jean, a four-star wideout out of Miami was an unexpected addition to the Gators’ class. Being from South Florida, it was long thought that the Canes would end up with Andy’s services, but Napier and his staff were able to nab him from Cristobal.
Now, all the work put into getting Jean seems to be worth it. Jean is crazy explosive with some of the best speed on the team, as well as a big frame to out-physical opposing DBs.
At 6’1”-195, he has the size and strength to be a big play threat as defenses just can’t match up with him.
Coming out of high school, one of his drawbacks, according to Andrew Ivins of 247 Sports, was that he wasn’t “the quickest or most elusive.”
But it appears that Andy has already knocked down that criticism. We wrote a while back about how Jean broke 22.5 mph during a workout, and Napier said that he didn’t even think he was at full speed.
Fellow wideout Caleb Douglas also said of Andy, “He’s extremely explosive. He’s very fast, quick-twitch, getting out of his breaks well. He’s great.”
Now I know I said that the Gators will be run heavy this year. And they will be. But mixing in the passing game is critical to being effective, and Jean is projected to be a big-time contributor in his freshman season.