Florida football recruiting: Which 2025 prospects are the Gators trending for?
By Will Thomas
Florida football recruiting: Nathanial Owusu-Boateng – LB
Next on our list is a player ranked even higher than Amaree is in Nathanial Owusu-Boateng. Owusu-Boateng comes from Hyattsville, Maryland, and is one of the best linebackers in the 2025 cycle.
On3’s Industry Ranking has him as the 27th-best player in the country, the third-best linebacker, and the top player coming out of Maryland.
If you’re looking for a guy who can scare the other team coming off of the bus, Nathaniel is your guy. Standing at 6’2”-210, there aren’t a whole lot of guys in ’25 who match up with him physically.
On the field though, Nathaniel plays with the speed of a much smaller guy. He has very quick feet that allow him to explode into the backfield from the edge, and be a solid cover guy. He shadows running backs well out of the backfield and is quick to close in when the ball is thrown.
As I alluded to with his size, Owusu-Boateng hits, and he hits hard. You’re almost surprised when he hits somebody and the ball isn’t jarred loose. He has major-league hit power.
He has the playstyle that will fit in very well with Austin Armstrong’s defense, which could help the Gators persuade him to play in Gainesville.
The Gators have hosted Nathaniel on campus twice already, and have a lead over Miami and Ohio State currently.
Owusu-Boateng is going to become one of the most sought-after defensive prospects in the whole 2025 class, so Napier and the Gators better not let up if they want to land him when all is set and done.