Florida football recruiting: Ethan Utley names Gators in his top-12

Florida football recruiting has been able to roll its momentum in the 2024 class to the 2025 cycle and is making a great impression on a lot of ’25 talent.

Lots of talented prospects in the 2025 class are including the Gators in their finalists, including a big-time DL out of Nashville, Tennessee.

Ethan Utley, a 4-star defensive lineman included the Gators in his top-12 yesterday.

Some of the other schools on his list were Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and others.

Florida football recruiting: An immovable object and unstoppable force

Utley is a big, big man on the defensive line. He stands at 6’4”-275 and may play even bigger than that.

Ethan plays every snap on his terms. There may not be any offensive lineman in his class who can contain him.

He has the arm strength to push off any blocker in front of him, and the flexibility to reach out and grab ball carriers.

The first highlight on his tape is him knocking a running back backward about five yards, sending him tumbling over his own head.

That’s the kind of strength we’re talking about.

But Utley isn’t just a big wrecking ball who needs the play to come to him in order to make an impact.

He has an awesome motor, always chasing the play and tracking down the ball carrier.

Having that combination of violence, strength, and mobility heading into your junior year isn’t something many guys have.

The current leader for Utley is his home state Tennessee Vols, per On3’s RPM. LSU sits in second with the Gators in third. No team is the clear favorite yet with so much time left in his recruitment.

Ethan has already made two trips to Gainesville, and the Gators hope to be one of the schools to secure one of his official visits.