Florida Football Recruiting: Swedish prospect Adrian Bekibele gets offer
As Florida football enjoyed its annual Grill in the Ville yesterday and hosted an array of prospects, the headliners for the event were the class of 2024 guys that are already committed to the Gators.
But one prospect on site yesterday is a class of 2026 defensive tackle from overseas that Billy Napier hopes follows in the footsteps of a fellow European member of the Gators.
Florida Football: How Swede it is
Adrian Bekibele is a defensive tackle from Uppsala, Sweden, in the class of 2026. Listed at 6’3″ and 290 pounds, he is among the largest prospects that Billy Napier will find, whether it is America or elsewhere.
This isn’t the first time Napier has looked to Europe for size. Noel Portnjagin will be joining the squad in 2024 from Germany and was also on hand yesterday for the Grill in the Ville.
Evaluating Bekibele beyond his size is tough. The film on him on the field is limited, with his 2023 Hudl film clocking in at just 1:13. What he does showcase is a mobile big man that can disengage from double teams to still make the play. When he does get to the ball carrier, he wraps up with an oomph and brings his man down with physicality.
You can view his 2023 film here.
He also has clips on Twitter that showcase his overall mobility despite his size.
Obviously, hailing from Sweden, the level of play he is currently going against doesn’t match the quality that other prospects we highlight are going against.
But before any of you keyboard warriors queue up your troll Tweets and hit send because Napier is going to Sweden to offer guys, Kirby Smart offered Bekibele this week as well after an appearance in Athens.
Being a 2026 prospect, there is still a long way to go in his recruitment process. And now that Florida and Georgia have offered Bekibele, we will see if others start to take notice as well.
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