![Florida head coach Jon Sumrall and the team blasts out onto the field before the Orange and Blue game at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, April 11, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_2713,h_1526/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/213/01kvn3yafnf536xkjnvc.jpg "Florida head coach Jon Sumrall and the team blasts out onto the field before the Orange and Blue game at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, April 11, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]")
For as much focus that has been put on the class of 2027 for Florida, and there are some loose ends to clean up in that class, Jon Sumrall and crew had one of their first big pushes towards the class of 2028 this past weekend with its Friday Night Lights event, followed by Grille in the Ville. The Gators had a number of top-rated class of 2028 members in town, whom Florida was hoping to make a solid first impression with.
On the defensive side, Florida had the top-rated 2028 EDGE in the country on campus and is hoping to gear up for an intense recruiting battle.
Jalanie George among the visitors in Gainesville
Jalanie George is an EDGE from Goodyear, AZ. Listed at 6’5” and 240 pounds, he is the No. 2 overall rated player with Rivals, while 247 and ESPN have him at No. 16. Overall, he is a composite five-star.
Keeping in mind that he was just a sophomore in high school, George, on film, has the type of explosiveness one would want from a four-star senior. His first step has as much pop to it as almost anyone we have reviewed over the years, and his overall motor on the field is outstanding. What is potentially scary for high school offensive tackles in Arizona is that he doesn’t yet rely on pure power, and if he were to put on another 30-40 pounds between now and his senior year, there is no telling what the limit is for George.
George took part in the Friday Night Lights event, and by all accounts, he had plenty of positive things to say about his experience in Gainesville. Now, as is the case with any 2028 prospect, his recruitment is still in the early stages, and we would have to imagine that all of the big dogs in recruiting are well aware of who George is. According to his Rivals profile, he has taken unofficial visits this summer to Wisconsin, Miami, and Auburn.
The lingering question that is going to follow George as his recruitment picks up, and if he is still on the radar once the 2026 season is complete, is whether or not the Gators can land a prospect from Arizona. According to the 247 database, the Gators haven’t signed a player straight out of high school from Arizona since 2014, when three-star OT Andrew Mike made the trek.
But if there is any player worth making the effort for out of Arizona, George is going to be that player.
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