Florida football recruiting: 2020 DT Johnnie Brown commits to Gators

While the Florida Gators of the hardwood play one of their most important games of the season, the Gators of the gridiron are hard at work putting the finishing touches on their 2019 recruiting class — and, more importantly at this stage, laying the foundation for their 2020 recruting class.

In new commit Johnnie Brown, the Gators have found a big ol’ chunk of foundation.

Brown committed to Florida on Saturday afternoon, making the call via a tweet.

Brown is a defensive tackle from Tampa’s Middleton High and a top-100 recruit for the 2020 class, which would likely make him new defensive line coach David Turner’s player — but Brown’s tweet tags tight ends coach Larry Scott, likely his area recruiter and the coach who Brown has the best relationship with, given that Turner has been on the job for a week.

At 6’2” and 250 pounds, Brown does not profile as a massive run-stuffer up front. And Middleton is not really a power in Florida high school football. But Brown’s freshman highlights — which feature him mostly working as a defensive end, but also pulling double duty as a running back — suggest he has the quickness, speed, and hands to affect a game in other ways, though.

Brown is Florida’s eighth commitment for the 2020 cycle, and the Gators’ 2020 recruting class currently ranks No. 3 nationally per the 247Sports Composite rankings.

Oh, and Junior Day isn’t done.