Four-star defensive lineman Kendall Guervil (Fort Myers) signed with the Florida Gators just before noon on Wednesday.

Guervil committed to Florida in July, despite Texas leading his recruiting until then. An official visit to both Florida and Texas helped him clarify which school felt like the right fit. Georgia was another potential suitor. An ACL injury ended Guervil’s senior year before he could complete one game. That didn’t deter other schools from pursuing him — Florida State, Miami and — but Guervil remained “100% committed” to Florida.

As Florida’s losses piled up, leading to Billy Napier’s eventual firing, Guervil remained loyal to the Gators, despite some uneasiness. Guervil is no stranger to coaching changes at Florida. He was initially recruited by defensive line coach Sean Spencer, who left for Texas A&M in 2023. Gerald Chatman picked up where Spencer left off. Guervil was pleased to see Florida hire a defensive-minded coach in Jon Sumrall.

“Just knowing that my coach has a little bit of a defensive background, yeah, I think we’ll be able to connect a lot better,” Guervil said to 247Sports. “Him being able to understand me more and understand my position and everything.”

Size has always been a huge plus for Guervil. At 6-foot-4.5-inches and 323 pounds, he can go toe-to-toe with an SEC offensive lineman. It’s what got him on the coaches’ radar as a freshman. Athletic for his size before the injury, Guervil times jumps well and is quick off the line. 35-inch arms allow him to reach ball carriers quicker than normal, but he’s still developing his technique. While he has taken reps on the edge, Guervil solidly profiles as an interior defensive lineman at the college level.

Guervil’s injury sent him plummeting down the 247Sports rankings. He hovered between No. 74 and No. 82 for most of the year but fell to No. 209 in the November update. On the composite rankings, he’s No. 209.

Player Profile

Player Notes

• Logged as a consensus 4-star according to Rivals, 247 Sports and ESPN. 
• Rated as the No. 193 player nationally, No. 22 DL and No. 23 player in the state per Rivals. 
• Named to The News-Press Big 15 in 2023 and 2024.
• Totaled 172 tackles (88 solo), 26 TFLs, 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. 
• Selected Florida over Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, Indiana, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas A&M and USC, among others. 

Recruiting Summary

Andrew Ivins, Director of Scouting 247Sports:

“Athletic defensive tackle with the mass and quickness to make an impact in the middle. Tips the scales at just over 6-foot-4, 310 pounds and wears it well with a thicker trunk. Slams into opponents and frequently is the one initiating contact. Will get low in his stance with exceptional lower-body flexibility, but pad level tends to rise as play progresses, which in turn can put him in some comparable positions. Displays adequate get-off for his size and has the downhill charge to close gaps in backside pursuit.

“Has manufactured plenty of power in the weight room over the years and that shows up with his bull rush as he can forklift obstacles, but needs to figure out how to get more from his 35-inch arms and big 10.25-inch hands. Enters senior year with a lower sack total compared to most of his peers, but has the tools to eventually emerge as an effective one-gap player if he can take to coaching and keep honing his craft. Could fit into a variety of different fronts and shade up in short-yardage situations. Projects as a potential multi-year contributor at the Power Four level with an NFL ceiling given how he moves with his features.”

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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida football recruiting signs 4-star DL Kendall Guervil