Florida teams working to get four-star 2025 LB Gavin Nix on campus

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

The Ascenders have jumped out to a 4-0 record this season playing three on the road. To carry the wins back to Bradenton (Fla.), the defense has traveled. In the middle of IMG Academy’s defense is hard hitting four-star linebacker Gavin Nix. Nix (6-0, 225) is a prospect all Sunshine State teams want to add to their 2025 class.

IMG began the season traveling to Lipscomb Academy (Tenn.), St. Joseph’s Prep (Penn.), and Ben Davis (Ind.) before finally getting to hang around the campus last week welcoming Glenville (Ohio).

Nix shared insight into the early goings of the 2023 schedule, “The season is going great. In our first game, I had an amazing game; one of the best of my career. That was me setting the tone for the season.

“I have been playing really well. This is my second year at IMG, I have a great understanding of the defense. I have been flying around doing what I do. I’ve had a really strong start to the season.”

The offer tally has reached 23 with three bluebloods perhaps on the verge of extending a scholarship.

“Ohio State, Georgia, and Stanford are the main three building relationships with me,” Nix stated.

Among the teams to already drop an offer, there’s seemingly always a program hitting up Nix’s phone.

“I’d say Tennessee, Florida State, Florida, Miami, North Carolina, and Michigan are reaching out the most,” Nix shared. “There are a lot, those are the ones I can name off the top of my head.”

UCF has already hosted Nix for a game-day, and the Knights are trying to get him back to the Bounce House again.

“I am trying to get up to UCF for the Baylor game (Sept. 30),” Nix said. “I visited UCF three weeks ago (Kent State) to be around the staff and players; I have a great relationship with the players there. UCF being in my hometown, that is a good thing.”

The four-star shed more light on the behind the scenes back and forth with the Knights’ coaching staff.

“Overall, my relationship with UCF is great,” Nix stated. “The coaches talking to the most are coach (Ernie) Sims (LB), coach (Addison) Williams, their defensive coordinator, and coach (Andrew) Blaylock (asst. HC); I am tight with them. They are making a big push.

“With them being around the corner, I grew up playing with a lot of the guys. Even coach (Gus) Malzahn has been reaching out. They are brewing up something great. I keep building that relationship with UCF. That is my hometown school, it wouldn’t be bad to do great things in that city.”

UCF isn’t the only Sunshine State team to get Nix in their stadium this season.

“I just came back from the Tennessee-Florida game,” Nix said. “I will probably go to the Miami vs. Florida State game (Nov. 11) or the Florida State vs. Florida game (Nov. 25). With our schedule, it is hard to get around right now.”

Details to the time in Gainesville were shared, “It went great. I’ve been to Florida a few times; this was probably the craziest the stadium has ever been. I felt bad for Tennessee, I could tell they were playing against 12 people. The stadium with each play was crazy. The atmosphere was electric, it was attractive. It was a great win for Florida too.”

The rapport with the Seminoles continues to grow.

“It is great,” Nix stated. “Florida State came at me early in my recruiting process. They have the same staff; I am still building that relationship with everyone at Florida State. They are doing great things and winning big games. Our relationship is great.”

Nix is tied for the team lead in tackles (25) with Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng and leads the Ascenders with four tackles for a loss.

*Click the link for the July 10 RNG interview with Gavin Nix.

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