Florida football caught fire on early signing day, completing several flips while corralling an impressive 2025 cycle haul. The Gators have surged both on and off the field this past month, and seeing their efforts pay off on the recruiting front carries the sweetness of success.
Unsurprisingly, the sports media was impressed with what they saw from the Orange and Blue on Wednesday including ESPN’s Eli Lederman, who penned his winners, questions and takeaways column. Florida was featured in the first category.
“The Gators have charted the hottest finish to the 2025 cycle of any program across the country, securing 13 commitments since Billy Napier’s future was settled on Nov. 7, including seven from the ESPN 300,” Lederman begins.
“Napier and Florida signed ESPN 300 safeties Hylton Stubbs (Miami flip) and Lagonza Hayward Jr. (former Tennessee pledge) to fortify the back end of a defensive class that already features top inside linebacker Ty Jackson, four-star cornerback Ben Hanks Jr. and three top-300 defensive lineman, led by four-star edge Jalen Wiggins,” he continues.
“The Gators missed on flipping Oregon wide receiver pledge Dallas Wilson, but there’s pass-catching talent coming through to help quarterback D.J. Lagway in four-star wide receiver signees Vernell Brown III and Naeshaun Montgomery. And in Auburn offensive tackle flip Tavaris Dice and Florida State running back flip Byron Louis, Florida signed reinforcements in the run game, as well,” he notes.
“A strong close to the regular season has coincided with a forceful late push in the 2025 cycle from the Gators. Napier’s latest class appears to be another piece in the foundation of a turnaround at Florida.”
READ MORE: Gators Wire’s 2025 early signing day tracker
Other schools that earned the “winner” designation were the Michigan Wolverines, Oregon Ducks, Texas A&M Aggies and Arkansas Razorbacks. The “schools that still have issues” comprised the LSU Tigers, Ohio State Buckeyes, Florida State Seminoles, Miami Hurricanes and USC Trojans.
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