Tag: 2026 Football Recruiting

Florida hosting in-state 2026 QB for homecoming game this weekend

The Florida Gators are planning to host one of the top sophomore quarterbacks in the country, Jesuit’s Will Griffin, for the Vanderbilt game.

It might seem way too early to be talking about the recruiting class of 2026, but the reality of college football is that the top quarterbacks in any given class typically figure out their college plans by the end of their junior year in high school.

Nine of the top-20-ranked quarterbacks in the class of 2025 are already committed, and two of the top nine sophomore signal callers in the country are locked up as well. That’s why Florida is hosting Jesuit (Tampa) quarterback [autotag]Will Griffin[/autotag] on Saturday for the homecoming game against Vanderbilt, according to 247Sports’ Steve Wiltfong.

Griffin is getting early looks from Florida’s Big 3, but the Gators and Seminoles appear to be out in front early. This visit should keep UF ahead of FSU. The atmosphere will be perfect. Florida is seeking revenge at home for a game it never should have lost in 2022 and it’s homecoming. The Swamp will be rocking.

The Gators hosted Griffin for the spring game back in the fall, but this will be a completely different experience.

Griffin is a four-star recruit, according to 247Sports and Rivals. Neither ESPN nor On3 has graded him yet, but the expectation is for Griffin to fight for a fifth star over his next three high school seasons. He’s already played 32 varsity contests — dating back to the seventh grade — and has 1,146 yards and 11 touchdowns through five games this year.

247Sports ranks him No. 60 overall in the class, No. 5 among quarterbacks and No. 8 among 2026s from the state of Florida.

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LSU offers 2026 athlete from Jonesboro, Georgia

Recently, the staff took a trip to Jonesboro, Georgia, where they found an athlete that they think can make a difference on the bayou.

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] and his recruiting staff are still working on the 2026 recruiting class even though these kids are only sophomores. Recently, the staff took a trip to Jonesboro, Georgia, where they found an athlete that they think can make a difference on the bayou.

[autotag]Jontavius Wyman[/autotag] is a 6-foot, 160-pound athlete from Jonesboro, Georgia where he plays for Jonesboro High School. The Jonesboro Cardinals are off to a hot start in the 2023 season as they have started with a 4-1 record.

There are currently no Crystal Ball projections at this time for Wyman but Georgia Tech is a 60% favorite to land him per On3.

Film Analysis: Wyman is a talented kid who could play on either side of the ball at the next level. He stars as a wide receiver and a cornerback for the Cardinals.

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LSU offers 2026 5-star wide receiver from Detroit

Brian Kelly is working on recruiting the best receiver in the 2026 recruiting class.

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] is working on recruiting the best receiver in the 2026 recruiting class. He and his recruiting staff took a trip to Detroit to check out a wide receiver that is ranked as the No. 1 receiver in the country by 247Sports.

[autotag]CJ Sadler[/autotag] is a 5-foot-10, 170-pound, five-star wide receiver in the 2026 recruiting class. He is from Detroit where he plays for Cass Tech. The Cass Tech Technicians are off to a 3-2 start this season but they are on a three-game win streak.

There are no Crystal Ball projections for Sadler but Michigan is a 92% favorite to land him per On3.

Film Analysis: Sadler shows why he is ranked as the No. 1 wide receiver in the country as he showcases his speed and route running.

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LSU offers 2026 five-star defensive lineman from Rabun Gap, Georgia

Brian Kelly is going after one of the top prospects in the 2026 class.

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] is hard at work on the 2026 recruiting class. He recently offered one of the best players in the country, a five-star defensive lineman who transferred from Maryland to Georgia this year.

[autotag]James Carrington[/autotag] is a 6-foot-2, 270-pound, five-star defensive lineman from Rabun Gap, Georgia, where he plays for Rabun Gap-Nacoochee High School. The Rabun Gap-Nacoochee Eagles are off to a hot start in 2023. They are 5-0 and they have a big game coming up against undefeated Robbinsville.

There are currently no Crystal Ball projections at this time for Carrington but Georgia is a 41% favorite to land him per On3.

Film Analysis: Carrington has unreal quickness for a guy who is 270 pounds. Good luck trying to block this guy if you are a guard.

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LSU offers 2026 4-star offensive tackle from Gonzalez, Louisiana

LSU’s recruiting staff is continuing to work on recruiting the boot.

LSU’s recruiting staff is continuing to work on recruiting the boot. They recently offered one of the top offensive tackles in the 2026 recruiting class.

[autotag]Brysten Martinez[/autotag] is a 6-foot-6, 290-pound, four-star offensive tackle from Gonzales, Louisiana, where he plays for East Ascension High School. The East Ascension Spartans have started the 2023 season off 0-1 with a loss to Zachary 24-7 in Week 1.

There are currently no Crystal Ball projections at this time and there are no clear favorites to land Martinez per On3.

Film Analysis: Martinez is a guy who likes to play through the whistle. He has no problem driving opposing defensive ends into the dirt.

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Gators QB prospect, son of former NBA star announces trip to UF

The son of a former NBA shooting guard, and nephew of Florida women’s basketball star, will attend the Sept. 16 matchup between Florida and Tennessee.

Dia Bell, son of former NBA shooting guard Raja, is still pondering which school to commit to after he graduates in 2026.

Bell still has a long way to go and plenty of time to develop his skills. The young four-star prospect has a small list of schools where he’s showing interest including Brigham Young, Florida, Miami and Penn State.

The quarterback told reporters at On3 that he plans to attend the nationally televised showdown between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers.

Bell was already intrigued with Florida, even if his aunt and former WNBA star Tombi Bell never attended the school, the vibes of Gainesville caught his attention.

“I really like the energy around the program,” Bell told On3. “I was able to spend time at spring practice, and the competitiveness was awesome.”

Bell also elaborated on his growing relationship with head coach Billy Napier and offensive analyst Ryan O’Hara, stating that he has a good time during film breakdowns with O’Hara but wants to focus on his team for now.

Bell joins the Sept. 16 guest list of 24 uncommitted high school recruits from the 2024 and 2025 graduating classes. Bell will be the first prospect from 2026 to attend the game, Also attending the matchup between Florida and Tennessee are 2025 five-star quarterback commit DJ Lagway and five-star defensive lineman Armondo Blount.

Dia Bell plays for American Heritage High School in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. 247Sports hasn’t given him an official rating yet but that hasn’t stopped the offers from coming in.

The Florida Gators host the Volunteers in week three, but not before welcoming the McNeese State Cowboys on Saturday night with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. The game will be streamed on ESPNU.

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Four-star 2026 QB prospect plans visit for homecoming game

With all the clamor about the Tennessee game visitors, the Gators will be getting this future star on campus for the Vanderbilt game.

Top-tier opponents are making their way to The Swamp, and an in-state quarterback prospect marked his calendar to pay another visit to the University of Florida campus.

Four-star quarterback Will Griffin, a Tampa native, has planned another trip to Gainesville since his initial visit to the Florida Gators football camp on June 23. The recruit spoke to GatorsOnline, citing his schedule and the football games he plans to attend.

“I will be at Alabama this Saturday,” Griffin said. “Also, I plan to be at Georgia vs. South Carolina and UF for the Vandy game.”

The Gators host the Vanderbilt Commodores during homecoming week on Oct. 6.

Florida head coach Billy Napier made an official offer to Griffin to join the Gators when the young QB visited the UF campus.

According to 247Sports, the recruit is pondering between five different offers from Florida, Florida State, Auburn, Miami, and Michigan.

Griffin leads the huddle at Jesuit High School and is a member of the 2026 graduate class. Standing at 6-foot-3-inches and weighing 215 pounds, the blue-chip prospect ranks No. 60 overall nationally and ranks No. 5 in the nation for quarterbacks, per 247Sports.

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LSU offers 4-star EDGE from Douglasville, Georgia

Jordan Carter is a 6-foot-4, 235-pound, four-star edge rusher from Douglasville, Georgia.

LSU’s recruiting staff took a trip deep into enemy territory as they are looking to take one of the best EDGE rushers in the 2026 recruiting class away from the Georgia Bulldogs.

[autotag]Jordan Carter[/autotag] is a 6-foot-4, 235-pound, four-star EDGE rusher from Douglasville, Georgia, where he plays for Douglas County High School. He transferred to Douglas County this season after playing for the Carrollton Trojans last Fall.

There is no crystal ball projection for Carter at this time but the Georgia Bulldogs are a 39% favorite to land him per On3.

Film Analysis: Carter was a starter for a Carrollton team that made it all the way to the state championship game. He is very good at bullrushing to disrupt plays.

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LSU offers 4-star 2026 wide receiver from Miami

LSU’s recruiting staff took a trip down to south Florida to check out one of the top wide receivers in the country for the 2026 recruiting class.

LSU’s recruiting staff took a trip down to south Florida to check out one of the top wide receivers in the country for the 2026 recruiting class. They will have to fight off Billy Napier and the Florida Gators to land him.

[autotag]Calvin Russell[/autotag] is a 6-foot-4, 181-pound, four-star wide receiver from Miami, Florida, where he plays for Northwestern High School. The Northwestern Bulls finished the 2022 season 6-5 with a loss to Central in the second round of the 2M state playoffs.

There are currently no Crystal Ball projections for Russell at this time but Florida is a 43% favorite to land him per On3.

Film Analysis: Russell is a tall receiver who does a great job of high-pointing catches over smaller defensive backs.

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Gators ‘at the top’ for rising sophomore QB target

You have to start early when it comes to recruiting quarterbacks at a high level, and Florida is staying ahead of the curve.

It’s a bit early to start thinking about Florida’s 2026 recruiting class. Still, quarterbacks are usually the first players evaluated and the Gators are eyeing one of the top young arms in the rising sophomore class, [autotag]Romin Seymour[/autotag].

Florida hosted Seymoure for a training camp over the summer and immediately presented the Manvel High (Texas) signal caller a scholarship offer, according to Gators Online. A 2026 All-American Bowl competitor, Seymour is getting a ton of attention early on.

Aside from UF, Florida State, Houston, Pittsburgh and Texas A&M have offered. LSU is getting interested but hasn’t officially joined the race yet. Right now, it’s the Gators that sit at the top of his list.

Spending time with offensive analyst Ryan O’Hara and head coach Billy Napier convinced him that the program was right for him, and the new facilities also left a strong impression on him. O’Hara spent time going over film with Seymour, strengthening his relationship with the staff.

Manvel High is the same high school the Kyle Trask went to before coming to Florida. Fans will make the natural comparison between the two, but the truth is that Seymour has only played one year at the high school level so far.

None of the four major recruiting services have a grade for him yet. That’s how young he is. Florida is going well early with a player it likes, but this is only the beginning of a search that will likely last over a year.

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