Tag: commitment

Fourth recruiting coup for Florida is former 4-star FSU RB commit

Four scores in two days! Hot dang these Gators are red hot on the recruiting trail as the program surges on the field.

Florida football scored its fourth recruiting coup in two days on Tuesday morning when four-star running back [autotag]Byron Louis[/autotag] reportedly flipped from his commitment with the Florida State Seminoles to the Gators.

The 5-foot-11-inch, 200-pound ball carrier out of Fort Lauderdale (Florida) American Heritage in the 2025 cycle had been committed to FSU since September, but a pair of recent visits in back-to-back weeks apparently flipped the table for the blue-chip recruit.

He received an offer from Orange and Blue last January, and he finally made his official visit last weekend. It took a while, but everything ultimately fell into place for Louis.

“What they do schematically is very similar to my high school. So it honestly just shows that whatever I’m doing in high school if I want to go to a college that’s going to do the same thing my high school is doing it’s just the best decision to make,” he told 247Sports.

“Go somewhere where I know I’m comfortable. Not go somewhere where I’m uncomfortable and I’m in an uncomfortable offense. I’m very familiar with Coach Napier and his coaching style. You know, honestly, it works.”

247Sports Recruiting Report

“A potential workhorse between the tackles with a downhill run style that will break through the first sign of contact. Quick to pick a lane and will attack holes with vigor,” it begins.

“Has a few long house calls on the highlight reel and can certainly find a top gear, but isn’t the most elusive runner when he reaches the second level and has more success powering through defenders than he does trying to get around them,” it continues.

“Got more and more involved in the passing attack as a senior and should be able to offer some three-down value on Saturdays as he has the build to chip large edge rushers. Effective in short-yardage situations and finds ways to get into the end zone when down in the red zone, scoring 18 touchdowns as a junior while facing stout South Florida-based competition.

“Projects as a potential multi-year contributor at the Power Four level that will give an offense a physical and reliable option in the backfield.”

Recruiting Summary

Louis is ranked No. 231 overall and No. 17 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 237 and 16, respectively.

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Duke football receives commitment from blue-chip 2026 offensive lineman

Ahead of their final regular season game in 2024, Duke received a commitment from a top 2026 offensive lineman.

Ahead of the Blue Devils’ final regular season game of the 2024 season, Duke received a commitment from a blue-chip offensive lineman in the 2026 class.

Prosper High School’s Sean Stover, a four-star inside offensive lineman, announced his commitment to Duke via X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, on Monday.

According to the 247Sports Composite, Stover is the 276th-ranked player across the class of 2026 and the No. 21 overall interior offensive lineman. He stands 6-foot-2.5 and measures out at 275 pounds.

“True center prospect,” 247Sports scouting analyst Gabe Brooks wrote in his scouting report. “Owns elite lateral athleticism in a combine setting, and that movement ability and short-area quickness show in pads.”

Stover is the second player to join the Blue Devils’ 2026 class, joining three-star defensive lineman Ayden Cain. The class as a whole ranks No. 32 in the 247Sports rankings, the same exact spot that Duke’s 2025 class currently occupies with 25 commitments.

Florida flips third recruit of the day, WR Muizz Tounkara

Make it a trifecta for the Gators! Florida flipped a third recruit on Monday, securing a commitment from wide receiver Muizz Tounkara.

Florida completed a trifecta of recruiting flips with a commitment from Clear Springs (League City, Texas) wide receiver [autotag]Muizz Tounkara[/autotag] on Monday.

Tounkara was in Gainesville on Saturday to see the Gators defeat the Ole Miss Rebels while on an official visit. He’s a perfect fit for Florida’s 2025 recruiting class at 6-foot-3.5-inches tall. The Gators have been looking for a big-bodied receiver since Joshua Moore flipped to Miami.

“I feel that Florida is the right fit for me,” Tounkara said to On3. “Number one the head coach. Coach Napier is a head coach with a background of coaching wide receivers. He definitely has an emphasis on airing the ball out which gives guys like myself optimal opportunity to showcase our skills.”

Tounkara also praised wide receiver coach Billy Gonzalez, who has a track record of developing NFL-ready pass catchers. He’s also a native Texan, which makes him very familiar with Florida’s freshman quarterback DJ Lagway.

“I already knew (Lagway) was the truth, but after this game, he really showed he’s the real deal,” Mounkara said to 247Sports. “He’s just a true freshman, so playing with him for a few more years would be a blessing. It’s really big time.”

Recruiting Summary

Tounkara is a consensus three-star recruit, ranked the highest by 247Sports at No. 92 among wide receivers in the class of 2025.

The 247Sports composite has him at No. 839 nationally and No. 125 at his position, while the On3 industry ranking is slightly more bullish on him at Nos. 770 and 127, respectively.

“Tall, long, lean, and athletic with a longer stride and corresponding build-up speed that influences field-stretching ability and return game juice,” 247Sports scouting analyst Gabe Brooks said in a July report. “Experience in all three phases with snaps at corner facing Texas 6A competition in Houston metro.

“Capable of winning contested throws in traffic thanks to frame, high-pointing acumen, and body control in the air. Capable of go-get-it grabs against overmatched high school defenders. Looks tough on tape with willingness to work the middle of the field and affect the screen/perimeter run games as a blocker.

“Still honing route-running snap/technique, but possesses the twitch to foster consistent late-separating ability and top-of-the-route pop. Arrow points up as senior year looms. Projects to P4 level with physical tools and functional athleticism to become an impact player who possesses ample long-term upside.”

Following a trio of commitments, Florida is now No. 18 overall in the 2025 team rankings from 247Sports and the site’s composite rankings. The Gators were ranked No. 51 just two weeks ago. Similarly, the Gators are now up to No. 20 nationally in the On3 industry team recruiting rankings.

Prediction timeline for Tounkara

Tounkara’s flip to Florida was an expected move as several experts submitted predictions for him in favor of the Gators following Saturday’s win over Ole Miss. On3 vice president of recruiting and transfer portal Stevel Wiltfong was the first, just after the game finished on Saturday, followed by Gators Online insider Keith Niebuhr minutes later.

On3 director of recruiting Chad Simmons submitted his prediction later that night and Gators Online recruiting analyst turned his in with the highest confidence the following afternoon.

247Sports also saw a quartet of crystal ball predictions flood in on Saturday and Sunday. Wisconsin insider Evan Flood was first and beat out Wiltfong by a minute. Swamp247 insider Blake Alderman turned his on Sunday around 1 p.m. ET, followed by 247Sports national analyst Mike Roach fewer than 10 minutes later. 247Sports national recruiting analyst Tom Loy was the last to get his pick in, just before 5 p.m. ET on Sunday.

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Florida flips class of 2025 OT Jahari Medlock from Cincinnati

Florida flipped offensive lineman Jahari Medlock from Cincinnati on Monday, continuing a big November for Billy Napier’s recruiting staff.

Florida’s recruiting team continued a strong November on Monday by flipping the commitment of Charles Drew (Riverdale, Georgia) offensive tackle [autotag]Jahari Medlock[/autotag] on Monday.

A Cincinnati commit since June, Medlock decided that he’d rather stay in the South after visiting The Swamp for Florida’s Week 13 upset win over Ole Miss.

Medlock took an official visit to Florida in October to see the Gators defeat the Kentucky Wildcats. He always planned on a return visit, and he just so happened to be in town for Florida’s biggest win of the season. The Gators offered him back in September.

“I think the aggression (they play with),” Medlock said to Swamp247 when asked what made him flip. “The aggression for sure. I’m a big player on aggression. If I’m not playing with aggression, I’m not winning my match. How the coaches take care of everything. How they keep control over everything, and how they have the players do what they do. They execute what they do. That’s the eye-opener for me.”

Florida offensive line coach John Decoster has been a key recruiter for Medlock. Decoster has kept the pressure on the Atlanta-area recruit, letting him know that UF was the right place to get developed and unlock his full potential.

Medlock was just at Georgia Tech for a mid-week official visit, but Florida won out because of Decoster and the environment produced on Saturday.

Recruiting Summary

Medlock is a consensus three-star recruit, ranked the highest by On3 at No. 34 among offensive tackles.

The 247Sports composite ranks him No. 743 overall and No. 56 among offensive tackles in the class of 2025, while the On3 recruiting prediction machine has him even higher at Nos. 578 and 36, respectively. Both composite rankings factor in the four major recruiting services but with different weighting.

Swamp247 Blake Alderman submitted a crystal ball prediction for Medlock, in favor of Florida, right after the conclusion of Saturday’s game against Ole Miss. 247Sports recruiting analyst Anna Adams followed up with another crystal ball Monday morning.

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Four-star linebacker flips commitment from USC to Florida

Four-star LB Ty Jackson flips from USC to the Florida Gators, keeping one of the nation’s top 2025 recruits close to home.

Four-star linebacker Ty Jackson made waves in the recruiting world on Monday, flipping his commitment from the USC Trojans to Florida football.

Jackson, a native of Loxahatchee, has been on Billy Napier and his coaching staff’s radar for a long time as they have desperately tried to keep him in the state of Florida.

“Being close to home is always one to be honest with you,” Jackson told Swamp247 earlier in the year about the attractions the Gators have to sell. “Getting back on campus a lot, being able to do that, it’s always good. Just the people.”

Jackson also noted the importance of defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong’s efforts to recruit him.

“It’s definitely big to me,” he said. “The DC (defensive coordinator) taking time out of his day to reach out to me to try and check up. Make sure my day is going well, school, and getting ready to get back in football.”

This past season at Seminole Ridge High School, Jackson logged 135 tackles, four forced fumbles, two sacks, two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Other teams involved with Jackson were Alabama, Florida State, Georgia and Penn State.

Recruiting Summary

Jackson is a four-star linebacker who ranked as the No. 124 overall prospect in the country and the No. 13 ranked linebacker in the 2025 recruiting class, according to the 247Sports composite.

The On3 industry ranking has Jackson at No. 135 in terms of national rankings and the 15th-best linebacker in the 2025 recruiting class. ESPN has Jackson as the No. 1 linebacker in the 2025 recruiting class.

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Where Wisconsin’s class of 2025 ranks nationally after big-time addition of QB Carter Smith

Where Wisconsin’s class of 2025 ranks nationally after big-time addition of QB Carter Smith

Wisconsin football’s recruiting performance is far better than the current on-field product, to say the least.

Luke Fickell’s team has now lost four straight games after Saturday’s 44-25 defeat at Nebraska. It is just 5-6 on the season and 3-5 in Big Ten play, desperately needing a season-closing victory over Minnesota to clinch bowl eligibility.

There is more context behind that on-field performance, including the recent firing of offensive coordinator Phil Longo and historic blowout losses to rivals Iowa and Nebraska sandwiching hard-fought losses to top-ranked teams. That context doesn’t help the general trend of poor play.

But for those still optimistic about the Badgers’ future under Luke Fickell, the biggest calling card is his recruiting performance.

Wisconsin made headlines on Sunday when it landed a commitment from four-star class of 2025 quarterback Carter Smith. Smith is ranked as 247Sports’ No. 15 quarterback in the class and No. 164 overall player. Beating Florida State for his commitment was a statement for Fickell and his staff — even doing so after firing Longo just seven days earlier.

The addition of Smith brings Wisconsin’s class of 2025 to 25 total commitments — eight of which coming from blue-chip players. Notably, it rose the group four spots up to No. 21 in 247Sports’ national rankings.

The Badgers now boast the eighth-highest-rated class in the Big Ten, trailing just Ohio State (No. 2 overall), Oregon (No. 8), Michigan (No. 9), USC (No. 11), Penn State (No. 15), Washington (No. 18) and Nebraska (No. 20). The No. 21 ranking is an impressive follow-up after Luke Fickell finished the 2024 class with 247Sports’ No. 25 overall class and a Blue-Chip Ratio of 50%.

Smith’s addition continues a growing debate about how to weigh Wisconsin’s on-field struggles with its recruiting success. In reality, the 2025 football season will be somewhat defined by the performance of the 2024 recruiting class and another crop of transfers. If that strong recruiting doesn’t lead to improved on-field play, the clock may start ticking on his tenure.

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Florida football flips IOL previously committed to FSU

Florida’s barrage of commitment flips continued on Tuesday with the commitment of former Florida State offensive line commit Daniel Pierre Louis.

Florida’s recruiting staff continued to dominate the month of November by flipping Seminole Ridge (Loxahatchee, Florida) interior offensive lineman [autotag]Daniel Pierre Louis[/autotag] from the Florida State Seminoles on Tuesday.

Pierre Louis’ commitment to Florida comes immediately after his official visit with the Gators, during which he watched the Orange and Blue take down the LSU Tigers in an upset win on Saturday.

The Seminoles landed him on Oct. 15 — over both Florida and North Carolina State — but major changes in Tallahassee affected his recruitment.

Coaches make the difference

Florida State recently fired offensive coordinator/line coach Alex Atkins, who played a vital role in securing a pledge from Pierre Louis. With the FSU coaching staff in flux, Florida co-offensive line coach [autotag]Jonathan Decoster[/autotag] was able to step up over the weekend, according to Gators Online.

“He’s Haitian and I’m Haitian, so we connect really well,” Pierre Louis said. “We have a bond where he gives me great feedback and tells me where to improve and also shows me little tips and tricks to keep elevating my game. He shows me development of other players like me that they brought into their program. Overall, the vibes are really good. He’s been showing me what their plans for development are, like, how they go into each week and their grade-out sheets. It’s been really nice.”

Pierre Louis is also getting close with Rob Sale, the Gators’ other offensive line coach. He also has a relationship with four-star quarterback Tramell Jones, who recently flipped from Florida State to Florida.

All eyes now shift to five-star Florida State commit Solomon Thomas, who also voiced his displeasure with the firing of Atkins.

Recruiting Summary

Pierre Louis is a consensus three-star recruit, ranked the highest by On3 at No. 52 among interior offensive linemen in the class of 2025. The 247Sports composite ranks Pierre Louis No. 803 nationally and No. 55 at his position, while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 949 and 77, respectively.

A flurry of flip predictions came in on Monday as Pierre Louis notified Florida State of his decision. Swamp247 insider Blake Alderman and Zach Blostein submitted crystal ball predictions within minutes of each other around 10 a.m. ET on Monday, followed by On3 vice president of recruiting and transfer portal Steve Wiltfong (10:22 a.m. ET) and Gators Online insider Keith Niebuhr (10:38 a.m. ET).

Gators Online recruiting analyst Corey Bender (1:26 p.m.) and On3 Warchant senior recruiting analyst Michael Langston (1:53 p.m.) also submitted predictions in the afternoon.

Florida is ranked No. 24 in the On3 industry team recruiting rankings and No. 28 in the 247Sports team rankings — up from Nos. 27 and 31, respectively.

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Florida adds former Georgia DL commit to 2025 recruiting class

Don’t count the Gators out just yet. Florida’s recruiting staff is picking up some steam with a second commitment in as many days.

For the second time in as many days, the Florida Gators earned a commitment from a class of 2025 recruit. Brentwood Academy (Tennessee) defensive lineman [autotag]Stephon Shivers[/autotag] pledged his services to the Orange and Blue on Monday, following an official visit to the Swamp over the weekend.

Shivers backed off his commitment to Georgia 10 days ago and quickly linked up with Florida to see the Gators beat the LSU Tigers on Saturday. The 6-foot, 4 1/2-inch, 385-pound lineman left Gainesville very high on Florida, and he didn’t wait long to make a decision.

“It was a great atmosphere,” Shivers said to On3. “I ain’t never see nothing like The Swamp. Their defensive line, they got after it, and took what they wanted. That’s what I want to be a part of. People that want to work, people that want to go eat and dominate every play.”

Vanderbilt was also in the mix, but a standout performance from Florida’s defensive line helped seal the deal. The unit has improved greatly under position coach Gerald Chatman, who was the main recruiter for Shivers this weekend. Florida is recruiting him as a nose tackle and 3-technique lineman.

Recruiting Summary

Shivers is a three-star recruit everywhere except ESPN, where he earned a fourth star. The 247Sports composite has him ranked No. 489 overall and No. 52 among defensive linemen in the class of 2025, while the On3 industry ranking is slightly more bullish on him at Nos. 449 and 41, respectively.

Florida quickly took over the On3 recruiting prediction machine odds a day after Shivers decommitted from Georgia. A pair of expert predictions — the first from Gators Online recruiting analyst Corey Bender on Thursday and a second from On3 vice president of recruiting and transfer portal Steve Wiltfong on Monday — made Florida the favorite to land him.

247Sports also shifted in favor of Florida in recent days, following crystal ball predictions from Swamp247 insider Blake Alderman a week ago, Vandy 247 publisher Robbie Weinstein on Sunday and national recruiting analyst Tom Loy on Monday.

Florida is ranked No. 27 in the On3 industry team recruiting rankings and No. 31 on 247Sports’ team rankings.

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Four-star QB Tramell Jones flips to Florida during official visit

Just days after decommitting from the Florida State Seminoles, four-star quarterback Tramell Jones has flipped to the University of Florida, bolstering the Gators’ 2025 recruiting class.

Three days after de-committing from Florida State, Mandarin (Jacksonville) quarterback [autotag]Tramell Jones[/autotag] has flipped to the Florida Gators.

Jones was in Gainesville over the weekend to see the Gators upset the LSU Tigers in the Swamp, and he got to spend time with true freshman quarterback [autotag]DJ Lagway[/autotag].

“I’d say the highlight of the weekend was of course was being in the Swamp, but also being able to spend that time with DJ (Lagway) and all the other players,” Jones said to On3’s Keith Niebuhr. “I wanted to see what the atmosphere and culture was with them, getting to see how they felt about the season, getting to see how they are outside of football.”

Jones initially said he’d take a couple of days to consider his options, but he flipped to the Orange and Blue before the weekend came to a close. He’s also considering another visit to Florida for the Ole Miss game next weekend.

Fellow Florida commit [autotag]Vernell Brown III[/autotag] played 7-on-7 with Jones over the summer, and he plays high school ball with five-star Texas receiver commit Jaime Ffrench. Jones is also close with Florida State offensive line commit Solomon Thomas, who expressed some displeasure after his position coach was let go in a recent wave of changes on the Seminoles’ coaching staff. Both Ffrench and Thomas were on campus Saturday.

Recruiting Summary

Jones is a four-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals’ measure and earns a three-star rating from 247Sports and On3; however, the 247Sports composite and On3 industry ranking both grant him four-star status.

The 247Sports composite ranks him No. 238 overall and No. 21 among quarterbacks in the class of 2025, while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 247 and 21, respectively.

“Experienced signal caller with cleaner mechanics that has improved in every key statistical category since earning the starting nod as a freshman on varsity,” wrote 247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins in a February report. “More of a one-read passer at this stage that will feed his playmakers and throw them open. Gets the ball out quick with a compact, repeatable motion and tends to utilize more touch than he does velocity.”

Florida jumped up 12 places on the 247Sports composite team rankings to No. 33 following Jones’ commitment.

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Gators flip No. 2 kicker in class of 2025 from Arkansas

Florida’s special teams should remain strong for years to come following the commitment of Evan Noel, the top kicker in the class of 2025.

Florida earned a commitment from St. Stanislaus (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) kicker [autotag]Evan Noel[/autotag] on Monday.

Noel is one of the top kickers in the 2025 recruiting class, ranked No. 1 at his position by both 247Sports and On3. He recently set the Mississippi high school state record with a 61-yarder in mid-September.

He flipped from Arkansas after a year-long commitment to the Razorbacks. Arkansas viewed Noel as an immediate solution to its special team’s woes. The Razorbacks have only hit 13 of 20 field goal attempts this season, and Noel had a strong chance to start there next season.

Instead, he’ll head to Gainesville in 2025 and begin his college career behind Trey Smack. There is a chance Noel challenges Smack for the starting job next season, but that means beating out a third-year starter in his senior year.

Smack began his Gators career as a kickoff specialist while Adam Mihalek served as the primary placekicker. Since then, Smack has made 27 of 34 field goal attempts, including three from beyond 50 yards.

Noel understands the situation he’s entering, though.

“If I went there I would have to sit behind Trey for a year, or at least be in a position battle with him my first year,” Noel said to 247Sports. “They wanted to get a kicker they liked a lot this cycle, which is me. Have me there to get developed, learn from Trey and the coaches, and then be ready to go the next year.”

First-year assistant Joe Houston is a major reason Noel decided on Florida. The two have developed a strong relationship, and Noel believes Houston will be able to develop him better than other special teams coaches.

Florida moved up to No. 45 in 247Sports’ team rankings as a result of the commitment.

Recruiting Summary

Noel is a three-star recruit by both 247Sports and On3. Kickers rarely exceed the three-star threshold; however, Kohl’s Professional Camps, which only grades special teamers, lists Noel as a five-star talent.

“Noel competed at the National Scholarship Camp in July of 2024 and had an outstanding camp. He scored 32/36 points on field goals and 107.5 points on kickoffs. Noel might have the best overall talent in the 2025 class! He is very consistent and handles pressure very well,” reads the Kohl’s breakdown of the newest Florida commit.

The 247Sports composite ranks Noel No. 2,086 overall and No. 2 at his position, while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 2,179 and 3, respectively. The low composite rankings stem from a two-star listing by Rivals.

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