Florida loses WR commit Joshua Moore to in-state rival

Florida football had three unique receivers from the class of 2025 under commitment, but the Miami Hurricanes have flipped Joshua Moore.

On Tuesday, three-star wide receiver [autotag]Joshua Moore[/autotag] flipped his commitment from the University of Florida to the University of Miami.

The South Florida native, who plays at West Broward High School, picked the Gators back in June following official visits to the Sunshine State’s Big 3, but he began considering a flip as the season carried on.

Moore was in Gainesville for Florida’s season-opening loss to Miami, and he began seriously weighing his option following the UCF game.

“Really, it was the developmental part of things,” Moore said to On3. “I really like what coach Cristobal, coach KB and the rest of the coaching staff has been doing this season. I see that they’re building something special. I see the wide receiver room and I see the wide receivers are producing, so I wanted to be a part of something special.”

At 6-foot-4-inches, Moore is a pure X receiver who would line up on the outside of Florida’s offense. The Gators run plenty of short-yardage plays and screens, but they’ve gone deep often to guys like Elijhah Badger. Moore would have fit into a similar role as Badger at Florida.

The hometown pitch is another reason Moore decided to flip. The University of Miami is just an hour away from West Broward High, and Hard Rock Stadium — the Hurricanes’ off-campus stadium that also houses the Miami Dolphins — is about 30 minutes away.

Florida’s 2025 Recruiting Class

Florida still has a pair of four-star recruits under commitment in the class of 2025, but neither is the big-bodied receiver that Moore is. Vernell Brown III and Naeshaun Montgomery are more than capable at receiver, but they play the position differently than Moore.

Florida will return Marcus Burke (6-feet-3.75-inches) and Kahleil Jackson (6-1), but Moore was the future deep threat for the program. There is a chance that 6-foot-4-inch Tae’shaun Gelsey will move from tight end to receiver after putting up over 600 yards and 12 touchdowns through seven games this fall.

Moore’s commitment caused Florida to drop to 36th overall on 247Sports’ team recruiting rankings.

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Florida WR commit not putting too much stock into Week 1 loss

Florida commits know that there will be ups and downs this season, but wide receiver Joshua Moore isn’t worried about the Week 1 loss to Miami.

West Broward High (Pembroke Pines, Florida) wide receiver [autotag]Joshua Moore[/autotag] isn’t ditching the Florida Gators after a Week 1 loss to the Miami Hurricanes.

While fans and (some) media members have taken the loss particularly hard, the recruits committed to the program have not responded nearly as dramatically — at least on the surface.

Moore reaffirmed his commitment with Blake Alderman of 247Sports following Florida’s loss to Miami.

“First thing on my mind, I’m still 100% a Gator man,” Moore said following the game. “That don’t mean nothing. Just because they lost, that don’t mean nothing. I’m still 100% a Gator.”

That’s some strong language for a player who Florida State and Miami were still courting over the summer, but it’s not entirely unexpected from Moore. The South Florida product cares more about the coaching staff than what happens on the field before he gets to campus.

“Billy Gonzalez,” he said. “I just know, everyone is going to have their ups and downs. Minor setback for a major comeback.”

At 6-foot-4-inches, Moore would be the tallest receiver on Florida’s roster if he were a year older. The Gators flashed a few deep pass plays with Elijhah Badger as the primary target, but it could Moore running those route as a true freshman next season.

There’s also the fact that Moore got to see his future quarterback, DJ Lagway, get his feet wet in the Swamp. There was a clear tone shift when Lagway stepped onto the field, and that should help keep Florida’s wide receiver commits from jumping ship.

The Gators still have to play defense on Moore, though. The Hurricanes are continuing to push and can reach him easier being in South Florida. Moore expects to return to Florida and make stops at Florida State and Miami this season.

Recruiting Summary

Moore is a four-star recruit everywhere except 247Sports’ standalone rankings. Both the On3 industry ranking and 247Sports composite grant him four-star status, however.

The On3 industry ranking has him at No. 139 overall and No. 19 among receivers in the class of 2025, while the 247Sports composite is slightly less bullish at Nos. 173 and 17, respectively.

Florida dominates the On3 recruiting prediction machine with 97.0% to sign Moore, followed by Miami (1.4%) and Florida State (1.2%).

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Florida learns commitment date for priority 2025 WR target

Florida already has a pair of top-end receivers committed from the class of 2025, but Billy Napier is trying to make it a trifecta.

Miami Central High wide receiver [autotag]Naeshaun Montgomery[/autotag] will announce his commitment on August 25, according to On3’s Hayes Fawcett.

Montgomery set a top-six of Alabama, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Oregon and Penn State, but he has long been considered the UF’s to lose. Only the Gators and Nittany Lions have gotten him on in town for an official visit.

He recently announced plans to return to Gainesville at the end of the month for the Grille in the ‘Ville event to close out the summer recruiting period. All signs point to the Orange and Blue here, but Gators fans know by now that nothing is certain until the kid is on campus.

Montgomery would become the third elite wideout to commit to Florida in the 2025 recruiting cycle. [autotag]Vernell Brown III[/autotag], a top-50 overall recruit in the class, recently joined West Broward four-star [autotag]Joshua Moore[/autotag] in the Gators’ class.

Recruiting Summary

Montgomery is ranked No. 182 overall and No. 18 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 247 and 34, respectively.

He holds four-star status at ESPN and Rivals but not 247Sports or On3. However, both major composite rankings grant him four-star status.

Florida holds both crystal ball predictions from 247Sports following a flip from National Recruiting Analyst Tom Loy, who previously favored the Penn State Nittany Lions.

The Gators have an overwhelming lead in On3’s recruiting prediction machine, which gives them an 87.3% chance, followed by the LSU Tigers (3.5%), Penn State (2.5%) and the Miami Hurricanes (1.7%).

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Missouri pulls ahead of Florida to land top-100 WR commitment

Florida’s recruiting staff has been pushing for four-star IMG Academy receiver Donovan Olugbode over the past few months, but he committed to a different SEC program Friday.

IMG Academy wide receiver [autotag]Donovan Olugbode[/autotag] committed to the Missouri Tigers on Friday over Florida, Oregon, USC and Washington.

Olugbode announced his decision live on 247Sports’ YouTube channel surrounded by his family. He reviewed each of his top five schools with national college football recruiting analyst Tom Loy before revealing his choice.

“Billy Napier, him being a receiver guy, coming from Alabama and coaching guys at the receiver position there,” Olugbode said when asked why Florida was still in the race. “Him being an offensive coordinator and a good guy who knows a lot about the game. They have a good receivers coach too, Billy G.”

Olugbode said that he knew Missouri was home once he returned from his official visit in late June. He informed the coaches beforehand, which explains the pivot to Missouri among experts over the past week or so.

Before a July 2 prediction from On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons, the odds were split fairly evenly between Florida, Oregon and Washington.

Class of 2025 WRs connected to Florida

Despite missing out on Olugbode, a four-star recruit who played high school nearby, Florida still has a chance to put together one of the best receiver classes in the country.

Right now, West Broward four-star [autotag]Joshua Moore[/autotag] is the only receiver committed to Florida, but the Gators are in the hunt for at least two more elite pass catchers.

Florida is competing with FSU for in-state five-star [autotag]Vernell Brown III[/autotag] and is a heavy favorite to land Miami Central four-star Naeshaun Montgomery.

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Gators add blue-chip wide receiver to 2025 recruiting class haul

The Florida Gators scored a major win in the 2025 recruiting cycle with the commitment of South Florida standout Joshua Moore.

Billy Napier added four-star wide receiver [autotag]Joshua Moore[/autotag] out of Pembroke Pines (Florida) West Broward to his 2025 recruiting haul on Wednesday after the coveted pass-catcher committed to the Florida football program.

The 6-foot-3-inch, 205-pound pass-catcher had whittled down his preferred collegiate destinations to a final two schools at the end of last week, with the Gators prevailing over the Florida State Seminoles for the blue-chip talent.

“Florida, I feel like it feels more homey,” Moore told Swamp247 prior to the the official announcement. “Not too far away from home, but I’m far away enough. I feel like I can get developed here. I could become a better man, and a better player on the field also. That’s why I chose Florida.”

Recruiting Summary

Moore is ranked No. 196 overall and No. 25 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 197 and 24, respectively.

Florida held two crystal ball predictions from 247Sports coming into the day while On3’s recruiting prediction machine gave the Gators a 97.0% chance of signing him.

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LSU offers 4-star wide receiver from Pembroke Pines, Florida

Brian Kelly is working on recruiting for the 2025 recruiting class.

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] is working on recruiting for the 2025 recruiting class. That venture has taken him to Broward County in Florida where he found a four-star wide receiver.

[autotag]Joshua Moore[/autotag] is a 6-foot-3, 205-pound, four-star wide receiver from the 2025 recruiting class. He is from Pembroke Pines, Florida, where he plays for West Broward High School. The West Broward Bobcats are off to a tough start in 2023. They are currently 1-2 and facing 4-0 Pembroke Pines Charter this Friday.

There are no Crystal Ball projections for Moore at this time but the Miami Hurricanes are a 28% favorite to land him per On3.

Film Analysis: Moore is an elite athlete that is nearly impossible to bring down in the open field.

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Former Texas WR Joshua Moore flips commitment to SMU

Joshua Moore is on the move again.

One former Texas wide receiver is on the move in the transfer portal again.

After leaving the team in what only could be described as a not-so-clean break, which included a shouting match with Steve Sarkisian, Joshua Moore decided to take his talents to Texas Tech. There he would have been apart of the new era of Red Raider football under new head coach Joey McGuire.

However, even after enrolling in class in Lubbock, Moore decided to change his mind about where he will finish out his playing career.

Moore announced via Twitter on Monday that he will instead be transferring to SMU, where he will play for Rhett Lashlee.

Moore showed plenty of flashes as a Longhorn, leading the team in receiving in 2020, but this last season fell lower on the totem pole behind Xavier Worthy and Jordan Whittington and struggled mightily at times.

He gives gives SMU an experienced deep threat with 61 catches, 790 receiving yards, and 13 touchdowns in his collegiate career.

Former Texas WR Joshua Moore reveals his transfer location

Joshua Moore will face off with Texas in September.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders got some good news on the day they found out that Erik Ezukanma would be heading to the NFL draft. Former Texas Longhorns wide receiver Joshua Moore announced that he would be heading to Lubbock, Texas, to play for new head coach Joey McGuire.

Moore entered the transfer portal after an alleged argument with head coach Steve Sarkisian. After the game against Iowa State, Moore put his name in the portal which came as no surprise. The Longhorns will face off against Moore when Big 12 play opens on Sept. 24 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock.

Moore now joins an offense led by Zach Kittley, who returned to Tech after Sonny Cumbie left for the Louisiana Tech head coaching position.

This past season Moore caught 24 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns in 2021. In 2020, Moore was the leading receiver with nine touchdown receptions. In the Texas Tech Air Raid offense, he will have ample opportunity to shine in this pass-heavy attack. Jerreth Sterns led the nation with 150 receptions, 1,902 yards, and 17 touchdowns in this offense in 2021.

This might be the best possible spot for the former four-star recruit.

Texas WR targets Evan Stewart, Jordan Hudson post cryptic tweets about Longhorns

Hmm…

In what has likely been the craziest two weeks that the Texas football program has been through in a while, it always seems to get more bizarre. Continue reading “Texas WR targets Evan Stewart, Jordan Hudson post cryptic tweets about Longhorns”

Halftime recap of Texas’ 7-3 lead over Iowa State

Halftime recap of Texas’ 7-3 lead over Iowa State

In a surprisingly defensive battle in Ames. Texas leads Iowa State 7-3.

Iowa State scored three points to open the game off a Bijan Robinson fumble on Texas’ first offensive drive. 

Casey Thompson looked a bit off to start the game, prompting Coach Sarkisian to put Hudson Card in the game. 

After a couple of sluggish drives, Card and the offense finally broke through. 

Midway through the second quarter, Card led a 14 play touchdown drive capped off by a four-yard pop pass to Xavier Worthy for six. Texas picked up two key third-down conversions on the drive, one with a quick pass Joshua Moore that he took for 24 yards, and another with his legs to convert a third down and three.

Texas coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski’s defense played their best half of the season. Holding the Cyclone Offense to 181 total yards and 1-7 on third down.

Here are some of the key stats from half number one.

  • Hudson Card: 6/9 42 yards, one touchdown
  • Bijan Robinson: 11 carries, 65 yards
  • Xavier Worthy: One catch, four yards and one touchdown
  • Breece Hall: 5 carries, 25 yards
  • Brock Purdy: 16/24 140 yards