Florida Gators flip targets to watch
As the Florida Gators build the 2025 recruiting class, the staff continues to heavily recruit several prospects committed to other programs. Here’s a quick look at those players.
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*Na’eem Offord, CB, Birmingham (Ala.) Parker — OHIO STATE: Flipping Offord is going to be difficult as programs such as Alabama and Georgia appear to be heavily involved, but both Offord and his coach recently told Gators Online/On3 that Offord will officially visit the Gators. We’re still waiting on that date. Offord has visited Florida just once but liked it.
*Keelon Russell, QB, Duncanville (Texas) — SMU: Russell is a top-100 national recruit who will officially visit the Gators on June 7. He visited them earlier this year and communicates often with QB coach Ryan O’Hara. But Alabama recently offered and also will get an official and that is something to closely watch. Additionally, Texas is involved. If the Longhorns offer Russell that potentially could be a game-changer.
The Florida Gators are trying to flip multiple FSU commits
*Tramell Jones, QB, Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin — FSU: Jones committed to the Seminoles more than a year ago, but two recent trips to Gainesville have him thinking seriously about returning to Gainesville for an official visit in June. The Gators are pushing pretty hard and he’s listening. But Jones has strong ties to the FSU coaching staff and that’s a hurdle Florida will have to clear. The gap is closing and if Florida can secure an official visit this probably would get interesting.
*Akylin Dear, RB, Quitman (Miss.) — OLE MISS: Dear, at last check, is scheduled to officially visit the Gators on June 5. He has another official set for Texas A&M. Word is, the Rebels feel good about keeping him in the class at this time. But we nonetheless will continue to monitor him.
*Dallas Wilson, WR, Tampa Bay Tech (Fla.) — OREGON: The 5-star recruit will officially visit the Gators (June 14), along with Oregon, FSU and Miami. Right now, it feels like Florida probably is sitting behind those three programs but the Gators historically have made strong moves with recruits during official visits under Billy Napier. Some feel the Hurricanes have the best shot at flipping Wilson at this time.
UF is working on several players on both sides of the ball
*Caden Piening, TE, Cincinnati (Ohio) Anderson — UCF: Piening committed to UCF in April but he is someone the Gators have liked for awhile. As recently as a couple weeks ago, he said he still planned to officially visit the Gators (June 14). It’s unclear where he exactly sits on the Florida board as the Gators also continue to recruit a handful (or more) of other players at this position.
*Hayden Bradley, TE, Buford (Ga.) — OLE MISS: Bradley committed to the Rebels on April 27 but Florida co-offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Russ Callaway visited his school Monday. It’s not yet known what that means or if it will lead to anything. But Gators Online hears Florida has a very good shot to get an official visit.
*Solomon Thomas, IOL, Jacksonville (Fla.) Raines — FSU: The battle for this 5-star recruit is intriguing for sure. While Thomas loves the FSU staff (in particularly the offensive line coach), but told us Monday he has concerns about how much the ‘Noles use the transfer portal. Meanwhile, Florida is pushing extremely hard and we believe the gap between the two programs has narrowed in this recruitment. He’ll officially visit Florida, FSU and LSU this summer. The Gators appear to be very much in this.
*Tavaris Dice, OT, Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes — AUBURN: When Gators Online met with Dice, a 4-star recruit, last week in the Atlanta area he said Florida was making things difficult and added there wasn’t much separation between the Tigers and Gators. We’ve been told there is some real optimism from the Florida side with regards to this recruitment. He will officially visit the Gators on June 14. This recruitment is 100 percent on our radar at Gators Online.
A few UF-Auburn battles are emerging … but the Gators also have targeted some USC commits
*Isaiah Gibson, Edge, Warner Robins (Ga.) — USC TROJANS: Georgia and Auburn have emerged as two programs to watch, but Gibson also plans to officially visit the Gators in June. We believe it will be hard for the Trojans to hold on here. The Gators might face an uphill climb but a good official visit could give them a boost.
*Javion Hilson, Edge, Cocoa (Fla.) — FSU: Although Hilson seems to be fairly locked in with the Seminoles at this time, he plans to officially visit the Gators on May 31. He previously was committed to Alabama and the Tide also apparently will get him in for an official.
*Jakaleb Faulk, Edge, Highland Home (Ala.) — AUBURN: Of the Auburn commits the Gators are trying to flip this would appear to be the biggest challenge. Faulk has always liked Florida a lot and he’ll return to Gainesville for an official visit June 7. But his brother plays for the Tigers and that will be a factor here to consider. It would be a surprise if Florida can pull this off — but surprises do happen.
*Malik Autry, DL, Opelika (Ala.) — AUBURN: If there is one program best positioned to flip Autry from the Tigers, it’s Florida. The 4-star recruit has visited the Gators six or seven times and will return in June for an official. He’s extremely close with the Florida staff and sees the potential to play early in Gainesville. But Auburn is working hard to keep him in the class and the pull to stay close to home is great. We’d put Florida’s chances at 35-45 percent right now, but more will be known after his officials.
Several Florida Gators flip targets in in-state recruits
*Brandon Brown, DL, Melbourne (Fla.) Eau Gallie — TEXAS: The Longhorns are recruiting Brown extremely hard to keep him in the class. Miami could be another program to watch. Brown will officially visit the Gators on May 31 but it’s still unclear where he sits on the board — and how hard Florida will push.
*Elijah Melendez, LB, Kissimmee (Fla.) Osceola — MIAMI: The 4-star recruit said recently he continues to hear from Florida and it’s possible the Gators could receive an official.
*Hylton Stubbs, S, Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin — USC TROJANS: Florida, FSU and Miami are pushing hard for the USC 4-star commit who called the Gators his leader for about a year before he committed to the Trojans this spring. Stubbs will officially visit the Gators in June. On the one hand, he said Monday he wants to be a Trojan. On the other, he also said he’s going to continue exploring his options. By our estimation, it’s probably 50-50 that he sticks with USC. We’ve learned there remains some confidence in Gainesville.
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