The 5-star report: Where the Gators sit with the elite recruits
There are 32 prospects in the 2025 class that have 5-star status in the On3 Industry Rankings and the Florida Gators are involved with several of them. Every few weeks, we’ll provide intel on where Billy Napier’s program sits with each of these elite targets.
-No. 6 overall — DJ Pickett, CB, Zephyrhills (Fla.): Pickett planned to commit this fall. But now he has set a decision date for July 17. That’s bad news for Florida because he has said he wanted to see how the Gators played this season and has intended to officially visit when they play host to Miami on Aug. 31. It’s now unclear if that will take place. Georgia, LSU, Miami and Oregon are each generating more buzz than Florida right now.
Can the Gators chip away at an in-state OL?
–No. 14 overall — Solomon Thomas, IOL, Jacksonville (Fla.) Raines: The Florida State commit officially visited the Gators on June 7. LSU hosted him May 31 and FSU on June 21. He said after that final trip with the ‘Noles he was locked in with them. That said, it wouldn’t surprise us if Thomas continued to visit other schools this season. Some actually view LSU as FSU’s biggest threat.
-No. 15 overall — Caleb Cunningham, WR, Ackerman (Miss.) Choctaw County: After officially visiting Florida in June, Cunningham said the Gators and Auburn were running neck and neck for the top spot. But now, Alabama, which hosted him later in the month, has the momentum with a commitment decision expected to happen sometime in July.
-No. 22 overall — Trey McNutt, S, Shaker Heights (Ohio): McNutt visited the Gators in April and returned in early June for an official. He gave the official a “10” and other recruits tell us he enjoyed himself. Two weeks later, however, Oregon got him on campus and now the Ducks seem to be the program to beat. They’re the heavy favorites with the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.
Two in-state receivers are on the Florida Gators board
-No. 26 overall — Dallas Wilson, WR, Tampa Bay Tech (Fla.): The Oregon commit was expected to officially visit Florida in June but instead went to Miami that weekend. While that’s not ideal, it’s still possible, even likely, he officials to Gainesville in the fall. At one time, Wilson’s commitment to Oregon seemed shaky. But for the moment, the On3 national team thinks he’ll stick with the Ducks. Meanwhile, Florida just landed a player with the same frame as Wilson — Joshua Moore — so the need for Wilson probably isn’t as high.
-No. 32 overall — Vernell Brown III, WR, Orlando (Fla.) Jones: Florida’s best chance to land a 5-star this cycle rests with Brown — and he’s expected to announce a decision in July. FSU, Miami and Ohio State — like Florida — hosted him on officials in June. The ‘Noles got the last shot at Brown and might be the Gators’ biggest competition. But the optimism is running fairly high in Gainesville.
*NOTE: In the final 2024 class rankings, every school in the top 10 had at least one 5-star in the class. Florida, which finished with the No. 10 ranking, signed two of them. Of the teams that finished from No. 11-20, only four signed a 5-star recruit.
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