A look at the Florida Gators safety board

With the news Thursday that 4-star prospect Hylton Stubbs of Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin had committed to Miami over Florida, where do the Gators go from here at safety? Right now, they don’t yet have any players committed at that position for 2025. Here’s a closer look at the board:

Number of safeties we expect the Florida Gators to sign (2-3)

Name (star rating)HometownUFOVCurrent/UF%Bryce Fitzgerald(4)Miami, Fla.6-1445%Lagonza Hayward(4)Lyons, Ga.6-1435%Ivan Taylor (4)Winter Garden, Fla.–20%Jaylan Morgan (4)Murfreesboro, Tenn.5-3115%Hylton Stubbs (4)Jacksonville, Fla.6-14USC TROJANS COMMIT/15%Trey McNutt (5)Shaker Heights, Ohio6-0715%Jerome Smith (3)Indianapolis (Ind.) –Miami (OH) COMMIT/TBD

-Given that Stubbs now is on his second commitment, it’s doubtful the Gators will stop recruiting him. But that doesn’t mean they’ll gain any traction. A big season might help. So might a big NIL deal.

-Many view the Fitzgerald recruitment as a Florida-FSU battle and there is optimism in Gainesville. LSU and Miami are the other schools in the mix but the feeling for now is he’ll either be a Gator or a ‘Nole. There is some Florida-Fitzgerald chatter right now. He’s eyeing a July/August decision.

-Hayward plans to announce July 27; Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee are the three to watch at this. There seems to be a good bit of optimism coming from Knoxville. But the Gators continue to feel like they have a shot. Hayward has people guessing some because he pretty much had a new top school after every June visit. One thing that might not hurt Florida here is this: While Hayward lives in Georgia, he’s originally from Pahokee, Fla.

-Taylor took part in a 7-on-7 event at Florida and then returned the following week for an unofficial visit. Right now, though, Alabama might be viewed as the biggest threat to the Fighting Irish.

-Although Morgan seems to have had a good official visit experience at Florida, there is more chatter about Georgia and Mississippi State at this time. We’re leaning Georgia. He announce July 8.

-Oregon currently is trending for McNutt, who has visited the Gators twice this year. He gave his official to Gainesville a “10” but Florida doesn’t seem like a Tier 1 contender at the moment.

-Smith, who claims a Michigan State offer, told Gators Online he’s been communicating with Florida defensive backs assistant Beyah Rasool.

-It’s possible the Gators could circle back to Rutgers commit Kaylib Singleton of Fleming Island (Fla.), a one-time Florida lean.

-It’s quite likely some new names will emerge at this position in the coming weeks, especially if either Fitzgerald or Hayward don’t pick Florida.

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