Florida Gators football recruiting Hot Board: Defense

The Florida Gators have entered the summer official visit season with five commitments in their 2025 recruiting class, which means there’s lots of work ahead for Billy Napier & Co. before the early signing period in December.

**RELATED: Florida’s 2025 commitment list

The Hot Board has some of the answers. Below are the recruits we think (“think” being the key word) are the main prospects at each position and my guesses at Florida’s chances of signing them as of today.

Remember, this all my opinion. The folks at the Florida Gators football complex may have a different take.

(***You can find the offensive Hot Board HERE.)

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Defensive line (3-4 est.)

Name (star rating)HometownUF OVPreviousCurrent/UF%Jeramiah McCloud (3)Havana, Fla.5-31GATORS COMMITGATORS COMMITJarquez Carter (3)Newberry, Fla.5-3145%50%Malik Autry (4)Opelika, Ala.6/14AUBURN COMMIT/35%AUBURN COMMIT/40%Myron Charles (4)Port Charlotte, Fla.5-3130%30%Derry Norris (3) Port Orange, Fla.TBD35%30%Xavier Ukponu (3)Denton, TexasTBD25%20%Floyd Boucard (3) Miami, Fla.–25%20%Kevin Oatis (4)Hattiesburg, Miss.–20%20%Josiah Sharma (3)Sacramento, Calif.–15%15%

With McCloud already on board, the Gators are in a decent spot early in the summer official visit window. Carter and Charles are on campus this weekend and things apparently have thus far gone well with both. If the Gators can convince Carter he’s a good fit for their defensive system, that could be significant. FSU leads for Charles, so Florida will need a boost from his visit. Autry is a longtime Auburn commit, but if anyone has a shot to flip him it’s the Florida Gators.

Edge (2)

Name (star rating)HometownUF OVPreviousCurrent/UF%Jalen Wiggins (4)Tallahassee, Fla.6-07GATORS COMMITGATORS COMMITJavion Hilson (4)Cocoa (Fla.)5-31FSU COMMIT/30%FSU COMMIT/35%Romando Johnson (3)West Palm Beach, Fla.–30%30%Cedric Works (4)Dayton, Ohio6-1425%25%Richard Scott (3)Fort Lauderdale, Fla.–20%20%Isaiah Gibson (5)Warner Robins, Ga.TBDUSC TROJANS COMMIT/20%USC TROJANS COMMIT/15%Tylon Lee (4)Pace, Fla.–20%15%Jayden Woods (4)Shawnee, Kan.–20%15%Jakaleb Faulk (4)Highland Home, Ala.6-07AUBURN COMMIT/15%AUBURN COMMIT/15%London Merritt (4)Bradenton, Fla.TBDOHIO STATE COMMIT/10%OHIO STATE COMMIT/10%

This probably is the most difficult position group for us to get a handle on at the moment. What we do know is this: Even with Wiggins committed, the Gators continue to recruit other edge prospects. From the above group, Hilson probably is the one we’re watching most closely since he is officially visiting the Florida Gators this weekend and not everyone thinks he is rock solid to the Seminoles. The Gators have given Hilson lots of attention on this visit. Will that give them a boost? We’ll find out Sunday when we interview him. The picture at edge should become a lot more clear following the upcoming officials.

Linebacker (2)

Name (star rating)HometownUF OVPreviousCurrent/UF%Christian Gass (4)Covington, Ga.5-3150%50%Tavion Wallace (4)Jesup, Ga.6-1440%40%Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng (4)Bradenton, Fla.TBD35%35%Myles Johnson (3)Brewton, Ala. 6-07ALABMA COMMIT/25%ALABMA COMMIT/25%Ty Jackson (4)Loxahatchee, Fla.–20%15%Elijah Melendez (4)Kissimmee, Fla.–MIAMI COMMIT/15%MIAMI COMMIT/15%Justin Thompson (3)Olney, Md.–15%15%

It certainly feels like Florida has a legit chance with both Gass and Wallace. Gases is in town this weekend for his official. With Wallace, FSU is the front-runner entering his official visits but the Gators have significantly closed the gap of late. Owusu-Boateng might official to Florida this fall.

Cornerback (2)

Name (star rating)HometownUF OVPreviousCurrent/UF%Ben Hanks (4)Miami, Fla.6-0730%30%Antonio Branch (3)Miami, Fla.6-1430%30%DJ Pickett (5)Zephyrhills, Fla. –25%25%Graceson Littleton (4)Tampa, Fla.–20%20%Blake Woodby (4)Baltimore, Md.–20%10%Na’eem Offord (5)Birmingham, Ala.–OHIO STATE COMMIT/15%OHIO STATE COMMIT/5%

Having added young transfers Jameer Grimsley (Alabama, 2024 signee) and Cormani McClain (Colorado, 2023 signee), that puts a lot less pressure on the Gators here this cycle. Pickett is the clear top target and Florida is working hard to move up his list — but LSU or even Miami might be the favorite at this time. He plans to officially visit Florida for the Miami game and wants to see the Gators play this season. If they do, maybe they’ll have a shot.

Safety (2-3)

Name (star rating)HometownUF OVPreviousCurrent/UF%Kaylib Singleton (3)Fleming Island, Fla.5-3155%55%Hylton Stubbs (4)Jacksonville, Fla.6-14USC TROJANS COMMIT/45%USC TROJANS COMMIT/45%Jaylan Morgan (4)Murfreesboro, Tenn.5-3140%40%Lagonza Hayward (4)Lyons, Ga.6-1440%40%Bryce Fitzgerald (4)Miami, Fla.6-1435%35%Ladarian Clardy (4)Pensacola, Fla.–25%25%Trey McNutt (5)Shaker Heights, Ohio6-0715%20%Keon Young (4)Lakeland, Fla.–20%15%

Florida seems to be in a strong spot with Singleton, is optimistic about flipping Stubbs and is a big factor with Morgan, Hayward and possibly Fitzgerald. The Gators are poised to sign a solid group on the back end of the defense.

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