Florida Gators recruiting: The defensive Hot Board

The Florida Gators currently have 12 verbals in the 2025 recruiting class. Even so, there’s still lots of work ahead for Billy Napier & Co. before the early signing period in December — especially on defense, where Florida has only five pledges.

**RELATED: Florida’s 2025 commitment list

Who are the top defensive targets and what is the Gators’ standing with each? 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.

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Defensive line (3-4 est.)

Name (star rating)HometownUFOVPreviousCurrent/UF%Jeramiah McCloud (3)Havana, Fla.5-31GATORS COMMITGATORS COMMITJoseph Mbatchou (UR)Grayson, Ga.TBD15%GATORS COMMITJarquez Carter (3)Newberry, Fla.5-31OHIO STATE COMMIT/25%OHIO STATE COMMIT/30%Malik Autry (4)Opelika, Ala.6/14AUBURN COMMIT/30%AUBURN COMMIT/30%Derry Norris (3) Port Orange, Fla.–GA TEH COMMIT/25%GA TEH COMMIT/20%Floyd Boucard (3) Miami, Fla.–OKLAHOMA COMMIT/15%OKLAHOMA COMMIT/15%

McCloud seems to be fairly locked in with the Gators but plans to visit other schools so that is worth watching. Florida offered Mbatchou on July 27 and he committed the following week. This is his first year playing football and the Gators love his upside. Carter recently committed to the Buckeyes but visited Florida two weeks ago. If the Gators’ defensive line looks good in 2024, Florida could potentially give Ohio State a run.

Expected Gators edge signees (2)

Name (star rating)HometownUF OVPreviousCurrent/UF%Jalen Wiggins (4)Tallahassee, Fla.6-07GATORS COMMITGATORS COMMITZavion Hardy (3)East Miss. CC.–25%30%Javion Hilson (4)Cocoa (Fla.)5-31FSU COMMIT/20%FSU COMMIT/20%Cedric Works (4)Dayton, OhioKENTUCKY COMMIT/10%KENTUCKY COMMIT/10%

Wiggins recently shut down his recruitment, which was big news for the Gators since he had been flirting some with FSU. Hardy visited Florida on July 27 and now plans to return to Gainesville in October for an official. Alabama is another school to watch in his recruitment. Hilson says he’s locked in with the ‘Noles, but we wouldn’t be shocked to see him at The Swamp this season.

Linebacker (2)

Name (star rating)HometownUF OVPreviousCurrent/UF%Myles Johnson (3)Brewton, Ala. 6-07GATORS COMMITGATORS COMMITTy Jackson (4)Loxahatchee, Fla.6-1440%45%Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng (4)Bradenton, Fla.TBD30%25%Jakaleb Faulk (4)Highland Home, Ala.6-07AUBURN COMMIT/20%AUBURN COMMIT/15%Tavion Wallace (4)Jesup, Ga.6-14ARKANSAS COMMIT/15%ARKANSAS COMMIT/10%

Johnson, the former Tide pledge, committed to the Gators in July. Jackson, arguably Florida’s top overall defensive target, officially visited in June and returned to Gainesville on July 27. Next, he plans to be at The Swamp on Aug. 31 for the Florida-Miami game. Optimism seems to be growing in Gainesville but he is not expected to have a commitment decision until late in the year. Owusu-Boateng has said he will officially visit Florida this season; he’s in no rush to commit. Faulk told Gators Online a few weeks ago that while he’s solid to Auburn, he’s really only considering one other school and it’s Florida. If he doesn’t shut things down this summer, it’s possible he could visit the Gators for a game.

Expected Gators Cornerback signees (1-2)

Name (star rating)HometownUF OVPreviousCurrent/UF%Ben Hanks (4)Miami, Fla.6-0760%60%DJ Pickett (5)Zephyrhills, Fla. 8-31LSU COMMIT/10%LSU COMMIT/10%

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. Florida made a significant move with Hanks during his official visit in June but has a battle on its hands with Miami. That said, as of today the Gators seem to be trending. Hanks plans to commit sometime in the next two weeks. Pickett was the clear top target for months, but he recently committed to LSU. We expect the Gators to keep recruiting him and hope for the best.

Safety (2)

Name (star rating)HometownUF OVPreviousCurrent/UF%Demetres Samuel (4) Palm Bay, Fla.–*was in the 2026 class until last weekGATORS COMMITBryce Fitzgerald(4)Miami, Fla.6-1450%40%Kaylib Singleton(3)Fleming Island, Fla.5-31RUTGERS COMMIT/20%RUTGERS COMMIT/15%Hylton Stubbs (4)Jacksonville, Fla.6-14MIAMI COMMIT/20%MIAMI COMMIT/15%Trey McNutt (5)Shaker Heights, Ohio6-0715%10%

Samuels not only flipped from Syracuse to Florida last week but he reclassified and now is a senior. His addition was a big one, especially given the uncertainty on the Florida safety board. Fitzgerald plans to announce Aug. 17; he said Saturday that FSU and LSU are in front. Not that long ago, Florida led but Fitzgerald told Gators Online he’s concerned about the staff’s stability. It’s possible the Gators could circle back to Rutgers commit Kaylib Singleton of Fleming Island (Fla.), a one-time Florida lean. But he said recently he hadn’t heard from Florida in awhile.

PUNTER/PK/LS (2)

Name (star rating)HometownUFOVPreviousCurrent/UF%Hayden Craig (3)North Bridgton, Me.–GATORS COMMITGATORS COMMITMack Mulhern (UR)Scottsdale, Ariz.––GATORS COMMIT (PWO)Evan Noel (3)Bay Saint Louis, Miss.–ARKANSAS COMMIT/25%ARKANSAS COMMIT/25%

Craig committed to the Gators after visiting in June. The Gators offered Noel in late July. It’s too soon to know how much of a factor Florida will be. Mulhern is the No. 2 overall long snapper for Kohl’s Kicking.

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