The 2027 recruiting trail has been nothing shy of a commitment cycle chock-full of blue-chip prospects and touted talents.
And for Jon Sumrall and Co., the Gators’ recruiting has been a way to prove a revamped staff can entice elite-level players just as effectively — especially at a top public university like Florida. As commitments continue to pour in from high-caliber players, the class of 2027 has proven to be a fruitful battleground for many programs in terms of talent acquisition.
While some coaches, like LSU’s Lane Kiffin, rely on the portal to bring in top talents, others, like Sumrall, have leveraged the talent of top incoming commits fresh off their junior years of high school.
Since January, Florida football has been a hotbed. The Gators have built the No. 3 2027 recruiting class, per 247Sports Composite Rankings, and have landed the most blue-chip commits in the country (16), per On3 and Rivals.
Here’s a deeper look at each of the 22 recruits Florida has landed thus far, listed in order by their 247Sports Composite ranking.
Maxwell Hiller, five-star offensive lineman:
Before this recruiting cycle, Florida had not landed a consensus five-star offensive lineman since Martez Ivey in the 2015 class. That all changed on April 8.
Maxwell Hiller, the No. 3 overall player in the nation per the 247Sports Composite ranking, announced his commitment to the Gators that evening, choosing UF over Alabama, Ohio State and Tennessee.
While Jon Sumrall and his staff made a major push for the standout offensive lineman, one person in particular is primarily credited with convincing Hiller: offensive line coach Phil Trautwein.
Trautwein and Hiller developed a strong relationship during the former’s stint as Penn State’s offensive line coach. Hiller, who is from Coatesville, Pennsylvania, then received major interest from Florida once Trautwein took the same job on Jon Sumrall’s staff. The rest is history.
"I've known [Trautwein] since like eighth grade,” Hiller said. “He's my go-to person for anything. I can talk to [Trautwein] about anything I need, and I trust he'll deliver for me. You can't fake that kind of bond."
Hiller, who is listed at 6 feet 5 inches and 300 pounds, projects either as a tackle or guard on the collegiate level. His versatility, paired with his technical acumen, prompted 247Sports scouting analyst Gabe Brooks to label Hiller as someone with the traits of an “early-round NFL Draft candidate” in the future.
Elijah Hutchenson, four-star offensive lineman:
Weeks before Hiller announced his commitment to Florida, he and other offensive line recruits visited Gainesville to watch UF’s first scrimmage of Spring. Afterwards, Hiller made a big statement.
“Coach [Trautwein] is one of the best, if not the best, offensive line coaches in the country … I know once one person goes, everybody’s going to pull that trigger.”
And Hiller was right. After he committed, three more blue-chip linemen have committed to the Gators. Among them, Elijah Hutchenson is the highest-ranked prospect.
The Roanoke, Virginia, native committed to Florida May 5, choosing the Gators over Clemson, Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech. Listed at 6 feet 5 inches and 275 pounds, Hutchenson comes in as the No. 85 player per the 247Sports Composite Rankings.
With 34-inch arms, Hutchenson projects well as a collegiate offensive tackle who can potentially play on both the left and right sides of the offensive line. 247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins said that with his mobility, Hutchenson projects as a “potential multi-year starter in a zone scheme.”
Elias Pearl, four-star wide receiver:
Ahead of the 2026 season, arguably no part of Florida’s roster is as explosive as its wide receiver core. Rising sophomores Dallas Wilson and Vernell Brown III, paired with transfer additions Eric Singleton Jr., Micah Mays Jr. and Bailey Stockton, form a feared unit that can match up against some of the best in the nation.
But Jon Sumrall and his offensive staff are not content with just one season of “aggressive and explosive” play. They have added several offensive weapons in the 2027 class, none with the pedigree of Elias Pearl.
The Port Charlotte, Florida, native announced his commitment to UF May 19, picking the Gators over SEC rivals Georgia and Ole Miss. The 5 foot 10 inch, 180 pound pass catcher ranks as the No. 90 player in the county per the 247Sports Composite Rankings.
Pearl had a standout 2025 campaign for Port Charlotte High School, catching 69 passes for 1,052 yards and 13 touchdowns while also recording 40 carries for 253 yards and 11 touchdowns.
His dynamic skillset prompted Ivins to label Pearl a “potential weapon on Saturdays that can create chunk plays.”
Cahron Wheeler, four-star defensive lineman:
The highest-ranked defensive recruit in Florida’s 2027 class thus far, Cahron Wheeler was a major get for Sumrall, defensive coordinator Brad White and the Gators staff.
From Baltimore, Maryland, Wheeler committed to Florida June 5, choosing the Gators over Clemson. He comes in as the No. 108 player in the 2027 Class per the 247Sports Composite Rankings.
At 6 feet 5 inches tall and 266 pounds, Wheeler projects as either a defensive end or a JACK pass rusher in White’s aggressive defensive system.
In seven games for St. Paul’s School in 2025, Wheeler recorded 30 total tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 4 sacks and an interception.
Corey Bender of Gators Online said Wheeler has “great length for the edge and shows an impressive get-off at the snap.” Bender also said that Wheeler’s flexibility “adds value to his game and will allow [Florida] to move him around depending on the situation.”
Tramond Collins, four-star wide receiver:
The second-highest ranked wide receiver in Florida’s 2027 class is Tramond Collins. The Cottondale, Florida, native will add even more firepower to an already-stacked Gators wide receiver corps.
Collins’ trademark is his versatility. The 6-foot-2, 183-pound wide receiver also got snaps at quarterback, defensive back and linebacker throughout his time at Cottondale High School.
He was originally Florida’s first 2027 commit, signing under former Florida head coach Billy Napier in June of 2025. However, he decommitted, only to re-sign with Sumrall’s squad on March 11.
He is the No. 112 player in the class per the composite rankings and No. 13 in the state of Florida.
As a sophomore, he had 31 carries for 661 yards and nine touchdowns while also catching 13 passes for 402 yards and six touchdowns. Defensively, he logged 33 tackles and one interception.
Peyton Miller, four-star interior offensive lineman:
UF grabbed 247Sports’ No. 9 interior offensive lineman Peyton Miller on April 27.
The 6-foot-5, 290-pound rising senior was ranked ESPN’s No. 1 center in the 2027 class. The Anna, Texas, native notably picked Florida over Clemson, Texas Tech and SMU, among others.
He is a three-sport athlete at Anna High School, also competing in track and field and wrestling.
Gabe Brooks, scouting analyst for 247Sports, noted him as a “versatile offensive lineman with physical specs that could move around the front.”
With the uncertainty of UF’s offensive line in the upcoming season, Miller will be a crucial addition down the road.
Davin Davidson, four-star quarterback:
UF landed one of the top quarterback recruits in the country, securing Sarasota, Florida, native Davin Davidson.
The Cardinal Mooney High School quarterback chose Florida over Kentucky, Auburn and Georgia. His first year as a starter, he led Cardinal Mooney to a Florida 2A state title, completing 64.7% of his passes for 2,392 yards, 23 touchdowns and 6 interceptions.
Davidson is over 6-foot-6 and 215 pounds and was ranked the No. 10 quarterback in the nation. He is also the No. 126 overall recruit.
Aside from his standout junior season, Davidson emerged at Elite 11 Miami, where he earned ‘Alpha Dog’ honors for the camp.
He officially committed to Florida on April 9, joining an established group comprised of Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo, sophomore returner Tramell Jones Jr. and incoming freshman Will Griffin.
Kennedee Jackson, four-star offensive lineman:
After grabbing two of the 2027 class’ top offensive tackles in consecutive months, the Gators continued to fire away at the recruiting trail, landing Kennedee Jackson in June.
The 6-foot-6, 297-pound Lithuania, Georgia, native is the No. 14 overall tackle in his class per the 247Sports Composite Rankings and marks another massive grab for Trautwein.
Jackson made his announcement June 2, choosing to attend UF over both Georgia and Louisiana State.
As the No. 12 recruit in Georgia, per 247Sports Composite Rankings, Jackson further establishes Florida’s top-ranked trio of 2027 offensive linemen and exemplifies Trautwein’s ability to flip top players from their home-state universities.
With Jackson as Trautwein’s fourth blue-chip pickup in the 2027 class, the offensive line coach sits second in 247Sports 2027 recruiters rankings, behind only Texas A&M’s Tony Jerod-Eddie.
Ja’Bios Smith, four-star linebacker:
UF linebackers coach Greg Gasparato and the Gators earned a commitment from their first linebacker in the 2027 class in Ja’Bios Smith.
A Swainsboro, Georgia, native, Smith officially announced his decision to join Florida May 29 after deliberating between attending Texas A&M, South Carolina, Georgia and Texas Tech.
Heralded as the No. 12 linebacker in the 2027 class and No. 13 overall player in Georgia, per 247Sports Composite Rankings, Smith will bring a 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame to Gainesville.
Smith is one of UF’s nation-leading 15 blue-chip commits, and according to Andrew Ivins, was “often the biggest and baddest athlete on the field” when dominating local competition in Georgia.
Ivins also evaluated Smith “as a potential impact defender at the Power Four level that can collect tackles in the box.”
Andrew Beard, four-star running back:
Florida’s first and only running back commit in the 2027 class came with a big splash May 8.
Andrew Beard chose to join the Gators over Clemson, Georgia and Tennessee, representing yet another Georgia native to commit to Florida over UGA.
Running backs coach Chris Foster and offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner, both in their first season with UF, secured a blue-chip workhorse in Beard, who ranks as the No. 9 running back in the 2027 class and No. 15 overall player in Georgia, per 247Sports Composite Rankings.
Standing at 5-foot-10 and weighing 197 pounds, Beard finished his junior season with 155 carries for 1,260 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also added five receiving touchdowns as Prince Avenue Christian School’s starting back, catching 29 passes for 435 yards.
This wasn’t an anomaly. Beard also caught five touchdown passes as a sophomore while rushing for 1,937 yards and 21 touchdowns. As one of Florida’s top offensive commits in the 2027 class, Beard was a massive pickup to supplement the elite offensive line the Gators have recruited.
Amare Nugent, four-star defensive back:
Amare Nugent was Florida’s first 2027 commit, allowing White and UF cornerbacks coach Brandon Harris to kick off the year’s recruiting cycle with a bang.
A 5-foot-11, 178-pound Fort Lauderdale, Florida, native, Nugent committed to the Gators Jan. 24. He represents the No. 20 defensive back in his class and the No. 16 overall player in the state, per 247Sports Composite Rankings, and decided to attend UF over Georgia and Indiana.
Nugent is a premier run defender and elite tackler who Ivins believes “should be viewed as a potential starter for a College Football Playoff contender that could excel in a boundary or nickel role.”
Harris knew Nugent since the latter was a freshman, and the Florida native joined the Gators much to the excitement of Sumrall, who was seen hyping up the defensive back and celebrating as he announced his commitment in person.
Aamaury Fountain, four-star defensive back:
Though Aamaury Fountain committed to South Carolina in January, that didn’t stop Harris and Sumrall from going after their guy.
The Warner Robins, Georgia, native flipped his commitment from the Gamecocks to the Gators April 11, marking UF’s acquisition of a second top-ranked defensive back in the 2027 class. Landing as the No. 25 DB in his class and No. 20 overall player in Georgia, per 247Sports Composite Rankings, Fountain will bring a highly touted long frame to Gainesville.
Listed as 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, Fountain primarily played quarterback as a freshman and sophomore before moving to defense and logging 32 tackles, four interceptions and double-digit pass breakups as a junior.
Fountain brings a taller frame than that of Nugent and tends to fare better as a coverage corner, but both are expected to be high-impact defenders, especially given Fountain’s sticky coverage and Nugent’s perimeter tackling abilities.
Zahmar Tookes, four-star defensive lineman:
Florida earned a commitment from Rochester, New York, native Zahmar Tookes June 3.
Tookes was Florida’s first blue-chip pickup on the defensive front, as he committed days before Wheeler. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound lineman chose to attend UF over Penn State, Georgia and Nebraska.
He represents the No. 28 defensive lineman in his class and the No. 1 overall player in New York, per 247Sports Composite Rankings. Tookes’ commitment supplemented UF’s additions of De’voun Kendrick, Cain Van Norden and Stive-Bentley Keumajou Yondui across April and May.
As a big-bodied defender who tallied 77 total tackles and three sacks his junior season, Tookes was a crucial pickup for White and Sumrall, who have been looking to secure talent in the trenches.
Anthony Jennings, four-star wide receiver:
The Gators locked down another blue-chip Florida native in 6-foot, 165-pound speedster Anthony Jennings.
Hailing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Jennings committed to UF April 25 after nabbing 34 passes for 823 yards and 11 touchdowns during his junior season at Dillard High School. His breakout season earned him a spot as the No. 35 receiver in the 2027 class and the No. 24 overall player in Florida, per 247Sports Composite Rankings.
Jennings selected UF over Auburn and Syracuse and is expected to bolster the Gators’ pass-catching core alongside Pearl and Collins.
He posted a 4.32 40-yard dash time and is known for generating explosive plays with his speed, highlighted by his 24 yards per catch and 102.9 yards per game average as a junior.
Ellis McGaskin, four-star linebacker:
With Florida’s experienced linebacker room heading into the 2026 season, Sumrall and his staff have been laser-focused on improving the potential outlook in the heart of the defense.
Ellis McGaskin, the No. 353 overall player and No. 28 linebacker per the 247Sports Composite Rankings, committed to Florida June 6, choosing the Gators over LSU and Florida State.
The Mobile, Alabama, native has been extremely productive at Williamson High School. In 2025, he recorded 160 total tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and an interception.
McGaskin originally committed to Notre Dame June 30, 2025, but decommitted Jan. 23 of this year. He joins the aforementioned Smith as potential future impact players in UF’s linebacker core.
Jackson Ballinger, four-star tight end:
UF tight ends coach Evan McKissack landed Florida its first blue-chip tight end in Centerburg, Ohio, native Jackson Ballinger.
McKissack was active in the recruiting of Ballinger and even made a trip to Ohio to visit with the commit. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 225 pounds, Ballinger was just the second player in the 2027 class to commit to Florida, doing so Feb. 24.
His commitment was a big one in proving UF’s revamped staff could secure top-ranked players following a turbulent 2026 season and numerous coaching changes.
Regarded as the No. 25 tight end in his class and the No. 16 overall player in Ohio, per 247Sports Composite rankings, Ballinger has been vocal about his allegiance to the Gators and is expected to complement fellow four-star tight end Tommy Douglas.
Tommy Douglas, three-star tight end:
The Gators added their second tight end threat in the form of 6-foot-4, 235-pound tight end Tommy Douglas.
Following commitments by Ballinger and Collins in February and March, respectively, Douglas announced his decision to attend UF April 16.
A Princeton, New Jersey, native, Douglas ranks just behind Ballinger nationally as the No. 27 tight end in the 2027 class. He is also the No. 9 overall player in New Jersey, per 247Sports Composite Rankings.
Douglas caught 33 passes for 640 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior at Hun High School, averaging more than 19 yards per reception and 58 yards per game. He’s a hard-striking blocker, and according to Ivins, “Moves with smooth tempo as a route runner and can separate with quick feet.”
With the run-blocking, pass-catching duo of Ballinger and Douglas among Florida’s mounting list of promising 2027 commits, McKissack has set the tone for his tenure at UF on the recruiting trail.
Kamarion Johnson, three-star athlete:
Kamarion Johnson committed to Florida June 5, adding a dual-threat playmaker to Sumrall’s squad.
The 6-foot, 185-pound Homerville, Georgia, native is a multi-sport athlete, competing in track, basketball and football at Clinch County High School. Even more impressive, Johnson plays both sides of the ball during football season — and excels.
On defense, he tallied 29 total tackles and five interceptions in the 2025-26 season, while turning 38 receptions, 828 yards and 11 touchdowns as a receiver. If that wasn’t enough, Johnson also returned two punts and a kickoff for touchdowns on special teams and rushed for 36 yards and a touchdown on seven carries.
The jack-of-all-trades is listed as the No. 39 safety in the 2027 class and No. 46 overall player in Georgia, per 247Sports Composite Rankings.
Johnson chose to attend Florida over Cincinnati and Florida State, and is expected to make an impact wherever he finds himself on the field.
Kailib Dillard, three-star safety:
Johnson wasn’t the first multi-position talent in the 2027 class to commit to Florida. A month prior, May 5, Kailib Dillard announced his decision to play for the Gators.
Listed primarily as a safety, the Jenks, Oklahoma, native caught 71 passes for 1,250 yards and 15 touchdowns as a receiver, while recording 78 tackles and five interceptions on defense.
Dillard chose UF over Georgia and Oregon, adding another versatile talent to Sumrall’s group.
The 6-foot, 175-pound commit checks in as the No. 46 safety in his class and the No. 13 overall player in Oklahoma. So far, Dillard is the only true safety pickup by Collins in the 2027 class, but he is expected to augment Florida’s secondary, especially alongside the Gators’ prior additions of Nugent and Fountain.
Despite his standing as one of the class’ top safeties, don’t be surprised to see Dillard continuing to get work on both sides of the ball as he progresses.
Stive-Bentley Keumajou Yondui, three-star defensive lineman:
UF defensive line coach Gerald Chatman earned a commitment from Stive-Bentley Keumajou Yondui May 6.
Standing at 6-foot-3 and 295 pounds, Keumajou Yondui is a multi-sport athlete who moved to the United States from England in June of 2025. Within a year of living in Miami and attending Coral Gables High School, the class of 2027 commit has found himself a home up the road in Gainesville.
He chose UF over Miami, Texas, Georgia and Auburn, further proving Florida’s ability to secure top recruits out of other schools’ backyards. Despite attraction from hometown University of Miami, Keumajou Yondui sided with Chatman to bring a near-300-pound frame to UF’s trenches.
Though listed as a defensive lineman, he possesses the ability to play on both sides of the line. In his sole season at Coral Gables High School, Keumajou Yondui played offensive and defensive line while kicking and punting. He also lettered in both basketball and soccer.
Listed as the No. 65 defensive lineman in his class and the No. 46 overall player in Florida, per 247Sports Composite rankings, the UF commit has the size, power and movement skills to make an impact as a Gator.
Cain Van Norden, three-star defensive lineman:
Just nine days following Keumajou Yondui’s commitment, Chatman landed yet another notable addition to his defensive line.
District Heights, Maryland, native Cain Van Norden committed to the Gators May 15, adding to a defensive front pushing to keep pace with Trautwein’s offensive line on the recruiting front. Van Norden clocks in at 6-foot-7 and 265 pounds, making him the Gators’ tallest commit in the 2027 class thus far.
Slotted as the No. 85 defensive lineman in the 2027 class and the No. 19 overall player in Maryland, Van Norden chose the Gators over Ole Miss, Georgia and Maryland.
Surprisingly, he grew up as a basketball player and didn’t pick up football until just two years ago. Nonetheless, with his size, Van Norden is projected to be a run-stopping lineman in the trenches, and his presence is expected to mesh well with blue-chip commits Wheeler and Tookes as well as Keumajou Yondui and De’Voun Kendrick.
De’Voun Kendrick, three-star defensive lineman:
Chatman’s first addition in the 2027 class opened the floodgates for a slew of talented linemen looking to find a home in UF’s trenches. This first addition came when De’Voun Kendrick committed to Florida April 27.
A six-foot-four, 275-pound Tampa native, Kendrick chose to attend UF over Georgia Tech, Texas A&M and Louisville.
Like Van Norden, Kendrick checks in as the No. 85 defensive lineman in his class and the No. 67 overall player in Florida, per 247Sports Composite Rankings. He finished his junior season at Carrollwood Day High School with 28 total tackles and 2.5 sacks.
Though Kendrick doesn’t offer ample range on the defensive front, Ivins evaluated the lineman as a player who “packs plenty of power in the upper half,” and “Should be viewed as a potential buoy in the middle if it all clicks.”
Contact Ava DiCecca at adicecca@alligator.org. Follow him on X at @avadicecca24.
Contact Max Bernstein at mbernstein@alligator.org. Follow him on X at @maxbernstein23.
Contact Curan Ahern at cahern@alligator.org. Follow him on X at @CuranAhern.
Ava DiCecca is a third-year sports and media journalism student and is the Summer 2026 assistant sports editor. Now in her fourth semester at The Alligator, she previously served as sports editor, the Gators volleyball beat reporter and an enterprise writer. In her free time she watches Boston sports (Brad Marchand we still love you).
Max Bernstein is a fourth-year sports and media journalism major and sports management minor, and is the Summer 2026 Digital Managing Editor at The Alligator. Now in his eighth semester with The Alligator, Max previously served in roles including Sports Editor, Assistant Sports Editor and Football Reporter. He has also made appearances on the Paul Finebaum Show. In the rare moments Max isn't working, he's usually with his girlfriend Reese, watching sports with his fraternity brothers or missing his family and his two cats.
Curan is a senior sports journalism student in his fifth semester at The Alligator. He is currently the sports editor, and previously served as a reporter for men's tennis, sports enterprise and football. He is currently pursuing a public relations minor and is an avid Duval sports fan. (#DTWD)
