Florida Gators football recruiting: Early National Signing Day 2025 predictions, preview

By OnlyGators.com Staff
December 3, 2024

Football

With the early signing period beginning Wednesday — two weeks earlier than in the past, which has been hell for staffs nationwide — the first National Signing Day for the 2025 cycle is drawing near. While the Florida Gators’ class is largely completed, there is no telling what will happen over the next 24 hours as head coach Billy Napier seeks to continue what has been arguably the strongest close in program history.

Over the last two-plus weeks, Napier has flipped 11 high school prospects into orange & blue. That includes swiping players from rivals Georgia, Florida State and Miami along with other major programs like Penn State, Texas and USC.

The Gators are considered finalists for multiple blue-chip prospects, though given most are currently committed to other programs, it’s impossible to know how many ultimately wind up at Florida.

The fact of the matter is this: Even if UF does not add another player Wednesday, this recruiting cycle has been an immense success given where it appeared headed throughout the fall. The Gators entering the early signing period at No. 11 in the 247Spots Composite team rankings after falling as low as No. 51 and sitting at No. 43 ahead of the LSU game given questions about the program’s direction and Napier’s future.

Does Florida have a pathway to a potential top-five class? Absolutely. Will it get there? That’s unlikely … unless everything goes perfectly.

Napier struggled to close strong in the Class of 2024 with the Gators losing many of their top commitments in the days ahead of the early signing period. That is not as much of a concern this time around given the program appears to be in a much different place than it existed a year ago at this time.

Let’s take a look at what’s ahead for Florida on National Signing Day.

Headed elsewhere?

Three-star DL Jeremiah McCloud (No. 339): If any prospect was to drop out of UF’s class, it would be McCloud, who has been flirting with a flip to Georgia over the last few months. The Peach State native has been committed to the Gators since May but took an official visit to the Bulldogs two weeks ago after similarly taking a trip to Florida State.

Announcement: None | Finalists: Florida, Georgia | Prediction: None | Confidence: n/a

Headed back?

Four-star WR Joshua Moore (No. 114): Moore committed to Florida in June only to back off and flip to Miami in October. He was arguably the Gators’ biggest loss of this cycle (among pledged players) after their struggles to start the season. Napier successfully recruited four-star DL Joseph Mbatchou back into the fold just one week after he committed to Texas, so anything is possible. Florida is not going to turn down talented pass catchers, but it’s also possible that the focus is on an even bigger fish in this class.

Announcement: None | Finalists: Miami, Florida | Prediction: None | Confidence: n/a

Uncommitted targets

Four-star DB Lagonza Hayward (No. 72): The talented safety has long been targeted by the Gators, but a commitment to Tennessee in July appeared to take Florida out of the running. That was until Sunday when Hayward decommitted from the Volunteers while on the UF campus. There is talk that other schools may be in the running for his services, but all signs appear to point in a singular direction.

Announcement: 1 p.m. | Finalists: Florida, Georgia, Tennessee | Prediction: Florida | Confidence: 80%

Flip targets

Five-star WR Dallas Wilson (No. 21): Currently committed to Oregon, the Tampa native has been heavily pursued by not only the staff but freshman quarterback DJ Lagway. The potential to pair Wilson with fellow five-star WR Vernell Brown III (No. 33) would create all kinds of possibilities for the offense over the next couple seasons. Wilson committed to the Ducks back in January 2023 — 23 months ago — and while the Gators offer the comforts of home, it would be quite a shock to see such a sudden change at the last minute. Doesn’t mean it won’t happen, though.

Announcement: None | Finalists: Oregon, Florida | Prediction: Oregon | Confidence: 51%

Five-star OL Solomon Thomas (No. 24): Currently committed to Florida State, it is Thomas who has existed as the Gators’ top target on the offensive line. He appears to be wavering in his pledge given FSU ousted his preferred position coach, Alex Atkins. LSU is heavily in the hunt as well and perhaps pushing even harder for his services. UF has still not landed a top-tier OL under Napier.

Announcement: None | Finalists: Florida State, Florida, LSU | Prediction: LSU | Confidence: 65%

Five-star WR Jaime Ffrench (No. 32): Currently committed to Texas, the potential to pair Ffrench — as is the case involving Wilson — with Brown would be immense. Ffrench is also friends and high school teammates with four-stars DB Hilton Stubbs (No. 57) and QB Tramell Jones (No. 236), who both flipped to Florida over the last couple of weeks. Could the Gators go 3 for 3 out of Jacksonville?

Announcement: None | Finalists: Texas, Florida | Prediction: Texas | Confidence: 80%

Four-star DL Myron Charles (No. 105): Currently committed to Texas, he is friends with Ffr0ench but stands without the personal connections that would potentially lead him to Florida. Perhaps the strongest motivator for a flip here would be if Charles wants to remain in the Sunshine State.

Announcement: None | Finalists: Texas, Florida | Prediction: Texas | Confidence: 90%

Four-star QB Ryan Montgomery (No. 108): Currently committed to Georgia, this would likely come amid confidence in Napier’s ability to develop quarterbacks compared to what’s been happening with the Bulldogs and Carson Beck this season. Montgomery, who is coming off a torn ACL, will almost certainly redshirt the 2025 season, so he’s making a relatively low-risk decision wherever he commits given he will not utilize eligibility with the transfer portal being a free reign.

Announcement: None | Finalists: Georgia, Florida | Prediction: Georgia | Confidence: 51%

Four-star CB Onis Konanbanny (No. 316): Currently committed to Tennessee, this borderline blue-chip prospect is considered one of the most underrated corners in the nation. He officially visited the Gators two weeks ago and has since been projected by those in the know as perhaps UF’s second-most likely remaining commitment on early signing day.

Announcement: None | Finalists: Tennessee, Florida | Prediction: Florida | Confidence: 70%

Where does that leave the Gators?

The math will take some mathing Wednesday based on what other programs do, but if nothing else changed other than Florida’s class, it could move up the 247Sports Composite. Should the Gators add Hayward or Konanbanny alone, they would move up to No. 10, jumping the Vols. If Florida added both, it could shift to No. 9. Getting Ffrench on board as well would push UF to No. 7, which is likely its absolute ceiling barring something unforeseen happening.

Only Gators will have full National Signing Day live coverage for you throughout the day Wednesday.

Commitments

Commit	Pos.	Rating
Dallas Wilson (20)	WR*
Vernell Brown III (39)	WR*
Hylton Stubbs (52)	DB*
Lagonza Hayward (70)	DB*
J'Vari Flowers (82)	CB
Ben Hanks (85)	CB*
Ty Jackson (124)	LB*
Jalen Wiggins (126)	DL*
Jayden Woods (130)	LB*
Naeshaun Montgomery (180)	WR*
Tavaris Dice (190)	OL*
Byron Louis (231)	RB*
Tramell Jones (238)	QB*
Joseph Mbatchou (291)	DL*
Waltez Clark	RB*
Onis Konanbanny	CB
Jeremiah McCloud	DL*
Muizz Tounkara	WR*
Stephon Shivers	DL*
Micah Jones	TE*
Chad Gasper	RB*
Myles Johnson	LB*
Jahari Medlock	OL*
Daniel Pierre Louis	OL*
Evan Noel	K*
Hayden Craig	P*