2028 4-star safety Cyion Smith commits to Florida: ‘I’m ready to give them all I got’

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Florida didn’t need years to convince Cyion Smith that Gainesville was where he wanted to play college football. It needed the right staff, the right relationships and an opportunity to show the four-star Blountstown, Fla., safety what the program could become under Jon Sumrall.

Smith has committed to Florida, giving the Gators an important early piece in their 2028 class. For Smith, three factors ultimately separated Florida.

“Home. The coaches. Player development,” Smith told Rivals when asked about his decision. “It was really a pretty easy decision. I have been feeling this way about Florida for a while.”

The decision comes after Florida steadily built momentum throughout the spring and summer. Smith already knew the program and had visited Gainesville before Sumrall took over, but his view of the Gators changed considerably after the new staff arrived.

Smith estimates he has been to Florida four times since the transition. Each trip strengthened the connection.

“When I was there in the summer for a 7-on-7, I felt it. Florida made a big move then, and since then, I have been thinking about committing to them. On that visit, I spent a lot of time with the coaches and it just felt right. The coaching staff is amazing and I love being around them. Being around them, you’ll love it. The coaching staff is amazing.”

Since grabbing the momentum, the Gators have never let up. They have communicated with Smith every day. Coaches checked on him and his family. They consistently reinforced how important he was to what Florida wants to build in the 2028 class.

That mattered.

“They really show they really want me, so they give me all they got,” Smith said. “I’m ready to give them all I got. I know the Florida coaches want me and I want to be there.”

Smith developed a particularly strong connection with Sumrall, whose personality and approach have helped change the feeling around the program.

“Everything he does is energy. It’s fun being around him. He is going to be great at Florida. The staff is a lot like him too. I think they all feed off Coach Sumrall. They’re good people. Everybody is consistent with what they do. They all have energy.”

Smith believes in what Florida is building

Florida’s vision for the future became another important piece of the decision. Smith has seen the energy change under Sumrall. He has watched the Gators build momentum on the recruiting trail, including a highly regarded 2027 class, and believes something significant is developing in Gainesville.

“He is doing something amazing,” Smith said. “I’m into it. I can see what Coach Sumrall is building and I want to be part of it.”

Now Smith gets an opportunity to become part of that next wave. As one of Florida’s early 2028 additions, the four-star safety gives the Gators a talented in-state defender to build around as Sumrall and his staff turn more attention toward the junior class.

For Smith, however, the decision ultimately came back to something simpler. Florida is home. He believes in the coaches. He believes in the development.

“It is where I want to be,” he said. “Coach Sumrall is a great coach and the staff is great. Florida is a great place to be.”

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