Florida Gators football recruiting explodes after Ole Miss win

If you paid any attention to Jon Sumrall and his new staff with the Florida Gators this offseason, you probably saw this coming.

Recruits have been raving about Sumrall & Co. since he arrived in December. In the spring, the chatter amongst recruits and their families intensified. Now in the fall, the noise is deafening alongside a red-hot Gators team that currently sits at No. 8 in the US LBM Coaches Poll.

The home win over Ole Miss on Sept. 26 was the epicenter for a recruiting earthquake, and we'll feel the aftershocks into Signing Day this cycle and beyond.

The Gators' list of visitors for the game was a statement. Easton Royal is a five-star senior wide receiver out of New Orleans, and has been committed to Texas since November. Four-star EDGE Fred Ards III is the No. 9 overall player in Florida and committed to Texas A&M this spring. Both walked away with a positive impression of the Gators.

"It was cool since it was first real game experience there," said Ards, who played with UF star pass catcher Vernell Brown III. "I got to see my old teammates, too."

Ards and Royal are major flip targets that would take Florida's 2027 class from great to elite. But just as important was the crop of juniors and sophomores that were in attendance.

Which top 2028 recruits Florida Gators are courting

The class of 2028 prospects at the Swamp for the win over the Rebels was a who's-who of elite juniors. Mandarin WR Brysen Wright is a consensus five-star and No. 1 player in the country and a must-have for every blue blood in the nation. Florida has surged in his recruitment since hiring Sumrall, and he told Rivals that the Gators sit as frontrunners after his latest visit to Gainesville.

Izayah Vickers is high on the board for in-state schools, and the Seminoles have been recruiting the FSU High cornerback since the summer of his sophomore year. Vickers was on-site for the Ole Miss win, and had good things to say of the trip.

"It was great," Vickers told USA TODAY. "(I) had a great time in the SWAMP."

Sarasota QB Hudson West is a fast-rising name in the class of 2028, and someone the Gators have been doing their homework on for a long time. Florida's staff first began recruiting West in his sophomore season, and he grew up a Gator fan. He was front-and-center for the win over the Rebels, as was IMG Academy four-stars Andre Alexander (LB) and Nation Farmer (OL), along with Bolles' star running back Xander Edwards.

The Gators hold a commitment from four-star junior wide receiver Armani Strong, who was joined by two of his teammates at Chaminade-Madonna, four-stars Peter Pierre and WR Tromon Isaac, for his trip up to Gainesville.

Florida struck while the iron is hot recently by adding a commitment from four-star OT Samuel Bailey — a top-5 tackle in the class of 2028 and the No. 2 player in Alabama (Rivals) — and three-star junior Blountstown safety Cyion Smith.

Florida Gators recruiting reaching into 2029 class, too

The work extends into the class of 2029, where some elite prospects are already shining. Cape Coral's Kymani Nicholas is ranked as the No. 2 DL in the country in his class, and had a big game before heading up to Gainesville for his unofficial visit. Florida State has also been working to build in-roads with the sophomore, along with Georgia, Syracuse and Miami.

"The connection is really good right now," Nicholas said. "They've been showing a lot of love … it's so good so far."

Carrollwood Day cornerback James Allen is the consensus No. 1 player in the class of 2029, and was also in the Swamp. Between the flip targets in the class of 2027, and hosting the top overall players in the class of 2028 and 2029, Sumrall and his staff have made it clear — they are big-game hunting.

We saw how much Miami's postseason run has helped the 'Canes close on elite, in-state players last year. Should Florida prove they can sustain success, the Gators are on track to replicate similar success on the recruiting trail. There's a reason that just one player from the Florida's 2026 class decommitted after Sumrall was hired. Players and their families believe in this staff, and the on-field product is proving them right.

If Florida ends the season with a Heisman Trophy winner and a win or two in the College Football Playoff — both distinct possibilities as of late September — expect a top-10 class to sign in December. From there, don't be surprised if the Gators are in the mix for the top class nationally in the cycles beyond.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida Gators football recruiting explodes after Ole Miss win