Florida football recruiting: What Gators, Hurricanes are watching in spring

(Editor's note: This is the latest edition of "Extra Points," the newsletter providing additional news, analysis and opinions on all things high school recruiting in the state of Florida. You can sign up to receive this newsletter in your email inbox weekly.)

Spring is time to travel in the recruiting world, and reporters are no different.

USA TODAY's Florida Network has been busy this spring, travelling the state to check in with premier recruits and look for under-the-radar prospects.

In this week's Extra Points, we're dumping the notebook halfway through the spring. There are still plenty of schools on the list to check in with, and more intel will come pouring in as the pressure increases on the state's elite recruits.

Here's where we've been and what we're hearing so far this spring.

Florida commit Anthony Jennings headlines talented Dillard squad

Jennings, who committed to Florida on April 25, is the marquee name at Dillard but far from the only elite recruit suiting up for the Panthers.

Jennings (No. 61) named the Gators from an offer list that includes nearly 40 schools. He confirmed with USA TODAY that he as all but officially shut down his recruitment after using all five available official visits. Ever since Jon Sumrall and his new staff got to Gainesville, we haven't stopped hearing about how unique this new regime is. Jennings reinforced the point, saying that the staff is what got the Gators over the hump against other finalists like Florida State, Auburn and Maryland.

"Coach Sumrall and (WRs coach Marcus) Davis were two key factors in my commitment," he told us at a spring practice. "As soon as I met (Sumrall), he was off the charts — dapping me up and giving me a hug. Even when I committed over the phone he was just really excited…"

Jennings, a 6-foot speedster, is WR1 within a group that includes two 6-4 rising senior pass catchers. Isaiah Monestime and Josh Sylvain both have seen their respective recruitments gain steam this spring. Colorado and Kentucky are among the programs that have extended offers to both in recent weeks.

After transferring in from Piper with zero Division I offers, Monestime has been offered by five different programs in the last two months. Sylvain, a returning senior, reports 10 offers from the likes of Tulane, USF and Cal. Expect the offer count to rise for both as more college coaches stop by Dillard to do their due diligence.

The secondary is also loaded, headlined by Penn State commit Semajay Robinson (No. 79). Robinson confirmed with us that he has not shut down his recruitment and two other programs are nearing visits. Louisville and Virginia are the teams to watch for the 6-3 cornerback.

Louisville has made recruiting Florida a priority under Jeff Brohm, and they've already landed three Top 100 commits this cycle. They hope to add another in Robinson.

"They just know what they want, there's a lot of Florida guys there," he said. "And I feel like if I wasn't home at Penn State, that'd be another place I could call home."

It won't be an easy flip, as Robinson committed back in March after associate head coach and CBs coach Terry Smith closed the deal for the Nittany Lions. The relationship with his verbal pledge remains strong midway through the spring.

"I love (the staff), coach Terry is the G.O.A.T," he said, "I love him. He's the reason I even committed there. And Penn State culture is very big, and I want to be a part of that. And (head coach Matt) Campbell, I love him to death."

Another senior to watch on the defensive side of the ball is Tedrick Oatman, a versatile athlete that roams from the nickel to linebacker that reports offers from the likes of Boston College, UConn, Cal and Georgia State.

Cardinal Mooney looking to repeat with Top 100 recruits leading way

The Cougars have Davin Davidson running the show again this year and are primed for a title defense season with the No. 1 signal caller in the state at the helm.

The 6-7 Davidson (No. 17) has had a breakout offseason unlike any other, and committed to Florida after a host of offers came rushing in. Now an Elite 11 finalist with a verbal commitment made, Davidson committed quickly after the offers came in order to avoid distractions and visits during the summer and fall. Expect his pledge to the Gators to hold firm until signing day.

Kaleb Exume (No. 56) transfers in from Parrish, and has one of the more impressive tapes in the state. The 6-2, 310-pound defensive tackle played both ways at Parrish, and is expected to do the same for the Cougars. He committed to Louisville on April 19 over Indiana, Virginia Tech and Kansas.

Connail Jackson (No. 69) committed to UCF on May 2 over North Carolina and Virginia Tech. The Knights were early on Jackson, and started their recruitment his sophomore year — a head start that Jackson says helped seal the deal. They land a commitment from him after a junior campaign that saw him rush for 2,452 yards and 39 touchdowns on 217 touches.

American Heritage still priority stop for college coaches

Miami, Florida State, Auburn and more were in attendance for a spring practice on April 5 at American Heritage, which sees a revolving door of coaches come by to evaluate talent regularly.

The south Florida powerhouse and defending back-to-back state champs have a new marquee recruit in at quarterback after Dia Bell's (Texas signee) graduation. Rising junior phenom Neimann Lawrence arrived from Miami Northwestern, and is among the most touted signal callers in the 2028 class.

Texas, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Michigan and Miami are leaders in his recruitment at this stage, and he visited all five this spring. Lawrence has long been on the 'Canes board, and they've been recruiting him since he was in eighth grade. One of Miami's most successful recruiters, offensive line coach Alex Mirabal, was at practice and made sure to check in with Lawrence (as well as the trenches).

Lawrence will have big targets this year. 6-5 Kentucky commit Trae Proctor (No. 35) will start practicing with the team as soon as his transfer from Southridge becomes official, and 6-6 rising junior Robert Outler has been gaining serious steam on the trail — reeling in offers from Missouri and UCF this offseason. Rising senior Michael Stringer (6-0, 190 pounds) is unranked by major recruiting services, but has picked up five offers in the last week from the likes of East Carolina, Cornell and Western Kentucky.

The other side of the ball has elite prospects as well. CB Amare Nugent (No. 12) is a Florida commit and the No. 3 corner in the state, and defensive lineman Micah price reports 14 offers, including Missouri, Purdue and Kentucky this offseason.

Chaminade-Madonna still stacked with high-end talent

Rising junior quarterback Brady Quinn is another quarterback that is being pursued heavily, and has had a busy spring taking visits. Indiana, Notre Dame, Alabama, Clemson, Miami, Kentucky and Purdue were the programs that hosted the 6-1 composite 3-star.

Quinn will have plenty of elite targets in his first year with the Lions, including LSU WR commit Ah'Mari Stevens (No. 41). Stevens held a longtime commitment to Miami before he and the 'Canes mutually agreed to part ways shortly after an official visit to LSU. He named the Tigers one day after his visit to Baton Rouge.

Another big name in the receiver's group is is tight end Peter Pierre, who enters his junior campaign at 6-4, 220 pounds. Pierre reports over 30 offers, and added Alabama, West Virginia, and Mississippi State to the list last week. Rising junior Armani Strong has gained momentum this spring, and added USC and Virginia Tech to an offer list that already includes Ole Miss, Notre Dame, and Florida State.

The Lions also have Amos Bradford at running back, a 6-0, 170-pound 3-star that decommitted from Toledo in February before committing to Purdue this spring.

The Lions have some big names in the secondary, including Notre Dame safety commit John Ford III and Ohio State safety commit Angelo Smith — the younger brother of phenom Buckeye receiver Jeremiah Smith, who was at Chaminade's practice.

Venice flexes elite offensive talent

Tyree Mannings Jr. is one of the best receivers in the nation, and coaches from all over the country have stopped by The Island to check in. The rising junior has added offers from USC, Alabama, North Carolina and Virginia Tech this spring, and is already offered by Florida's Big 3 along with Georgia, LSU, Nebraska, and others.

Transferring in from IMG is rising junior Noah Patton, who has had limited meaningful snaps at the varsity level but has all the tools to take Venice's offense to the next level. He reports offers from Arkansas, Syracuse, Kentucky and others. Florida QB coach Joe Craddock stopped by a Venice practice to do his due diligence on the 6-3, 190 pound signal caller.

Running back Dorien Jones (No. 85) has added North Carolina, Georgia Tech and FIU to his offer sheet this spring. Jones took a visit to Chapel Hill already, and says the tar Heels are among his leaders. Georgia Tech, which extended an offer in late April, has already locked in a summertime visit. USF is working hard on the 5-11, 190-pound back and the Bulls are also among his leaders. Expect a summer commitment from Jones.

While the big names are on the offensive side of the ball, the defense has long been a strong point for Venice and players on that side of the ball are seeing their recruitment speed up. Defensive back Ira Dale has earned offers from Florida Atlantic and Western Kentucky this offseason. Brothers Felly and Desi Kmit are two well-built linebackers in the class of 2028 that transferred in from Michigan, and will almost certainly reel in some big-time offers before next year's signing day.

Eau Gaille has promising crop of talent

It will be interesting so how colleges approach Eau Gallie rising senior quarterback Joseph Allen. Allen was being recruited by Power 4 programs before suffering a season-ending knee injury in the 2025 season opener. Coastal Carolina is a program to keep a close eye on with Allen moving forward.

Eau Gallie 6-5, 215-pound rising junior tight end Troy Silberzahn is seeing his recruitment take off this spring. He's a big body with soft hands and enough speed to separate from linebackers and safeties. Wisconsin, Maryland, Indiana, UCF, Florida State and North Carolina are among the schools to offer early this spring. 

Defensive prospects shining at Cardinal Gibbons

Cardinal Gibbons rising junior edge rusher/tight end Ty Kirkpatrick has been taking plenty of reps at linebacker this spring. The 6-2 ½, 235-pounder led the Crusaders with six sacks in 2025. West Virginia, USF, SMU and North Carolina all offered in the past week.

Rutgers has been hot on the trail of Cardinal Gibbons rising senior edge rusher Michael Loudort. The 6-4, 240-pounder's offers also include Florida State, Georgia Tech, Nebraska and Pitt.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida H.S. football recruiting: What to know for spring practices