Grading Florida football 2026 recruiting class — How did the Gators fare?

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Despite coaching turnover, Florida football kept most of its 2026 recruiting class together through the Early National Signing Day period.

The Florida Gators signed 17 of their 18 scholarship commitments between Dec. 3 and Dec. 5 as new coach Jon Sumrall connected with them quickly after being named UF's coach on Nov. 30. Interim Florida football coach Billy Gonzales deserves an assist for keeping the class together after Billy Napier was fired on Oct. 19. Florida lost just one commitment from its class before Signing Day, four-star running back Carsyn Baker.

“This group is a testament to both the national brand of Florida and the hard work of some great people on staff in Gainesville,” Sumrall said. “I couldn’t be more excited about the student-athletes that became Gators today, but also the future of our outstanding program. This is just the beginning."

Florida also flipped a four-star safety, Dylan Purter, from LSU. Sumrall had a prior relationship with Purter from recruiting the standout from Tuskegee, Ala., when he was at Tulane.

Overall, UF's class includes 18 scholarship players and one preferred walk on (Orlando Jones High offensive lineman Corey Brown, the younger brother of UF wide receiver Vernell Brown III). Of the 18, nine are four-star recruits, including Tampa Jesuit High quarterback Will Griffin, an Under Armour All-American who was named Florida Gatorade High School Player of the Year on Dec. 5.

The class is split nearly evenly with 10 offensive players and eight defensive players. It includes four offensive linemen, four defensive backs, three wide receivers, two EDGE, two defensive linemen, one quarterback, one tight end and one linebacker. Of the 18 signees, 12 are ranked in the ESPN.com Top 300.

How does Florida football recruiting class rank?

247Sports Composite class rank: No. 15 overall, No. 7 SEC

Top signees: WR Davian Groce (No. 8 WR, No. 54 overall recruit, per 247Sports), CB CJ Bronaugh (No. 9 CB, No. 101 overall recruit), WR/RB Justin Williams (No. 9 ATH, No. 193 overall recruit).

Biggest miss: RB Carsyn Baker, the four-star running back de-committed from UF just before National Signing Day and wound up signing with Texas A&M.

Grade: B – Considering the cloudy coaching situation after Napier was fired, both Gonzales and Sumrall deserve credit for keeping the class together. Talent-wise it's a solid class that still lacks elite top-end talent (no five-stars). There are no true running backs in the class, though Williams is capable of transitioning from wide receiver to running back if needed.

Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida football 2026 recruiting class grade following Early NSD

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