Billy Napier and Florida football have flipped 11 recruits in 15 days. Yet, more remain out there that Napier and Co. would like to flip before Wednesday.
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Billy Napier made a statement the past few weeks.
The Gators head coach righted the ship after a 1-2 start to the season with two ranked wins and a demolition of rival FSU, which made Florida bowl eligible and gave the program its first winning season in four years.
Now, his moment is here to set UF up for long-term success.
National Early Signing Day is upon us on Wednesday. Napier and Co. have already performed miracle work on the trail the past two weeks. Florida has flipped 11 recruits in 15 days, including six four-stars. This moved UF up from No. 55 to No. 11 in the Class of 2025 rankings.
However, more names remain out there and ready for the Gators to chomp on them. Here are five recruits Florida is targeting for signing day.
Lagonza Hayward – Decommitted from Tennessee
Hayward decommitted from Tennessee on Sunday, and 247 now predicts the 6-foot-1, 200-pound safety to take his talents to Gainesville.
A four-star from Lyons, Georgia, Hayward is ranked as the No. 9 safety in the country and No. 9 overall in the Peach State.
The recruiting news outlet described Hayward as a “explosive three-phase playmaker.”
Hayward would be the second safety to commit to Florida in as many days as Mandarin (Jacksonville) four-star Hylton Stubbs flipped from Miami to UF on Monday.
UF also has a commitment from Miami’s Ben Hanks Jr., the No. 7 CB nationally.
Jaime Ffrench – Texas commit
Stubb’s commitment turned attention to Ffrench, who is the final trio of Mandarin seniors to not commit to Florida. QB Trammel Jones flipped from FSU on Nov. 17.
Ffrench, along with Vernell Brown III, would give the Gators two five-star receivers. At 6-1 and 185 pounds, he is the No. 7 receiver in the country and No. 5 overall in the state.
In four seasons at Mandarin, Ffrench finished his career with 149 catches, 2,655 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Andrew Ivins of 247 said Ffrench has the “traits and ball skills to work all three levels and emerge as a trusted option in any style of passing attack.”
He would add depth to a receiver room that lost Elijhah Badger and Chimere Dike to graduation.
Dallas Wilson – Oregon commit
Wilson ranks as the other top receiver in the state besides Brown and Ffrench. At Tampa Bay Tech, Wilson had 128 catches for 2,417 yards and 28 touchdowns in three seasons.
He is ranked No. 21 in the nation, third among wide receivers and third among receivers in Florida.
Wilson comes in at 6-3 and 195 pounds. Ivins said Wilson has the “size, hands and speed to emerge as a true impact player for a College Football Playoff contender.”
Wilson visited Florida on Nov. 16 and 23. On Nov. 25, he signed with Elite Sports Management Group in a decision announced by former Gator and the father of Brown, Vernell Brown Jr.
Soloman Thomas – FSU commit
Thomas, from Raines High School in Jacksonville, helps boost Florida up front. Napier preaches the importance of establishing the run, so flipping Thomas from Tallahassee to Gainesville is of high priority.
A five-star on 247sports, Thomas is rated as the No. 24 prospect in the Class of 2025. However, he ranks second among interior O-lineman and No. 4 among all players in Florida. He committed to FSU last December.
Thomas is 6-4 and 315 pounds. Ivin called Thomas an advanced offensive line prospect with positional flexibility who is “built to play in an offensive system that’s heavy on gap and inside-zone concepts.”
DJ Pickett – LSU commit
The Holy Grail in-state recruit, Pickett is ranked No. 1 overall in Florida, No. 3 among CBs nationally and No. 12 overall nationally.
At Zephyrhills High School near Tampa, Pickett totaled 10 career interceptions. At 6-4 and 178 pounds, he committed to LSU in July, but he visited Florida for its win over the Tigers on Nov. 16.
Ivins said he expects Pickett to be a first-round pick when he declares for the NFL draft. He added that his final collegiate position remains unclear, but he projects a zone cover corner.
Ivins noted that Pickett is a “skyscraper of a defensive back with an extremely rare mix of length and speed.”
Noah Ram covers Gainesville-area high school sports and University of Florida athletics for The Gainesville Sun and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him by email at Nram@gannett.com and follow him @Noah_ram1 on X/Twitter.
