Florida beats out Baylor, Oklahoma for coveted top-50 2026 prospect

The Baylor Bears were starting to trend downward for top-50 prospect Davian Groce, and that came to fruition on Monday night. The Frisco (TX) prospect was down to Florida, Oklahoma, Baylor, and Houston, but announced he would head to Gainesville to play for the Gators.

Groce is a next-level prospect who can play either RB or WR at college and is probably viewed as a dynamic WR. Either way, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound prospect is ranked as the 47th-best player in the 2026 class and the No. 4 athlete, per the Composite.

BREAKING: Four-Star WR Davian Groce has Committed to Florida, he tells me for @rivals

The 6’2 193 WR from Frisco, TX chose the Gators over Oklahoma, Baylor, & Houston

“Can’t wait to be a part of the Swamp, Go Gators 🐊”https://t.co/y5LezL1HRH pic.twitter.com/HvCt7MT9yF
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) August 12, 2025

What is Baylor missing? 247Sports' Gabe Brooks gave his scouting report:

- dynamic offensive weapon experienced at running back and receiver who could play either at the high-major level
- owns a receiver's build with strong pass-catching production, but verified athleticism particularly stands out when stacked vs. running back class
- that said, multiple sources indicate a desire to play receiver
- displays impressive body control and spatial awareness in the air and along boundaries
- plays with some subtle speed-changing modulation evident in run
-after-catch ability at receiver and second-level playmaking at RB
- unorthodox gait that appears somewhat tight-hipped, but ankle flexibility shows in foot quickness
- Texas 5A 200-meter champion as a junior- field-stretching linear speed supported by multi-sport data, but a build-up runway aids in reaching highest gear
- reveals some gear-down when redirecting
- valuable basketball participation pervasive in NFL Draft results across positional spectrum, but particularly frequent in skill players/pass catchers
- likely one of the top offensive playmakers in TXHSFB and the country for the 2026 class. Projects as a high-major receiver who can give you personnel/game plan flexibility with a clear long-term NFL ceiling.

The loss stings, but Baylor is doing fine

It's not ideal to lose Groce from your backyard, but Baylor is still building a legit class in the 2026 cycle. The Bears have three of the top players from Texas: edge Jamarion Carlton, WR Jordan Clay, and CB Jamarion Vincent. If Baylor can snag a couple more four-star players before December, the Bears will have a top-25 recruiting class more than likely.

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