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Tracking the Florida Gators' 2027 Recruiting Class

Jon Sumrall has wasted no time to begin building his first full-fledged recruiting class as the head coach of the Florida Gators.
Cam Parker|
Jon Sumrall has wasted no time in building his first full-fledged recruiting class as the head coach of the Florida Gators.
Jon Sumrall has wasted no time in building his first full-fledged recruiting class as the head coach of the Florida Gators. | Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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GAINESVILLE, Fla.-- Jon Sumrall has wasted no time in building his first full-fledged recruiting class as the head coach of the Florida Gators, already making his mark in the 2027 recruiting class.

“I believe that the lifeblood of your program is recruiting good high school players, and at Florida, elite high school football players," he said in his introductory press conference on Dec. 1. "It starts here at home. We're privileged to be in the state of Florida which has got just such a great hotbed for not just high school football players but great coaches, and we don't have to go very far to find what we need to win championships.

"We're also very privileged, though, to have a national brand where we can go all across the country and get the best of the best, the cream of the crop.” 

Florida Gators on SI is tracking all of the Gators' commits in its 2027 recruiting class, which ranks as high as fourth nationally, according to 247 Sports, while also tracking other recruits predicted to choose Florida and its eventual summer official visit slate below.

Commits (16)

QB Davin Davidson - Sarasota (Fla.) Cardinal Mooney

  • Rating/ranking: 4-Star, No. 6 PP-QB (ESPN), No. 113 overall (Rivals Industry)
  • Height/weight: 6-6, 215 pounds
  • Commitment date: April 9, 2026
  • Chose Florida over Auburn, Georgia and Kentucky
  • Why Florida, via 247 Sports: "It was really the relationships I've had. Since the first day they got on staff, they called me, they told me I was a priority, and then they came and saw me a few weeks later. I was offered, and the recruiting never really slowed down from there. And then, getting on campus and seeing the practice. That was probably the most electric practice I've ever seen. Offensively, too, really explosive. That's what I'm looking to play in, and they truly care about their players."
  • Notable: One of the fastest risers in the class, moving over 700 spots up in the 247 Sports Composite rankings since January.

RB Andrew Beard - Bogard (Ga.) Prince Avenue School

  • Rating/ranking: 4-Star, No. 8 RB (247 Sports), No. 154 overall (247 Sports Composite)
  • Height/weight: 5-10, 195 pounds
  • Commitment date: May 8, 2026
  • Chose Florida over Clemson, Georgia, and Tennessee
  • Notable: Florida's first running back commit of the cycle. Committed to Florida despite Clemson seemingly leading for most of his recruitment and despite his father being a former Georgia football player.

WR Tramond Collins - Cottondale (Fla.)

  • Rating/ranking: 4-Star, No. 6 ATH (247 Sports Composite), No. 154 overall (ESPN)
  • Height/weight: 6-2, 190 pounds
  • Commitment date: March 11, 2026
  • Chose Florida over Alabama, LSU, among others.
  • Why Florida, via On3: "(Sumrall) recruits me hard, and he tells and shows me how much they need me to be a part of their team. Every time I talk to him, I don’t question how bad they want me to be a part of their program. He’s put a bunch of effort, but so have the other people on the staff. They’re all showing it.”
  • Notable: Previously committed to Florida under the previous staff before de-committing after Sumrall's hiring.

WR Anthony Jennings - Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Dillard

  • Rating/ranking: 4-Star, No. 32 WR, No. 205 overall (Rivals)
  • Height/weight: 6-1, 175 pounds
  • Commitment date: April 25, 2026
  • Chose Florida over Syracuse and Auburn.
  • Why Florida, via Florida Gators on SI: "A program just needs to make me feel welcomed and make me feel like I belong there... The biggest factor definitely will be somewhere I will play early on as a freshman and develop into an NFL receiver.”
  • Notable: Runs a reported 4.3-second 40-yard dash.

WR Elias Pearl - Port Charlotte (Fla.)

  • Rating/ranking: 4-Star, No. 9 WR, No. 55 overall (Rivals)
  • Height/weight: 5-11, 185 pounds
  • Commitment date: May 19, 2026
  • Chose Florida over Florida State, Georgia, LSU and Ole Miss.
  • Notable: Florida's highest-rated receiver commit.

TE Jackson Ballinger - Centerburg (Oh.)

  • Rating/ranking: 4-Star, No. 18 TE (ESPN), No. 403 overall (Rivals Industry)
  • Height/weight: 6-4, 245 pounds
  • Commitment date: Feb. 24, 2026
  • Chose Florida over Auburn, Indiana, Vanderbilt, among others.
  • Why Florida, via Hightop Sports: "Just the (January) visit like that, where it was my first time meeting the staff, and the staff was having it first interactions... it felt more complete than a visit I've gone on to other schools that are fully together. That just stood out to me, and when I went home, I thought about it... I wanted to commit a week or two after that visit."
  • Notable: Florida's first offensive commitment under the new staff. Was also recruited by the previous staff.

TE Tommy Douglas - Princeton (N.J.) the Hun School

  • Rating/ranking: 4-Star, No. 15 TE (ESPN), No. 339 overall (Rivals Industry)
  • Height/weight: 6-4, 245 pounds
  • Commitment date: April 16, 2026
  • Chose Florida over Alabama, Penn State and Vanderbilt.
  • Notable: Committed to Florida despite not visiting campus

OL Maxwell Hiller - Coatesville (Pa.) Area

  • Rating/ranking: 5-Star, No. 1 iOL (consensus), No. 3 overall (Rivals Industry)
  • Height/weight: 6-5.5, 305 pounds
  • Commitment date: April 8, 2026
  • Chose Florida over Alabama, Tennessee and Ohio State
  • Why Florida, via ESPN's Eli Lederman: “I’ve trained with (Phil Trautwein). I’ve watched him work with players. He’s more than a coach for me. He’s my guy. That relationship right there is a huge part of why we got interested in Florida.”
  • Notable: Florida's first five-star high school commitment on the offensive line since 2015.

OL Elijah Hutcheson - Roanoke (Va.) North Cross School

  • Rating/ranking: 4-Star, No. 6 OT, No. 77 overall (Rivals)
  • Height/weight: 6-5, 260 pounds
  • Commitment date: May 5, 2026
  • Chose Florida over Clemson, Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech
  • Why Florida, via Rivals: "After I went down there for my spring visit and saw them get to work, I knew that was the spot that was going to push myself to be the best. I'm excited to be a Gator."

OL Peyton Miller - Anna (Tx.)

  • Rating/ranking: 4-Star, No. 1 C, No. 68 overall (ESPN)
  • Height/weight: 6-5, 305 pounds
  • Commitment date: April 27, 2026
  • Chose Florida over Clemson, Texas Tech and Texas
  • Why Florida, via Dave Campbell's Texas Football: “Coach Traut came from Penn State. He put three guys in the NFL this year from Penn State. I've grown a great relationship with him. He offered me when I was a freshman... Once he went to Florida, I was able to keep that relationship.”
  • Notable: Gives Florida its first duo of offensive line commits inside the top 150 nationally since 2012.

DL De'Voun Kendrick - Tampa (Fla.) Carrollwood Day

  • Rating/ranking: 3-Star, No. 36 DL (ESPN), No. 541 (Rivals Industry)
  • Height/weight: 6-4, 330 pounds
  • Commitment date: April 27, 2026
  • Chose Florida over Georgia Tech, Louisville and Texas A&M
  • Why Florida, via Rivals: “The coaching staff in general, man. Coach (Gerald) Chatman, Coach (Jeremy) Patterson, I just have a great relationship with both of them. Coach (Jon) Sumrall especially, too. Great relationships. Great education, and I'm looking for other things outside of football."
  • Notable: Florida's first defensive line commit of the 2027 recruiting class.

DL Stive-Bentley Keumajou Yondui - Coral Gables (Fla.)

  • Rating/ranking: 3-Star, No. 37 DL (247 Sports), No. 486 overall (Rivals Industry)
  • Height/weight: 6-3, 295 pounds
  • Commitment date: May 6, 2026
  • Chose Florida over Auburn, Georgia, Miami and Texas
  • Why Florida, via Florida Gators on SI: “UF has made me feel like a priority since the day they offered me and I’ve built a great relationship with most of the coaches already. (Their message) is that I'm a top priority and they can get me to the league.”

DL Cain Van Norden - District Heights (Md.) Bishop McNamara

  • Rating/ranking: 3-Star, No. 53 DL (Rivals), No. 737 overall (247 Sports Composite)
  • Height/weight: 6-7, 285 pounds
  • Commitment date: May 15, 2026
  • Chose Florida over Georgia, Maryland and Ole Miss
  • Why Florida, via 247 Sports: "I feel like I can get a lot of development there since I'm new to football. I feel like they're doing a good job of making me a priority, and they have great academic support and I made great relationships with the coaches."

CB Aamaury Fountain - Warner Robins (Ga.) Northside

  • Rating/ranking: 4-Star, No. 4 CB, No. 25 overall (Rivals)
  • Height/weight: 6-3, 182 pounds
  • Commitment date: April 11, 2026
  • Flipped to Florida from South Carolina
  • Why Florida, via 247 Sports' Tyler Harden: “I think it was just like, South Carolina's (head coach Shane Beamer) on the hot seat. That's really the only thing I'm worried about."
  • Notable: Florida's first flip in the 2027 class and third commit across three days.

CB Amare Nugent - Plantation (Fla.) American Heritage

  • Rating/ranking: 4-Star, No. 15 CB, No. 119 overall (247 Sports)
  • Height/weight: 5-11, 178 pounds
  • Commitment date: Jan. 24, 2026
  • Chose Florida over Georgia and Indiana
  • Why Florida, via On3: “Honestly, when I got on campus and got around everyone, I knew that I was going to commit. Just how they greeted us with all the new coaches there, I was already sure before I gave them the good news, and before Coach Sumrall got as excited as he did. Seeing his reaction may have given me a little extra confirmation, but I was already sure as soon as I got on campus.”
  • Notable: Florida's first commitment in the class under Sumrall.

S Kailib Dillard - Tulsa (Okla.) Jenks

  • Rating/ranking: 4-Star, No. 24 S, No. 244 overall (Rivals)
  • Height/weight: 6-2, 185 pounds
  • Commitment date: May 5, 2026
  • Chose Florida over Georgia and Oregon
  • Why Florida, via Rivals: "What Coach (Jon) Sumrall's doing over there, bringing the winning he had from Tulane with them being in the playoff in the Group of Five. Him bringing it over to Florida, SEC program, got a lot more resources to go out and do what they do. I know they can win it in the SEC, and then just the scheme fit with me. Being able to put me all over the field from up high to down low. Just using my versatility to its maximum."
  • Notable: Florida's first safety commit in the class.

Position Breakdown

  • QB (1): Davin Davidson
  • RB (1): Andrew Beard
  • WR (3): Tramond Collins, Anthony Jennings, Elias Pearl
  • TE (2): Jackson Ballinger, Tommy Douglas
  • OL (3): Maxwell Hiller, Elijah Hutcheson, Peyton Miller
  • EDGE (0)
  • DL (3): De'Voun Kendrick, Stive-Bentley Keumajou Yondui, Cain Van Norden
  • LB (0)
  • CB (2): Aamaury Fountain, Amare Nugent
  • S (1): Kailib Dillard
  • ST (0):

Predicted to Choose Gators (5)

  • 4-Star WR Amare Patterson - recruitment cooling down
  • 4-Star Edge Frederick Ards III
  • 4-Star DL Tyler Alexander - recruitment cooling down
  • 3-Star CB Kamauri Whitfield
  • 3-Star S Loia Valade (Commitment date: June 27)

Others with Gators Among Top Schools (15)

  • 4-Star RB Trey Martin (Top Six: Florida, Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Tennessee)
  • 4-Star WR Julius Jones Jr. (Top Eight: Florida, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Miami, Notre Dame, Oregon, Texas)
  • 4-Star WR Trenton Yancey (Top 10: Florida, Florida State, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oregon, SMU, TCU, Texas)
  • 4-Star OT Kennedee Jackson (Top Seven: Florida, Auburn, Georgia, Georgia Tech, LSU, Tennessee, Texas. Commitment date: June 10).
  • 4-Star iOL Terrance Smith (Top Five: Florida, Auburn, LSU, Rutgers, Tennessee)
  • 3-Star OL JJ Brown (Top Six: Florida, Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, Kentucky)
  • 4-Star EDGE Adriel Rojas (Top Seven: Florida, Alabama, Auburn, Duke, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt)
  • 4-Star DL Yahzeen Zion (Top Five: Florida, LSU, Miami, Oklahoma, Wisconsin)
  • 4-Star LB Joakim Gouda (Top Five: Florida, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Texas)
  • 4-Star LB Isaac McNeil (Top Four: Florida, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia. Commitment date: June 2)
  • 4-Star LB Ja'Bios Smith (Top Five: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Texas Tech)
  • 4-Star CB Jaden Carey (Top Seven: Florida, Auburn, Miami, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Oregon)
  • 4-Star CB Raheem Floyd (Top Five: Florida, Missouri, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas)
  • 4-Star CB Bryce Williams (Top Six: Florida, Clemson, Georgia, Nebraska, Syracuse, Texas)
  • 4-Star ATH Braden Gordon (Top Five: Florida, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Miami)

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Published | Modified
Cam Parker
CAM PARKER

Cam Parker is a reporter covering the Florida Gators, Auburn Tigers and Clemson Tigers with a degree in journalism from the University of Florida. He also covers and broadcasts Alachua County high school sports with The Prep Zone and Mainstreet Daily News. When he isn't writing, he enjoys listening to '70s music such as The Band or Lynyrd Skynyrd, binge-watching shows and playing with his cat, Chester, and dog, Rufus.

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