Florida Gators flip targets to watch
As the Florida Gators build the 2025 recruiting class, several prospects committed to other schools are on their radar. And some of them just might be there for the taking. Here’s a quick look at notable Florida flip targets, along with intel on each:
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*Malik Autry, DL, Opelika (Ala.) — AUBURN: If there is one program best positioned to flip Autry from the Tigers, it’s probably Florida. The 4-star recruit has visited the Gators six or seven times and will return in June for an official. He’s extremely close with the Florida staff and sees the potential to play early in Gainesville. While Auburn continues to like its chances of keeping Autry in the class, some other programs think he’s gettable – and Florida is one of them.
*Hayden Bradley, TE, Buford (Ga.) — OLE MISS: Bradley committed to the Rebels on April 27 but Florida co-offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Russ Callaway recently visited his school as the Gators continue to pursue him. At last check, we were hearing Florida has a good shot to get an official visit.
*Brandon Brown, DL, Melbourne (Fla.) Eau Gallie — TEXAS: The Longhorns are recruiting Brown hard to keep him on board. Miami could be another program to watch. Brown will officially visit the Gators on May 31 but it doesn’t sound like Florida is pushing too hard at the moment.
A few Florida Gators-Auburn Tigers battles have emerged
*Tavaris Dice, OT, Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes — AUBURN: Dice likely is near the top of Florida’s flip target wishlist. And, there is real optimism from the Florida side with regards to this recruitment. He will officially visit the Gators on June 14 and the gap between Florida and the Tigers seems to be quite narrow. Multiple sources think the Gators have a realistic chance here.
*Jakaleb Faulk, Edge, Highland Home (Ala.) — AUBURN: Of the Auburn commits the Gators are trying to flip this would appear to be the biggest challenge. Faulk has always liked Florida and he’ll return to Gainesville for an official visit June 7. But his brother plays for the Tigers and that will be a factor here to consider. It would be a surprise if Florida can pull this off — but surprises do happen. Alabama might be Auburn’s biggest threat.
*Isaiah Gibson, Edge, Warner Robins (Ga.) — USC TROJANS: Georgia and Auburn have emerged as two programs to watch, but Gibson also plans to officially visit the Gators in June. We believe it will be hard for the Trojans to hold on here. The Gators might face an uphill climb but a good official visit could give them a boost. He’s expected to be at Georgia on Saturday.
*Javion Hilson, Edge, Cocoa (Fla.) — FSU: Although Hilson seems to be fairly locked in with the Seminoles at this time, he plans to officially visit the Gators on May 31. He previously was committed to Alabama and the Tide also apparently will get him in for an official. Alabama possibly is FSU’s biggest threat at this time. Texas might be another to watch and he wants to visit the Longhorns.
*Myles Johnson, LB, Brewton (Ala.) Miller — ALABAMA: Johnson will officially visit the Gators on June 7. LSU and Ole Miss also seem to be involved. Johnson visited Florida earlier this year so his official won’t be his first trip to Gainesville. Flipping an Alabama recruit from the Tide never is easy and may depend on how hard that staff is recruiting him.
UF is heavily recruiting a ‘Noles QB commit
*Tramell Jones, QB, Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin — FSU: Jones committed to the Seminoles more than a year ago, but two recent trips to Gainesville have him thinking seriously about returning to Gainesville for an official visit in June (he put the odds of it happening at better than 50-50). The Gators are pushing pretty hard and he’s listening. But Jones has strong ties to the FSU coaching staff and that’s a hurdle Florida will have to clear. He told Gators Online recently the gap is closing so if Florida can secure an official this probably will get interesting. There are some who think the Gators are trending in the right direction.
*Elijah Melendez, LB, Kissimmee (Fla.) Osceola — MIAMI: The 4-star recruit said recently he continues to hear from Florida and it’s possible the Gators could receive an official. He has known officials set to Michigan and Southern California, leaving one to believe perhaps he isn’t 100 percent with the ‘Canes.
*London Merritt, Edge, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG — OHIO STATE: The 4-star recruit told Gators Online this week he plans to officially visit Florida. Meanwhile, another official is scheduled for North Carolina. We don’t know yet what type of chance the Gators might have.
*Na’eem Offord, CB, Birmingham (Ala.) Parker — OHIO STATE: Flipping Offord is going to be difficult as programs such as Alabama and Georgia appear to be heavily involved, but both Offord and his coach recently told Gators Online/On3 that Offord will officially visit the Gators. We’re still waiting on that date but it could take place n June. Offord has visited Florida just once but liked it — and the Gators are working on him hard.
*Caden Piening, TE, Cincinnati (Ohio) Anderson — UCF: Piening committed to UCF in April but he still plans to officially visit Florida on June 14. While the Gators also continue to recruit a handful of other players at this position, Piening does appear to be relatively high on their board.
The Florida Gators also like a QB in Texas committed elsewhere
*Keelon Russell, QB, Duncanville (Texas) — SMU: Russell is a top-100 national recruit who will officially visit the Gators on June 7. Russell and Jones appear to be Florida’s two biggest QB targets at the moment. The SMU commit visited the Gators earlier this year and he communicates often with QB coach Ryan O’Hara and Callaway. Alabama and Oregon each recently offered and Ole Miss also is in the mix. Additionally, Texas is involved. If the Longhorns offer, that potentially could be a game-changer. The one could go in a number of directions. Russell is officially visiting SMU this weekend.
*Hylton Stubbs, S, Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin — USC TROJANS: Florida, FSU and Miami are pushing hard for the 4-star USC commit who called the Gators his leader for about a year before he committed to the Trojans this spring. Stubbs will officially visit the Gators in June. Sources continue to tell Gators Online that Florida remains optimistic — even confident — about its chances of getting Stubbs.
*Solomon Thomas, IOL, Jacksonville (Fla.) Raines — FSU: The battle for this 5-star recruit is intriguing but it doesn’t just include Florida. Per On3’s Chad Simmons, LSU is very much in the race and might even be FSU’s biggest threat as of today. While Thomas loves the FSU staff, he told us last week he has concerns about how much the ‘Noles use the transfer portal. Meanwhile, Florida is pushing extremely hard and we believe the gap between the two programs has narrowed. He’ll officially visit Florida, FSU and LSU this summer. The Gators appear to be very much in this.
*Dallas Wilson, WR, Tampa Bay Tech (Fla.) — OREGON: The 5-star recruit will officially visit the Gators (June 14), along with Oregon, FSU and Miami. Right now, it feels like Florida probably is sitting behind those three programs but the Gators historically have made strong moves with recruits during official visits under Billy Napier. There are some who view the Hurricanes as being Oregon’s biggest threat entering his officials.
The post Florida Gators flip targets to watch appeared first on On3.
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