Florida football holds tight in ESPN's latest 2026 recruiting rankings
While recruiting rankings can be super-volatile, the Orange and Blue have assembled a respectable class that includes 16 pledged prospects with 11 cracking the ESPN 300 — the service's proprietary list of top 300 recruits in a given cycle.
Four-star quarterback Will Griffin, out of Tampa (Florida) Jesuit, is the top offensive player among Florida's current commits, while five-star defensive end JaReylan McCoy out of Tupelo (Mississippi) represents the cream of the crop on the defensive side of the line.
Here is what ESPN's national recruiting analyst Craig Haubert had to offer on the ranking.
What ESPN says about Florida's 2026 recruiting class
"Landing one of the top defenders in the country is the fastest way to climb the recruiting rankings, and that's exactly what Billy Napier did by securing five-star defensive end JaReylan McCoy. Ranked No. 9 overall and the second-best defender in the ESPN 300, McCoy would be Florida's highest-rated defensive signee in more than a decade," Haubert begins.
"The 6-foot-7, 260-pound Mississippi native brings elite length, explosive traits and a relentless motor that was on full display at the Under Armour All-America week in January. Beating out LSU and Texas for McCoy marks a major recruiting win for Napier, and McCoy has the potential to develop into one of the SEC's most feared defensive linemen," he continues.
"A late close helped the Gators rise in the past cycle, but they've ascended much earlier this time around with an active summer. In June they added a pair of dynamic pass catchers in Marquez Daniel and Justin Williams, as well as Georgia running back Carsyn Baker. An early but key pickup was QB Will Griffin, who came on board in June 2024. A big-bodied passer with a strong arm and good accuracy, he could eventually be a nice transition from current QB DJ Lagway," Haubert notes.
"Napier's staff has also bolstered both lines of scrimmage with several high-upside prospects ranked just outside the ESPN 300, adding critical depth as Florida looks to reassert itself in the SEC," he concludes.
ESPN's 2026 college football recruiting class rankings top 25
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