Jon Sumrall’s biggest assistant hire is paying major dividends, and it’s landed the Florida Gators in great position for top recruit

New offensive line coach and former Gators LT Phil Trautwein is making a huge impact on recruiting.

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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2027 Five-star offensive lineman Maxwell Hiller sidelines in Happy Valley
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Recruiting for the 2027 class has gotten off to a hot start for new Florida Gators head coach Jon Sumrall.

The Gators held their Junior Day on Saturday, and it landed them their first commitment in four-star cornerback Amare Nugent. They did have four-star athlete Tramond Collins committed over the summer, but he rescinded his commitment after the firing of head coach Billy Napier.

Florida Gators make huge impression on five-star OL Maxwell Hiller

The trenches are where you win a national championship. The Gators had great trench play with their three national championship teams. Yes, they had Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks, but they won those awards because of the play up front.

The hiring of offensive line coach Phil Trautwein from the Penn State Nittany Lions was a big first step. He did a great job at Penn State developing players not just for the college game, but they’ve had a lot of success in the NFL. The next big target is five-star offensive lineman Maxwell Hiller, who was on campus for Junior Day, and the Gators made a huge impression on him.

“They did everything right,” Hiller told Rivals. “The new staff had high energy, and Coach Sumrall was great. The visit was amazing—couldn’t have gone better.

“The highlights were meeting all the coaches, the weather, the facilities, the stadium, and the people and culture. Their message was to develop and win, and I believe they can do that with Coach Sumrall, Coach Trautwein, and their staff.”

Hiller is one of the top recruits in the country. Out of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, Hiller is the 11th-ranked overall recruit and top-ranked offensive lineman in the 2027 class per the Rivals Industry Ranking. The relationship he’s built with Trautwein, which extends back to his days at Penn State.

The Gators aren’t at the top of the Rivals Prediction Machine for Hiller, but continued communication, along with a potential official visit, could seal the deal. It’s a great first step for one of the best recruits in the country.

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