Florida Gators dealt massive recruit blow with latest expert prediction. Here’s what it means
The Florida Gators have been recruiting multiple five-star recruits very hard, but they
Florida Gators head coach Jon Sumrall has been recruiting at a very high level over the last few months. Through the middle of July, Sumrall has the Gators with the No. 8 overall class with 26 total commits, including a nation-leading 17 blue-chip commitments.
Despite having 26 commitments, Sumrall continues to make recruiting the 2027 class a focus, with multiple five-star recruits being the target for the Gators.
Florida Gators are semingly out of contention for five-star WR Easton Royal
Friday afternoon brought another famed “Fong Bomb” from Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong, as he projected five-star wide receiver Easton Royal to flip from the Texas Longhorns to the LSU Tigers.
It’s a tough one for the Gators, as they have made Royal a priority, but it’s been trending that way for some time. I wrote about Royal’s recruitment on Monday, where we learned about Royal potentially waiting until the middle of the season to make his decision. In theory, that would give the Gators time to get back into the race.
However, it appears that Royal’s decision could be coming sooner than we initially thought. The Tigers, like the Gators, have been recruiting Royal hard. He is the No. 3 overall recruit per Rivals and No. 1 at his position. His scouting report showcases an elite player.
“Easton Royal made the most impressive individual play in a game that was a heavy defensive affair. The New Orleans native made a ridiculous one-handed grab on a well-thrown deep ball from Notre Dame quarterback commit Teddy Jarrard. Despite quality coverage from fellow five-star Joshua Dobson, Royal was able to find and bring down the football for the sensational grab. The Texas commit finished the night with three catches for 46 yards and the touchdowns and was named the game’s MVP. Royal entered the week considered one of the fastest players on hand, and lived up to that reputation with is ability to separate and pick up yards after the catch. The elite play speed and high-end playmaking skills make him Rivals’ No. 1 wide receiver in the 2027 cycle.”
It’s frustrating that the Gators are likely to miss out on Royal, but getting that close considering where they started is an achievement in its own right.
