GAINESVILLE — The Early Signing Period arrived for Florida with new head coach Jon Sumrall still coaching Tulane and the Gators pushing to maintain a Top 20 class more than six weeks after the school fired Billy Napier.
Despite the challenges, UF landed a strong mix of players addressing key needs while also beating out some stiff competition.
The Gators held off a late push from Ohio State to keep Windermere cornerback CJ Bronaugh and edged Oklahoma for receiver Davian Groce, the highest-rated member of the 2026 class at No. 49 overall, according to 247Sports composite rankings. UF also beat out Texas A&M for edge rusher KJ Ford and landed 6-foot-3, 230-pound Tampa Jesuit quarterback Will Griffin despite the pursuit of many top programs, including Ohio State, Texas A&M, Oregon and Notre Dame.
The addition of five scholarship offensive lineman is significant, given three veteran starters, including 2024 All-America center Jake Slaughter, will move on.
St. Petersburg Lakewood’s massive Chancellor Campbell (6-7 ½, 307), Ocala product G’Nivre Carr (6-4 ¼, 309) of IMG Academy, Georgia native Tyler Chukuyem (6-5 ½, 285), South Carolina powerhouse Desmond Green (6-4 ½, 343) and Belle Glade’s Javarii Luckas (6-5, 305) each is a 3-star prospect in need of development like most O-line signees. Gainesville’s 6-1, 280-pound Corey Brown, the brother of receiver Vernell Brown III, will join the team as a preferred walk-on.
All told, UF signed 15 players to scholarships and landed the No. 16 class, according to 247Sports.
But some more signings and movement in the team rankings remain, especially if safety Kaiden Hall of Milton inks scholarship papers by week’s end. UF’s also still hopes to land cornerback CJ Hester of Cocoa High and tight end Kekua “Rhino” Aumua, o Kahuku, Hawaii.
Fab 5
Davian Groce, Frisco Lone Star High (Frisco, Texas): The explosive 6-foot-2, 190-pound Texan averaged 24.1 yards on 37 catches (890 yards) and scored 12 touchdowns in 2025. He has scored 56 total touchdowns in three seasons, including 27 touchdown catches, 26 rushing touchdowns and three on returns in 40 games at Lone Star High in Frisco.
CJ Bronaugh, Windemere High School (Winter Garden): The 6-foot-1, 166-pound speedster had 53 tackles, eight interceptions, including four pick-sixes, and seven pass breakups the past two seasons. In 2025, he scored two touchdowns on kickoff returns and three rushing scores on just five carries. His 10.34 seconds effort to win the Class 4A 100 state title was his 13th straight win in the event, including nine in 2025, with six 10.34 or faster.
KJ Ford, Duncanville High (Duncanville, Texas): During three seasons at Duncanville (Texas) High, the 6-foot-3 ½, 245-pound Under Armour All-America registered 132 tackles, including 44 for loss, with 15.5 of them sacks, to rank the No. 16 edge prospect per 247Sports composite rankings.
Will Griffin, Jesuit High (Tampa): A starter since he was an eighth-grader, Griffin compiled 12,299 passing yards and 143 touchdowns throws during a record-setting career. He completed 62.4% of his throws and averaged 9.1 yards per attempt in five seasons. Griffin threw for 2,534 and 37 scores on just 246 attempts as a senior.
JaReylan McCoy, Tupelo High (Tupelo, Mississippi): The rangy 6-foot-6, 245-pound Mississippian ranks No. 20 nationally among defensive lineman after he recorded 60 stops, including 17 for loss (eight sacks), and had 25 quarterback hurries in 2025.
The rest
OL Chancellor Campbell, Lakewood (St. Petersburg)
OL G’Nivre Carr, IMG Academy (Ocala)
OL Tyler Chukuyem, South Paulding (Douglasville, Georgia)
WR Marquez Daniel, Booker T. Washington (Tuskegee, Alabama)
OL Desmond Green, Timberland (Alvin, S.C.)
DT Kendall Guervil, Fort Myers (Fort Myers)
TE Kent Heze, Brunswick (Brunswick, Georgia)
OL Javarii Luckas, Glades Central (Belle Glade)
LB Malik Morris, Lakeland (Lakeland)
WR Justin Williams, Buchholz (Gainesville)
Got away: Four-star running back Carsyn Baker of Georgia was among a slew of commitments during a 48-hour period in June. But after Napier’s Oct. 19 ouster and on the heels of sophomore tailback Jadan Baugh’s record-setting 266-yard night against FSU, the 6-foot-½, 195-pound Baker de-committed from UF. Ranked the nation’s No. 15 running back prospect, Baker rushed for 1,799 yards and 21 scores on just 199 carries in 2024-25 at Langston Hughes High in Fairburn — the same hometown as former UF basketball standout Will Richard.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
