Florida Gators Recruiting: 2025 commit breakdown
Despite a slow push to the finish line last cycle, Florida managed to still finish with a top-10 recruiting class in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. Billy Napier and the Gators have turned the page and are now hunting to build another elite pledge list for the 2025 class.
With the Early Signing Period still over nine months out, UF is in a familiar spot, as its 2025 class currently checks in at No. 10 in the nation — which is good for No. 5 in the SEC, as of Feb. 25.
Just four prospects are committed to the Gators thus far, but three are blue-chip (four or five-star) recruits and all four hail from The Sunshine State or Georgia.
Florida Class Breakdown
Three of the four commits have joined the fold in 2024. Headlining the quartet is Tallahassee (Fla.) James Rickards four-star defensive lineman Jalen Wiggins. The lone top-100 prospect in the class thus far, Wiggins is also a top-10 player at his position and one of the best in his home state.
Wiggins’ commitment came just one day after Atlanta Woodward three-star wide receiver Josiah Abdullah, who chose the Gators while also holding offers from the likes of Tennessee, Alabama, LSU, Texas and more.
Tampa Plant four-star running back Waltez Clark is the longest-running commit in the fold for Napier and Co. He opted to pledge in September and is just outside the top 200 in the On3 Industry Ranking overall. The newest member of the class is Fort Valley (Ga.) Houston County four-star interior offensive lineman Peyton Joseph, a top-125 recruit who committed on Feb. 18.
Top Florida Offensive Commit: IOL Peyton Joseph
The 6-foot-3, 280-pound Joseph chose the Gators over Florida State, Georgia Tech, and Tennessee. He ranks No. 123 overall and is the No. 5 IOL in the On3 Industry Ranking.
Joseph told On3’s Hayes Fawcett this upon his commitment to Florida:
“Mostly talking with coach Napier and Sales led me to commit because they have shown great program development. UF is on the way to the top and I feel like as a player I would love to be a part of the process.”
“The coaching staff is great. I have close relationships with all coaches, but more so coach Sale and coach Napier. We talk a lot every day and have a real close bond.”
Top Florida Defensive Commit: DL Jalen Wiggins
Wiggins provided a major boost to the Gators upon committing, as he’s poised to serve as a centerpiece pledge for the entirety of the 2025 cycle. The No. 83 overall recruit, Wiggins is also the No. 8 defensive lineman in the nation.
On3’s Chad Simmons recently caught up with Wiggins, who updated his recruitment and commitment status:
“I love how they put a lot of attention on me,” Wiggins told On3 about the Gators. “They make sure I’m taken care of and they make sure they check up on me. Seeing their (20)24 class, it’s a building process. Looking at how they’ve been able to build off of that is one thing that stands out to me. Coming off of seeing everything that’s happened in the past two years and still being able to build a class that is so strong is crazy to me.”