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4-star DL Preston Carey names final four ahead of decision date

IMG_6615by:Blake Alderman•06/29/25•

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Preston Carey
Preston Carey (Keith Niebuhr/On3)

Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy 4-star defensive lineman Preston Carey has moved silently with his recruiting process for most of the year. He trimmed his long list of offers down to seven schools in the spring. With his commitment date of June 30 approaching, Preston Carey trimmed his options down once again, naming a final four of Auburn, Florida, Georgia, and Rutgers. With a decision expected to come on Monday night during a ceremony from 7-9 p.m. ET, we are hitting the final stretch.

Florida has pressed hard for Preston Carey

After moving from New York to Florida to attend IMG Academy, it made Gainesville much easier for Preston Carey to visit. He’s taken advantage of that distance and has made several trips to The Swamp over the last year. Florida’s staff has also done their part to let the 4-star defender know how much he’s wanted by then. Head coach Billy Napier is personally involved, and several other coaches on the staff have echoed the same message of his being a priority.

“They were talking about how bad they want me in the program,” Carey told Gators Online earlier this month after his UF official visit. “At IMG, I’m already on a college schedule and playing high competition in practice every day. They definitely showed how much they wanted me during the visit.”

The hands-on approach that Coach Napier has taken with Carey is something that has resonated with him.

“One of the things I look for mainly is what love is going to be shown from the whole staff, and especially the head coach,” Carey said. “Coach Napier said he likes me as a player, my character, and that I can come in and have a positive effect on any program and not just the Gators.”

Carey plays an important role that Florida needs to address

The Florida Gators currently have one defensive lineman in the 2026 class in 3-star Jamir Perez. Despite committing to Florida last month, Ohio State has been trending to flip Perez. Florida will lose some key pieces up front after this coming season. That makes Carey an important target for the Orange and Blue.

“They want to try me at every spot on the d-line. Mostly inside from the 4I down to the zero. They want to get a feel for where they want me. I feel like I’m a bit more of a hybrid since I’m a longer dude, but I’m still heavy. I’m almost 6-foot-6, and about 305 or 310, but I usually play at 300 pounds. Florida sees me as an END in the defense, but they will move me around. They said I’m both a run stopper and a pass rusher, so I can play at NOSE and END.”

The On3 Industry, a weighted average of the four major recruiting services, ranks Preston Carey as the nation’s No. 298 Overall player.

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