4-star safety Demetres Samuel flips commitment back from Florida to Syracuse

On July 31, Palm Bay (Fla.) Heritage four-star safety Demetres Samuel flipped his commitment from Syracuse to Florida — reclassifying to the 2025 recruiting class in the process.

Today, on Sept. 29, Samuel has flipped back to the Orange, per On3’s Hayes Fawcett.

Samuel initially pledged to Syracuse back on March 30 before choosing the in-state Gators.

“Coach Fran is building an SEC type of program at Syracuse,” Samuel told On3 when he previously committed to Syracuse in the spring. “I watched practice on Thursday and I love the environment and what the coaches and players are doing. Coach Fran is changing the program. Everything is evolving at Syracuse and that is why I committed to them.”

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Samuel is the nation’s No. 207 overall prospect, No. 18 safety and No. 32 recruit from Florida in the 2025 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking — a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

On3 is especially high on Samuel compared to the other major recruiting services. He ranks No. 123 nationally and No. 11 among safeties in the 2025 On300.