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4-star CB CJ Hester has Florida among top 6 schools

IMG_6615by: Blake Alderman05/21/25Blake_Alderman

Cocoa (FL) 4-star cornerback CJ Hester made a major cut to his leaderboard down to six teams on Wednesday afternoon. The Sunshine State defender has accumulated over two dozen offers throughout his recruitment. After trimming things down, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Miami, and Syracuse remain in play.

“These six schools stand out because of the relationships I have with coaches and how they are recruiting me,” Hester told On3’s Chad Simmons.

It’s been a busy offseason for CJ Hester

CJ Hester visited Florida, Georgia, Miami, and Syracuse in the spring. He started his summer official visits this past weekend with Auburn. Going forward, Hester has official visits lined up with Florida (May 30), Syracuse (June 6), Georgia (June 13), and Iowa (June 20). These visits are important in helping Hester decide where he will pick, and lead to a planned commitment date.

“I will be committing on July 1,” Hester told On3. “I have talked to the colleges and let them know that is my date. The official visits and communication between now and then will help me pick a school.

What CJ Hester is looking for in his next home

When looking at each contender to see if they match what he wants in a school, there are several factors CJ Hester is watching for.

“When I commit to a school in July, it will be about a lot of different things. How can I get on the field, what their plan is for me, who I can talk to outside of football, and the connections I have with the coaches? NIL will be a factor too because it will show who is really interested in me. The overall culture is probably the most important thing for me, though.”

While the 6-foot-1, 175-pounder has a half-dozen finalists on his list, CJ Hester named the Florida Gators his leader in April. Head coach Billy Napier has prioritized Hester for over a year, and new assistant coach Deron Wilson has pressed hard since he arrived in Gainesville.

“Just the relationship I have with them,” Hester told On3’s Steve Wiltfong. “I talk to them almost every day. Every time I go up there, they make me feel like a priority.”

The Gators have a 95.8% chance to land Hester according to the On3 RPM. Four predictions are also logged for Hester to pick the Florida Gators.

The On3 Industry, a weighted average of the four major recruiting services, ranks CJ Hester as the nation’s No. 264 Overall player.

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