The Florida Gators might’ve looked like they were stuck in neutral for the 2026 cycle, but they just pulled the e-brake, spun it around, and peeled off toward the top of the recruiting board—smoke still in the rearview. A few weeks ago, Billy Napier‘s class was limping at No. 41 with one lonely commit. It was looking real quiet in Gainesville. But now? All gas, no brakes. Two game-changers just popped, and the buzz around the swamp is loud again.

Let’s keep it a buck—Florida’s 2026 class was flatter than a tire in the Everglades. One commit. Just one. Four-star QB Will Griffin was out there on a solo mission while the rest of the SEC was gobbling up blue chips like it was a buffet. The Gators had just taken a couple Ls, too—Izayia Williams, a legit linebacker, flipped to Ole Miss, and Jaelen Waters dipped out after Will Harris left his post in the secondary room. Last month, safety Devin Jackson also announced his commitment. It’s looking spooky now.

Then Sunday happened.

Jamir Perez, a Cleveland Glenville monster in the trenches, straight-up shut it down after visiting Gainesville. Florida offered him on May 2, lined up the official real quick, and boom—two weeks later, he’s locked in. “It’s shut down,” Perez told Swamp247. “I committed today… it’s Gator time.” Just like that. This wasn’t just a low-key win either. Florida beat out Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Alabama for a Midwest beast who had Big Ten DNA written all over him.

And Perez wasn’t even the only bright spot.

Cue Felix Ojo. The 6-foot-7, 274-pound five-star OT from Texas is the No. 4 overall player in the country. And now? He’s messing with Florida heavy. After his OV, Ojo told reporters, “If anyone thought they didn’t have a chance before, they most definitely have one now.” That’s the type of quote you frame in a recruiting office. Florida’s staff cooked up a plan showing how Ojo could be on the field immediately, and he felt that Gator culture. Now, Billy Napier is sitting with two commits and suddenly flirting with five-stars like it’s Friday night in Midtown Gainesville.

Big time Florida Gators recruiting tracks

Florida is back in this thing, and they are not hiding it. Napier and the crew are locked in and trying to finish with a top 10 class after that nasty early start. And they’ve got some serious names circling the Swamp like gators during feeding season.

First up, Carsyn Baker, the four-star RB out of Langston Hughes in Georgia. He walked into spring, calling Ohio State his leader. But then he touched down in Gainesville, chopped it up with Jabbar Juluke (Gators RB coach), and things started shifting. “The Gators definitely moved up my charts and set a high standard for the other OVs I’m taking,” Baker said. Florida’s visit hit different. Carsyn Baker ran for 1,282 yards and 15 TDs last season—and posted a wind-aided 10.65 in the 100m. He’s a burner. His OV slate is packed (Clemson, FSU, OSU, A&M), but Florida’s officially got his attention.

Next name on deck? Cederian Morgan, a five-star freak show from Alexander City, Alabama. This man is 6’4”, 210, and built like a Sunday starter. Ranked No. 2 at WR nationally, and already has Bama, Georgia, Clemson and the usual suspects in the hunt. But guess what? He’s been to Gainesville three times. And he’s not just sightseeing. “Everything is going great” was his latest drop on the Gators. He’s dropping his decision on July 2, and while Bama’s still the favorite, don’t sleep—Florida’s lurking with quiet confidence.

And then there’s the unicorn. Kaiden Prothro. Six-foot-six, tight end, pure mismatch nightmare out of Bowdon, Georgia. Think Kyle Pitts 2.0, and that’s not hyperbole—he literally brought up Pitts when talking about his fit in Florida’s system. “Florida is definitely up there for me,” he said. The Gators are the only team with an OV already locked in. Third visit coming up. Tight ends coach Russ Callaway has been working overtime on this one, and it’s showing. If Prothro wants to catch passes and be the guy at TE, Gainesville might be the move.

And just like that, Billy Napier’s back in the game. The Gators’ brand might’ve been doubted a minute ago, but this week? Yeah, folks are paying attention again. We’ll see how many of these OVs turn into green lights, but one thing’s clear: Billy Napier just flipped the script. The swamp’s heating up—and not just from the Florida sun.