It’s that time of the year when the team, with the most effort, wins the recruiting battle. Florida fell 8-5 this season, but that isn’t a factor for disappointment because Billy Napier is taking a shot at a strong comeback. And for him to do that, he had to beat Michigan and Ohio State to the highly sought targets. 

Billy Napier made a trip to Sarasota (Fla.) Cardinal Mooney High School to meet a pair of coveted future prospects. On3 Recruits gave an update on Florida’s recruiting front in an X post on January 17. It stated, “Florida head coach Billy Napier visited 2026 4-stars Elijah Golden and Da’Ron Parks on Thursday.”

4-star DL Elijah Golden is the No. 212 overall prospect in the 2026 cycle per On3. The 6’3, 246-pounder is the No. 21 DL in the class and the No. 35 prospect from the state of Florida. He would be a great haul for Billy Napier and the Gators, but Florida isn’t his only interest.

Ahead of the Navy All-American Bowl, Golden told On3, “The schools that I’ve been talking to for the last few years ever since I started high school, they’re all high on my list. There are a lot of great schools on it like Michigan, Michigan State, Washington, Florida, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, and Clemson.”

4-star IOL Da’Ron Parks, meanwhile, is the No. 268 player and the No. 21 IOL and No. 41 in the Sunshine State. But, his inclination towards Ohio State is strong with several trips to Columbus. These two Cardinal Mooney standouts played major roles in their trip to the FHSAA 2A semifinals with a 12-1 finish. They also received offers from Oregon on Thursday.

The question is if Billy Napier’s effort to lure these two prospects away from Sherrone Moore and Ryan Day will pay off. Anyhow, the Gators are looking good for the future. 

Billy Napier’s preparation for Florida’s future

In Florida’s 2025 roster, they may have only three incoming transfers but their high school commits made up for it. The Gators rounded up an impressive number of 26 commits including 5-star WR Dallas Wilson, 14 4-star players, and 13 3-star commits, finishing just outside of the top ten at 11. 

The offseason recruitment makes or breaks a team. This time, Billy Napier is going with the former. Florida’s recruiting success doesn’t just end there. Their 2026 class is already taking up form with early commitments from three players — Top 150 QB Will Griffin, 4-star CB Jaelen Waters, and 3-star safety Devin Jackson. 

A green signal from Elijah Golden and Da’Ron Parks would drastically skyrocket their 2026 class rankings. But it’s not like these guys are in a haste to decide. So we’ll see what unfolds in the coming days.