With just two commitments in the books heading into a pivotal summer stretch, the Florida Gators’ 2026 recruiting cycle feels more like a slow burn than a recruiting bonfire. As other SEC bluebloods turn up the heat with early blue-chip hauls, Billy Napier is still arranging the firewood. It’s Year Four for the Florida HC, and while there’s optimism around campus visits and internal belief, externally, the optics are hard to ignore. The urgency? It’s missing. And in the SEC, that’s a red flag waving in the Gainesville humidity.

According to Locked On Gators host Brandon Olsen, part of the hold-up isn’t necessarily a lack of effort—but rather the Gators’ scheme and how recruits are reacting to it. “Just to, you know, proof of concept that I think Florida needs to show with a lot of players at this point. You know, there’s going to be guys who say, ‘Hey, I don’t want to play in this kind of offense. I don’t want to play in that kind of offense,’” Olsen said.

The comment slices through the optimism surrounding the program and speaks to something more problematic. Florida may be recruiting with the parking brake on, and Napier’s offensive design is part of the hesitation. What makes the stakes even higher is that Olsen isn’t just talking about theoretical issues.

Brandon Olsen is tying Florida’s recruiting ceiling to Napier’s biggest gamble yet: the play-calling. “I’ve said before again, I’m operating under the assumption that I’m going to put my faith in—which is a crazy thing to say—I’m going to put my faith in Billy Napier here to give up play calling duties to Russ Callaway,” Olsen added.

“That’s why I’m going to say I’m putting my faith in him to take a step back there. And if he gives that up, then I think that Florida becomes a lot more enticing if you’re an offensive player.” In other words, Billy Napier needs to loosen the reins and let Callaway’s system sell itself. Until then, the buy-in from elite offensive prospects might keep stalling.

And make no mistake, UF is in the mix for some big names this summer. Official visits from high-priority targets like running back Carsyn Baker, wide receiver Calvin Russell, and offensive linemen Felix Ojo and Ekene Ogboko are on the schedule. Those names all bring serious pedigree and Power Five attention, but how many of them are ready to sign on the dotted line without clarity on Florida’s offensive identity? That’s the question hanging over Gainesville. With only two 2026 commitments secured—four-star QB Will Griffin and DL Jamir Perez joining him this Sunday—the Gators aren’t exactly riding a wave of momentum.

But Griffin is standing in a recruiting class that, as of now, has no offensive line protection, no weapons out wide, and no backfield running mates to support him. If Napier’s staff can’t turn those summer visits into public commitments soon, that silence will get louder—and so will the scrutiny.

Right now, the Florida model is betting on proof of concept. That’s telling recruits, essentially: ‘Watch what we do this fall, then decide.’ But that’s a dangerous game in a league where Georgia and Alabama lock in their stars before they’ve even picked out a prom tux. The Gators’ approach, deliberate and calculated, might work if the product on the field finally delivers.

Florida Gators add two opponents to their future slates

The Florida Gators are already making plans for future fall Saturdays—and fans can now circle two new dates on their calendars. The program officially announced it will host Florida Atlantic on September 5, 2026, and South Alabama on September 4, 2027, both at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

The matchup with FAU will be a familiar one. This will be the fifth meeting between the two in-state programs since 2007, and so far, it’s been all Gators. Florida holds a commanding 4-0 series lead, including a 35-14 win the last time they squared off. So yes, there’s history—and the Gators have owned it.

The South Alabama game in 2027, on the other hand, will be the first-ever clash between the two schools. It’ll mark a brand-new chapter in Florida’s non-conference scheduling. A fresh opponent, a fresh challenge—what’s not to like? Well, Napier wanted relief in recruiting, and new challenges were last on the list. With these two additions, Florida continues to round out its future schedules with a mix of regional ties and new faces. As if there weren’t enough already.