To buy or not to buy the hype? Billy Napier could be staring down at one of the best wins for the 2026 cycle. Or he could be watching the dust settle when his highly recruited target commits elsewhere. That’s not out of the question. Every program looking for a game-changer is in the mix for the biggest name in Alabama high school football, including Deion Sanders and Colorado. But right now, there’s a name heating things up in Gainesville. And the tide might just change for all we know.

5-star Cederian Morgan, the No. 1 player in the state, the No. 2 WR, and a top-10 recruit nationally. Up until now, everyone’s been thinking that Kalen DeBoer and co. are the clear frontrunners for the 6’4, 210-pound weapon out of Benjamin Russell HS, Alexander City, AL. But things are starting to shift in favor of Billy Napier and the Gators. An X post by On3 Recruits on May 6 suggests an optimistic development—“5-star WR Cederian Morgan is high on Florida, he tells @Corey_Bender. ‘Everything with Florida is going great.’” And that’s not just empty praise. 

Cederian Morgan’s been to Gainesville not one time, but thrice, to know what’s cooking with Billy Napier’s squad. And yeah, it’s not just about the logo and the facilities. The young WR is sold on the people there. He especially has a strong connection with Billy Gonzales and Chad Lucas. “The connection I got with coach Billy G. and coach Lucas… I just talked to them probably two days ago about finishing up track and states,” he told Gators Online. “Coach Billy G. was telling me how he’s going to be up here this week for spring practice. We are keeping a good relationship right now. We definitely stay in touch a lot.” The coach-player connection isn’t all. 

Cederian Morgan is also impressed with the Gators fanbase, saying how they can maintain high spirits even after losing a game. “Their fan base is crazy. When I visited for a game, they lost and it didn’t go the way they wanted it to go, but I took pictures with fans and signed autographs,” he revealed. “It shows how the fans will have your back no matter what. There are not a lot of colleges like that.” And he’s right. Fans who ride with their team after a rough loss? That sticks with a recruit.

And about his overall impression of the campus and other players? “When I went up there to visit Florida, I loved the campus,” Morgan said. “And when I just recently visited, I got to spend a day with VB (Vernell Brown III) and Naeshaun (Montgomery). I had a great time with them.” While it’s sounding good, Colorado sure made an impression on this coveted prospect too. 

Did Billy Napier do better than Deion Sanders?

“Fantastic visit.” That’s what Cederian Morgan gave Deion Sanders and Colorado when he visited Boulder over the weekend. That’s the first of the six official visits he’s scheduled to take before announcing his commitment on July 2. Then it’s Georgia (May 16-18), Clemson (May 30-June 1), Florida (June 6-8), Auburn (June 13-15), and Alabama (June 19-22). But right now, both Billy Napier and Sanders have a bigger threat coming from Morgan’s in-state program. 

Per On3’s RPM, Alabama still got the upper edge in Cederian Morgan’s commitment with an 89.4% chance, followed by Auburn with 4.0% and Florida with 2.6%. Clemson, Georgia, and Colorado follow close behind. But the momentum’s swinging the Gators’ way.

Seems like Morgan’s relationship with Napier & Co. is quite stronger than that of other contenders. “I have a top six and all those schools are hitting me up as much as they can to make sure they show how much they appreciate me. I will definitely say Florida is doing a great job checking up on me. You know, just checking up on me and calling to ask how I’m doing, what I ate today, so you can tell the relationship is real,” he said. For Gators, this deal is a necessity rather than a luxury.

You know it’s been shaky, Florida’s 2026 recruiting class. Just one commit so far in 4-star in-state QB Will Griffin. They lost the commitments of 4-star LB Izayia Williams and 3-star safety Devin Jackson. But adding Morgan could change the whole tone. 

Cederian Morgan fits what Billy Napier is building. Tough and dynamic. And if this recruitment keeps trending the right way, Florida could be laughing at Colorado and Alabama in the end.