The race for top QBs in the 2026 recruitment class is almost coming to an end, with most of the players already committed to a program. Only Ryder Lyons is currently left, who is looking to go to Oregon. But as the QB market shrinks, teams are diverting their attention and resources to focus on recruiting other positions. Positions like safety and cornerback become a priority now, and that’s why the pursuit of 4-star CJ Hester is happening quite aggressively.

CJ Hester stands at 6’1″ and weighs 185 lbs. On 247 Sports, he’s rated as a safety, while ON3 lists him as a cornerback. He ranks 22nd in the country for cornerbacks and 20th for safeties, but don’t get too caught up in those labels. This guy can do it all! He showed off his skills while playing for Cocoa, Florida, proving he’s a beast at both positions. Honestly, his talent goes beyond just football.

Hester is also a track and field athlete and competed in athletic events like the high jump and sprints. Hester’s speed and athleticism stand out due to his multi-sport focus, but also because he showed that in high school. The guy ran the 100-meter sprint in just 10.97 seconds and achieved 6-3.5 in high jump and 20-7 in long jump. All these abilities make him an exciting prospect who comes with a high ceiling and potential. And now? He has narrowed down his target colleges, too.

As per ON3’s latest reports, the player has narrowed down his colleges to 6. These include Florida, Miami, Syracuse, Auburn, Georgia, and Iowa. But currently, Florida is leading in Hester’s recruitment and has over a 95% probability of landing the guy. Still, other programs can’t be written off so easily, since the player is expected to make his official visits in the coming months. And that will finally decide which teams come up trumps, although the Gators still would be at an advantage due to proximity.

Hester took his recent official visit to Auburn on May 16th and was scheduled to visit Athens on June 13th. His other OVs are at Iowa on the 21st of June, Syracuse on the 6th of June, and Florida on the 30th of May. As for Miami, the player hasn’t yet decided to take an OV and will make an unofficial visit on 19th June. That being said, there’s still the question that remains: when will Hester finally make his commitment decision?

When will CJ Hester finally make his commitment decision?

Hester has narrowed down his list to 6 schools owing to the relationships he built over time. Florida still emerged as the top team for the player, and that showed in his visits, as he visited the school five times. Hester even praised Billy Napier and the job the head coach was doing in Florida. Moreover, Hester also praised assistant coach Deron Wilson for prioritizing his recruitment. “Just the relationship I have with them…I talk to them almost every day. Every time I go up there, they make me feel like a priority.” So, does this mean that Hester is going to Gainesville?

Not necessarily, since the player has jotted down July as his commitment month and will take into account everything before making a decision. “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,” said Hester.

Right now, everything seems to be working out well for Hester, with more than 35 offers already in his bag. Florida may seem like his actual destination, but teams like Georgia are hitting hard, and having already signed 4 DBs in the 2026 class, Kirby Smart will try his best to convince Hester to finally come to Athens. But for now, it is an open battle, and each of the six teams has a shot at the guy.