Top Five Most Wanted 2025 Defensive Recruits for the Florida Gators
(Hector)
The Florida Gators have already started working on their 2025 recruiting class with already three recruits committed. Florida only has one defensive recruit committed in Rivals250 defensive lineman Jalen Wiggins.
With only three commits in their 2025 recruiting class, the Gators have plenty of room to add elite talent, especially on defense. Here are the five most wanted 2025 defensive recruits for the Florida Gators.
DB DJ Pickett
The Florida Gators made a change at secondary coach, but their #1 defensive back target has not changed. Five-star defensive back DJ Pickett is one of the nation’s best recruits and could be Florida’s top target in the 2025 recruiting cycle.
DJ Pickett is a 6’4” 170-pound safety out of Zephyrhills High School in Zephyrhills, Florida. Pickett is the eighth-ranked recruit and the #1 ranked safety in his class. He’s also the #1 2025 recruit out of the Sunshine State.
Pickett was recently on Florida’s campus for an unofficial visit. He holds over 40 offers from top-tier programs like Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State, Texas, and USC.
2. SDE Elijah Griffin
The Florida Gators will have one of the nation’s top recruits on campus for an unofficial visit this weekend. Five-star strong-side defensive end Elijah Griffin is another high priority for the Gators this recruiting cycle.
Elijah Griffin is a 6’6” 285-pound strong-side defensive end out of Savannah Christian School in Savannah, Georgia. Griffin is the fourth-ranked recruit and the #1 strong-side defensive end in his class. He’s also the second-ranked recruit out of the Peach State.
The Florida Gators will roll out the red carpet for Griffin as they are trying to be a major player in his recruitment. Green holds offers from schools like Alabama, Clemson, Colorado, FSU, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and USC.
3. S Hylton Stubbs
Another highly-touted in-state recruit who’s fresh off an unofficial visit to the University of Florida is Hylton Stubbs. The Sunshine State native has been a high-valued target for the Gators for a while and that hasn’t changed with the defensive back coaching change.
Hylton Stubbs is a 6’2” 186-pound safety out of Mandarin High School in Jacksonville, Florida. Stubbs is the 44th-ranked recruit and the fifth-ranked safety in his class. He’s also the eighth-ranked recruit out of Florida.
Stubbs enjoyed his visit last weekend with the Gators and was able to meet with Florida’s new secondary coach, Will Harris for the first time. Stubbs has over two dozen offers from programs like Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Oklahoma, Penn State, and Tennessee.
4. LB Gavin Nix
The Florida Gators have had more recent success with landing top recruits from IMG Academy. The Gators looking to continue landing IMG recruits with one of the best inside linebackers in the country.
Gavin Nix is a 6’0” 227-pound inside linebacker out of the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Nix is the 126th-ranked recruit and the seventh-ranked inside linebacker in his class. He’s also the 21st-ranked recruit out of the Sunshine State.
Nix is a priority target for the Gators and has offers from other top college football programs. He holds offers from schools like Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, FSU, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Tennessee, and Texas.
5. OLB Tarvos Alford
Another blue-chip linebacker who’s high on Florida’s radar is Tarvos Alford. The Florida Gators have been in the mix for Alford but he’s also been recruited by some of the best college football programs in the nation.
Tarvos Alford is a 6’2” 213-pound outside linebacker out of Vero Beach High School in Vero Beach, Florida. Alford is the 217th-ranked recruit and the sixteenth-ranked outside linebacker in the country.
As of now, Florida and Ohio State seem to be the two schools recruiting Alford the hardest. Alford holds offers from some high-level programs like Auburn, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Penn State, and Tennessee.
(Hector)
The Florida Gators have already started working on their 2025 recruiting class with already three recruits committed. Florida only has one defensive recruit committed in Rivals250 defensive lineman Jalen Wiggins.
With only three commits in their 2025 recruiting class, the Gators have plenty of room to add elite talent, especially on defense. Here are the five most wanted 2025 defensive recruits for the Florida Gators.
DB DJ Pickett
The Florida Gators made a change at secondary coach, but their #1 defensive back target has not changed. Five-star defensive back DJ Pickett is one of the nation’s best recruits and could be Florida’s top target in the 2025 recruiting cycle.
DJ Pickett is a 6’4” 170-pound safety out of Zephyrhills High School in Zephyrhills, Florida. Pickett is the eighth-ranked recruit and the #1 ranked safety in his class. He’s also the #1 2025 recruit out of the Sunshine State.
Pickett was recently on Florida’s campus for an unofficial visit. He holds over 40 offers from top-tier programs like Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State, Texas, and USC.
2. SDE Elijah Griffin
The Florida Gators will have one of the nation’s top recruits on campus for an unofficial visit this weekend. Five-star strong-side defensive end Elijah Griffin is another high priority for the Gators this recruiting cycle.
Elijah Griffin is a 6’6” 285-pound strong-side defensive end out of Savannah Christian School in Savannah, Georgia. Griffin is the fourth-ranked recruit and the #1 strong-side defensive end in his class. He’s also the second-ranked recruit out of the Peach State.
The Florida Gators will roll out the red carpet for Griffin as they are trying to be a major player in his recruitment. Green holds offers from schools like Alabama, Clemson, Colorado, FSU, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and USC.
3. S Hylton Stubbs
Another highly-touted in-state recruit who’s fresh off an unofficial visit to the University of Florida is Hylton Stubbs. The Sunshine State native has been a high-valued target for the Gators for a while and that hasn’t changed with the defensive back coaching change.
Hylton Stubbs is a 6’2” 186-pound safety out of Mandarin High School in Jacksonville, Florida. Stubbs is the 44th-ranked recruit and the fifth-ranked safety in his class. He’s also the eighth-ranked recruit out of Florida.
Stubbs enjoyed his visit last weekend with the Gators and was able to meet with Florida’s new secondary coach, Will Harris for the first time. Stubbs has over two dozen offers from programs like Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Oklahoma, Penn State, and Tennessee.
4. LB Gavin Nix
The Florida Gators have had more recent success with landing top recruits from IMG Academy. The Gators looking to continue landing IMG recruits with one of the best inside linebackers in the country.
Gavin Nix is a 6’0” 227-pound inside linebacker out of the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Nix is the 126th-ranked recruit and the seventh-ranked inside linebacker in his class. He’s also the 21st-ranked recruit out of the Sunshine State.
Nix is a priority target for the Gators and has offers from other top college football programs. He holds offers from schools like Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, FSU, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Tennessee, and Texas.
5. OLB Tarvos Alford
Another blue-chip linebacker who’s high on Florida’s radar is Tarvos Alford. The Florida Gators have been in the mix for Alford but he’s also been recruited by some of the best college football programs in the nation.
Tarvos Alford is a 6’2” 213-pound outside linebacker out of Vero Beach High School in Vero Beach, Florida. Alford is the 217th-ranked recruit and the sixteenth-ranked outside linebacker in the country.
As of now, Florida and Ohio State seem to be the two schools recruiting Alford the hardest. Alford holds offers from some high-level programs like Auburn, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Penn State, and Tennessee.
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