The Florida Gators’ 2025 recruiting class received a major boost on Monday with the commitment flip of four-star Jacksonville safety Hylton Stubbs. Ranked as the No. 91 overall prospect and No. 8 safety in the ESPN 300, Stubbs backed off his July pledge to Miami in favor of Billy Napier’s surging program.
Stubbs, who originally committed to USC before flipping to the Hurricanes this summer, took an unofficial visit to Gainesville on Sunday that sealed the deal. The Mandarin High School standout told ESPN he feels “something big is about to happen at Florida” and didn’t want to miss out on the Gators’ ascent.
Gators Gaining Ground on Recruiting Trail
Stubbs becomes the 12th commitment and fourth top-100 prospect to join Florida’s 2025 class in the past month alone. After a sluggish start to the cycle amid questions about Napier’s future, the Gators have come on strong in the lead-up to the early signing period, which opens Wednesday.
Since the university announced on November 7 that Napier would remain at the helm, Florida has reeled in six ESPN 300 recruits, including several high-profile flips:
- No. 34 LB Ty Jackson (from USC)
- No. 107 OT Tavaris Dice (from Auburn)
- No. 194 RB Byron Louis (from Florida State)
- No. 238 DE Jayden Woods (from Penn State)
Four-star DT Joseph Mbatchou, who decommitted from UF in October before pledging to Texas, flipped back to the Gators on Sunday night. Ex-Georgia DT commit Stephon Shivers and former FSU QB pledge Tramell Jones Jr., Stubbs’ teammate at Mandarin, are among the other recent additions fueling Florida’s momentum.
Stubbs: “I’ve Always Loved Coach Napier”
For Stubbs, the decision to join forces with Napier was an easy one. The dynamic defensive back said he’s “always loved” the second-year Gators coach, and Florida’s strong finish to the 2024 season validated his belief in the program’s potential.
“When they started winning big games and showing the potential that they could have, it was something big. It’s turned a lot of people’s heads.”
Hylton Stubbs to ESPN
Florida capped an 8-4 campaign with convincing victories over then-No. 17 LSU and rival Florida State, building buzz that Napier’s rebuild was ahead of schedule. After notching ranked wins in three of their last four games, the Gators appear poised to return to SEC contention sooner than later.
More Flips on the Horizon?
With Stubbs in the fold, Florida now has its sights set on a few other big fish. Five-star offensive tackle Solomon Thomas (No. 13 ESPN 300), currently committed to Florida State, and four-star wideout Jaime Ffrench (No. 25) top the Gators’ flip wishlist as signing day approaches.
Landing either blue-chipper would further bolster a UF class that has rapidly climbed the rankings over the past few weeks. After lagging outside the top 25 for much of the cycle, Napier and Co. have capitalized on their on-field success to assemble a class that could soon crack the top 10 nationally.
Stubbs’ Defection Leaves Miami Reeling
While the Gators are riding high, rival Miami finds itself in a recruiting rut after Stubbs’ decommitment. The Jacksonville native was the Hurricanes’ third-highest ranked pledge prior to his flip, leaving Mario Cristobal with just two top-100 commits in the 2025 cycle.
After signing a top-5 class in the 2023 cycle and notching a top-10 group last year, Cristobal now faces an uphill battle to salvage a 2025 class that has lost considerable steam. While No. 1 OG S.J. Alofaituli and CB Jaboree Antoine still headline the Canes’ class, Stubbs’ departure is the latest blow to a program that had become accustomed to ruling the Sunshine State on the trail.
As the Gators and Hurricanes trend in opposite directions, Stubbs’ flip could prove to be a pivotal moment in the state’s ever-heated recruiting battles. If Napier can reel in a few more big names and translate that talent into wins, Florida’s “something big” might arrive sooner than anyone expected.
