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Eli Lederman
5-star defensive finish JaReylan McCoy has dedicated to Florida, sources advised ESPN on Saturday, securing his place because the top-ranked pledge within the Gators’ 2026 recruiting class after returning for a second go to within the span of three weeks.
McCoy, a 6-foot-7, 260-pound rusher from Tupelo, Mississippi, is ESPN’s No. 9 total prospect and the nation’s second-ranked defender within the present cycle.
Initially dedicated to LSU, McCoy reopened his recruitment in February and trimmed his finalists to Florida, LSU and Texas final month earlier than his course of swung on an official go to with the Gators from Might 30-June 1. Per ESPN sources, McCoy’s reference to Florida coach Billy Napier and defensive ends coach Mike Peterson, together with this system’s “household environment,” have been central drivers in McCoy’s determination to nix a scheduled official go to to Texas and as a substitute return to Florida this weekend, the place he sealed his pledge on Saturday.
McCoy has recorded 140-plus tackles and 18.5 sacks in three varsity seasons at Tupelo Excessive College, and his dedication represents a serious recruiting victory for Napier and Florida.
McCoy’s signature would mark Gators’ first five-star addition since Florida landed quarterback D.J. Lagway (No. 8 total) and cross rusher L.J. McCray (No. 10) within the 2024 class. If he in the end lands with Florida later this 12 months, McCoy will arrive as this system’s highest-ranked defensive signee since Florida inked five-star defensive finish CeCe Jefferson within the 2015 class.
McCoy now stands forward of four-star quarterback Will Griffin (No. 69 total) and Friday evening working again commit Carsyn Baker (No. 167) because the top-ranked of 5 ESPN 300 prospects within the Gators’ 2026 class. Florida additionally landed the pledge of four-star broad receiver Marquez Daniel (No. 216) on Saturday, lifting the Gators to seven ESPN 300 commits within the cycle.
5-star tight finish Kaiden Prothro (No. 19) and top-40 working again Davian Groce are among the many high-profile guests becoming a member of McCoy at Florida this weekend because the Gators hit the busy summer season recruiting interval looking for to safe back-to-back prime 10 recruiting lessons. Florida signed the nation’s Tenth-ranked class within the 2025 cycle on the heels of this system’s determination to retain Napier final November and 4 straight wins to shut the 2024 season.