Bad news concerning bitter rival hits Florida Gators as top prospect sets commitment date

This isn't the first, nor the last time that the Gators will be going up against both Texas and Georgia in recruiting. The Gators lost out on four-star defensive tackle Vodney Cleveland over the weekend to Texas, and this recruiting battle could go the other way.

Ahead of his commitment date, both Chad Simmons and Steve Wiltfong from On3 Sports logged expert predictions for Georgia to land the elite tight end, and the Recruiting Prediction Machine has the Bulldogs at 91.1%.

The Gators hosted Prothro on June 13th, one week before Texas and two weeks after Georgia. The Bowdon, Georgia native has visited Georgia's campus a whopping seven times, giving the Bulldogs plenty of opportunities to convince the nation's number 29 recruit and number two tight end to come to Athens in 2026.

It would be disappointing if the Gators don't end up with Prothro, as he could be a major weapon for them moving forward, including next season. Kekua Aumua is the only tight end currently committed to the Gators, and he is a three-star from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

If the Gators land Prothro, they would be getting an elite prospect at the position, as his scouting report is fantastic.

Redzone cheat code hovering around 6-foot-6, 210 pounds with the combine testing profile of an outside receiver. Put together one of the more productive receiving seasons in the 2026 recruiting cycle as a junior, averaging 21.5 yards per catch and converting 22 of his 56 catches into touchdowns. Utilizes ideal hand-eye coordination and body control to make acrobatic grabs climbing the ladder. Primarily deployed as a wide receiver for three-straight state title-winning Bowdon in Georgia's 1A D2 classification, and answered any questions about level of competition with a strong week of practices at the Under Armour All-America Game following his junior season. Limited blocking reps at this stage are not ideal, but the combination of physical specs and game-breaking receiving upside should give plenty of time to fully round out his game. Two-way snaps as a safety on defense alleviate any concerns about physicality. Should be viewed as a potential spark for 12-personnel-heavy offenses in CFP contention, who could develop into a walking mismatch on Saturdays. Rare traits for the position combined with outstanding high school production on Fridays and when matched up against elite recruits in offseason settings suggest immense NFL Draft upside.

The Gators have until July 12th to get Prothro to decide Florida is the right school for him, and expect the Gators to do everything they can to land him.