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Florida 'Emerging' in Four-Star Cornerback's Recruitment

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Hugh Green | Last updated Aug 29, 2025 1:23 PM ET

The 2027 recruiting cycle is beginning to heat up around the college football landscape. As these juniors in high school begin their seasons, college coaches are able to see high-profile recruits in action for the first time as upperclassmen. This is the case for Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier.

One big target for Napier and Florida in the 2027 class is four-star cornerback Chase Johnson. The defensive back from Swainsboro, Georgia, is a top-200 recruit in the country.

On Friday, Rivals' Chad Simmons revealed that there are three teams currently at the top of the list for Johnson, including Florida.

Along with Florida, Simmons said that the Miami Hurricanes and the Vanderbilt Commodores are the two other teams that have been emerging as top early candidates to land the four-star recruit.

Johnson, who stands 5-foot-10 and 150 pounds, is ranked as the No. 181 overall recruit, No. 21 cornerback and No. 21 player from the state of Georgia in the 2027 class, according to 247Sports.

The Emmanuel County Institute defensive back holds offers from several powerhouse SEC programs, including the Tennessee Volunteers, Auburn Tigers, Kentucky Wildcats and South Carolina Gamecocks.

Napier and the Gators currently have just one commit for the 2027 class. This is four-star wide receiver Tramond Collins. He is ranked as the No. 8 athlete in the country, according to Rivals.

If Florida can land a commitment from Johnson, it would be a huge addition and win for Napier. This is especially true if it would hand Florida's in-state rival, Miami, a loss on the recruiting trail.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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