Florida Gators HC Billy Napier loses high upside recruiting battle to Georgia HC Kirby Smart

This isn't a high-profile loss, as Howard was just outside the top 1,000 recruits and the 107th overall defensive lineman, but there was a lot of upside to his game at 6'6 and 260 lbs. He profiles as a player similar to what Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins was for the Bulldogs last year: someone who can play inside and out with plus size and athleticism.

Right now, the Gators have just two commits on the defensive line in four-star defensive lineman JaReylan McCoy and three-star defensive tackle Jamir Perez, and the latter might be flipping to Ohio State in time.

Now, the Gators still have plenty of targets on the defensive line going into the dead period, including five-star edge rusher Trenton Henderson, who has been trending toward the Gators for quite a while.

Napier might have struck out with Howard, but the Gators still have 13 commitments in the 2026 class, including 11 of them in the month of June.

• Four-star CB C.J. Bronaugh
• Four-star WR Marquez Daniel
• Four-star DL JaReylan McCoy
• Four-star WR Justin Williams
• Four-star S Kaiden Hall
• Four-star RB Carsyn Baker
• Four-star QB Will Griffin
• Three-star OT Chancellor Campbell
• Three-star iOL G'Nivre Carr
• Three-star DT Jamir Perez
• Three-star TE Kekua Aumua
• Three-star OT Tyler Chukuyem
• Three-star OT Javarii Luckas