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'Florida is definitely high on my list' Gators have themselves in great position to land top pass rusher in 2026 class

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Tyler Forness | Last updated Jun 17, 2025 9:21 PM ET

The Florida Gators have been on a massive heater when it comes to recruiting.

Going into the month of June, head coach Billy Napier didn't have a lot of success. Just two players had committed to the program. Once June started, the Gators got red hot.

Just in the first 16 days, the Gators received 10 commitments for the 2026 class that vaulted them to 13th in the On3 Sports recruiting rankings, including ranking sixth in the SEC, which arguably matters more than nationwide.

Florida Gators in great position to land James Johnson

They have been in prime position to land multiple top prospects on the defensive side of the football. Five-star edge rusher Trenton Henderson is currently trending to the Gators, and we will learn more after he visits Texas this weekend.

The other defensive lineman the Gators have made a big impression is James Johnson out of Cape Coral, Florida. On3 Sports has him as the top defensive lineman in the nation and the 15th overall recruit. At 6'2.5 and 285 lbs, he's an imposing player.

Florida impressed elite DL James Johnson on his official visit, he tells @ChadSimmons_

“Florida is definitely high on my list.”

Read: https://t.co/vk8DSRBLmE pic.twitter.com/lAm4jV6ePQ
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) June 16, 2025

“Florida is definitely high on my list,” Johnson told On3 Sports. “Each time I go, they keep showing why they’re a serious contender. This visit definitely helped them. It gave me more clarity and just reinforced the feeling that Florida is a place where I could see myself growing as a player and as a young man.”

Johnson currently has a 32.1% chance to land at Florida per the On3 Recruitings Prediction Machine, and it's not much of a suprrise. He has been on campus visiting a whopping eight times and was just on campus this past weekend. He had a visit to Florida State right after leaving Gainesville and is set to visit Georgia this weekend.

Being at the top of the list is a big deal for the Gators, as they could end up losing three-star defensive tackle Jamir Perez to Ohio State. They did just get four-star JaReylan McCoy to commit over the weekend, and pairing him with both Johnson and Henderson would be a tremendous coup for Napier.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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