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Multiple Florida Gators highlighted as breakout stars in 2025 with top recruit leading the way

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Tyler Forness | Last updated Jun 26, 2025 6:01 PM ET

The Florida Gators are one of the teams that are seen as one of the few potential College Football Playoff contenders who can make a major leap from where they have been in previous years. One of the main reasons for that is the recruiting and development of their talent.

247 Sports put together a a list of breakout stars in the SEC this year, and three members of the Gators roster made the list.

LB Myles Graham
EDGE LJ McCray
WR J. Michael Sturdivant

The one that was obvious here is Graham. The son of former Gators running back Earnest Graham, Myles got into the game a decent amount as a true freshman, amassing 30 tackles. The position that he plays is a critical one for the Gators on the second level, and they need someone to take that next step this year. Graham is positioned to take that step.

LB Myles Graham pic.twitter.com/YskfsKNh9I
— Nick Marcinko (@marcinko_nick) March 8, 2025

McCray makes complete sense as a choice here, as he was a top-five overall recruit in last year's recruiting class, ranking just behind starting quarterback DJ Lagway. He is a highly-viewed player who got into the game a in a rotation last season, but with the departures on the defensive line this year, McCray is primed to take over a bigger role this season.

"He's got a lot of upside and he's gotten better," a source said. "He's got the frame you want. He's just got to continue to refine his skill set as a pass rusher, but I think he's got a lot of upside in that area. There's excitement in the building about him. He's in a deep rotation, but he'll play for sure."

Sturdivant is an interesting player. He was at UCLA before transferring to the Gators after the 2024 season, and will play more of a traditional X-receiver role. Last year, Sturdivant wasn't the most productive on a poor Bruins team with just 22 receptions. However, his size and ability to win on the outside is going to be huge for the Gators.

Now, Sturdivant won't be the top option for the Gators, but his ability to win on the outside is something that head coach Billy Napier covets, as he did with players like Ricky Pearsall, Elijah Badger, and Justin Shorter.

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

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