Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun

SEC Rival Hands Florida Massive Recruiting Loss on Wednesday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Hugh Green | Last updated Jul 2, 2025 4:06 PM ET

As we enter the month of July, commitments from high-value recruits will come more frequently and sooner. For the Florida Gators and head coach Billy Napier, after a very successful June on the recruiting trail, the next few weeks will be enormous for the future of the program.

One huge domino fell in the recruiting cycle Wednesday afternoon, as 2026 five-star wide receiver Cederian Morgan committed to the University of Alabama, reported by Rivals' Hayes Fawcett.

Morgan, the No. 2 wideout in the country in his class according to Rivals, was one of the Gators' top targets, but chose to stay in his home state with Kalen DeBoer's Crimson Tide.

BREAKING: Five-Star WR Cederian Morgan has Committed to Alabama, he tells me for @rivals

The No. 2 WR in the ‘26 Class chose the Crimson Tide over Florida, Georgia, & Colorado

“Bama made, Bama raised, Bama stayed!!!! RTR”https://t.co/0JTLe13tJE pic.twitter.com/BmvrEtUhRG
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 2, 2025

Napier and Florida must now turn their attention to numerous other 2026 recruits, especially at the wide receiver position. With phenom quarterback DJ Lagway entering his sophomore season in 2025, the clock is ticking on Florida's offensive future.

UF currently has two receivers committed to the program in the 2026 class in Marquez Daniel and Justin Williams, both of whom are four-star recruits. Daniel is the No. 13 wideout in the Top 247 rankings while Williams is ranked as the 28th best at the position in On3's Industry Rankings.

The highest-rated receiver Florida is going after now is five-star Calvin Russell, who falls just one place behind Morgan at No. 3 in the Top 247 wideout rankings. Russell listed UF as one of his final eight schools he will choose between when he announces his commitment this Saturday.

Another target at the position for the Gators is four-star Somourian Wingo. The St. Augustine, Florida, native is ranked as the 22nd-best receiver in the 2026 class in the Top 247. While he doesn't have an official commitment date set, he is expected to decide on his future in late July or early August.

While Florida missed on Morgan, allowing him to commit to an SEC rival, there are still plenty of options in the class of 2026 at the wide receiver position for Napier and his staff.

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

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