Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier gained leverage ahead of a pivotal 2025 season when 2026 ESPN 300 five-star recruit JaReylan McCoy committed to the program.
The defensive end is the highest-ranked recruit in Florida's surging 2026 class. Per On3, the Gators ranked outside the top 25 in its rankings two weeks ago but have since risen to No. 13.
Florida has jumped from outside the top-25 to No. 13 in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings over the past two weeks
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) June 14, 2025
Gators are ROLLING! https://t.co/Omvx50Ih6p pic.twitter.com/yX30jTKXAn
McCoy is the No. 9 overall player in ESPN's high school prospect rankings and top Florida recruit. Per ESPN's Eli Lederman, the 6-foot-7, 260-pound edge chose Florida over SEC rivals LSU and Texas.
McCory originally committed to LSU in January 2025.
Napier scored another huge recruiting win this month with McCoy's decision to enroll at Florida.
On June 3, four-star safety Kaiden Hall committed, followed five days later by four-star wideout Justin Williams.
BREAKING: Four-Star Safety Kaiden Hall has Committed to Florida, he tells me for @on3recruits
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 3, 2025
The 6’3 200 S from Milton, FL chose the Gators over Alabama, Florida State, & Oklahoma
“Building something special for the next few years!! #gogators”https://t.co/RUejPVnxsi pic.twitter.com/Ib2TlBzQO7
The Gators added another four-star wide receiver, Marquez Daniel, on Saturday.
Despite limited on-field success in three seasons as Gators head coach, Napier's strong recruiting class should give him extra job security ahead of the 2025 season.
In February, The Athletic's Seth Emerson ranked Napier No. 2 in his SEC coaching hot seat rankings.
Through his first three seasons at Florida (2022-24), Napier has a 19-19 record, including 1-1 in bowl games. He posted his first winning season last year, going 8-5 and leading the Gators to a Gasparilla Bowl win.
2024 five-star quarterback recruit D.J. Lagway had a promising freshman season, winning late-season home games against LSU and Ole Miss, eliminating both from the College Football Playoff conversation.
While expectations might be higher for the Gators, they could find it difficult to improve much from last season.
Per ESPN's Football Power Index, Florida has the country's toughest strength of schedule. It should begin the season 2-0 with games against FCS Long Island and South Florida, but a brutal stretch follows.
Florida plays LSU and Miami in back-to-back weeks on the road. Following a bye, it hosts Texas, then travels to Texas A&M. The Gators also play Georgia and Tennessee in The Swamp while getting Ole Miss on the road.
It's a daunting schedule with several land mines. Florida is unlikely to emerge unscathed, but Napier might.
With his recruiting success, the Gators would risk losing their talented prospects by firing Napier should Florida underwhelm this fall.
According to Reuters, Daniel, an Alabama native, explained his decision to commit to Florida by saying, "What makes Florida stand out to me are the coaching staff. Coach Napier is really a great coach."
McCoy also praised Napier and the coaching staff, crediting the "family atmosphere" as a major draw in his choice.
Florida isn't the power it once was, and it's unclear whether Napier is the right coach to return the program to glory. But with every high-profile recruit who commits to the Gators, the chances increase that he'll be around in 2026.
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The Alabama Crimson Tide may add to their star-studded 2026 recruiting class in the coming days. Five-star EDGE recruit Anthony Jones is expected to announce his commitment this week or next week. Jones is mainly considering Alabama, Oregon, and Texas A M at this juncture. Jones is the top-ranked recruit in Alabama per 247Sports composite rankings, and according to On3's Chad Simmons, Alabama is going to be "tough to beat" in this recruitment. "We still feel the in-state program, Alabama, will be tough to beat for the star recruit out of Mobile, but the Ducks and Aggies are not making it easy. Texas A M has done an excellent job, and we know the parents like the program in College Station. Oregon is across the country, but Dan Lanning and his staff have not thrown in the towel," Simmons writes. In addition to being the top recruit in Alabama, Jones is the fourth-best EDGE recruit in the nation and the No. 18 overall recruit. This would be a massive get for Alabama, as the SEC program boasts the fourth-best 2026 recruiting class in the country, according to 247Sports. We're a little over a month away from Alabama opening the 2025 college football season on the road against Florida State. The two teams will square off from Doak Campbell Stadium on August 30 at 3:30 p.m. ET. ABC will have national coverage of this contest. Alabama is currently a 13.5-point favorite to beat FSU.
Las Vegas Raiders WR Dont'e Thornton Jr. is opening eyes at training camp, including QB Geno Smith, who appears to be trusting the rookie. Maybe that is the reason why general manager John Spytek has not looked for outside help at the position. And just maybe he got a steal from the 2025 NFL Draft. That looked evident on the first day of pads in Henderson, Nevada, where Thornton badly beat fellow rookie cornerback Darien Porter for a long touchdown, as described by The Athletic's Tashan Reed. In a piece, Reed said Thornton has been the first-string "X" receiver since OTAs and "could make an immediate impact." Thornton shared what Smith told him during training camp: "He tells me every single day, 'if you've got a one-on-one matchup, I'm coming to you,'" Smith said, as shared by Reed. "It means a lot to me. Being a rookie and just getting here ... just knowing that he believes in me a lot. It gives me a lot of motivation to keep getting better." While the headlines are more on rookie RB Ashton Jeanty for his potential big season, Thornton is making sure he is not forgotten after getting selected in the fourth round (108th overall) after leading the University of Tennessee with 661 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds, Thornton is getting all the opportunities he can get, given the Raiders didn't bother to add a veteran WR. One could see why Thornton is raising eyebrows in training camp. That is a good thing because Smith is trusting Thornton's potential playmaking abilities. Thornton is one of the tallest Raiders WRs besides Collin Johnson, and that could be a big deal given the Raiders need a big target minus TEs Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer and Ian Thomas. Yet, ESPN's Mike Clay is projecting Thornton to have a quiet year with 317 receiving yards and a TD. With such low numbers, maybe that is how the Raiders would prefer it to be, anyway. Only the Raiders know what they have in Thornton. It is up to Thornton to keep the momentum going into preseason games and beyond.
Luis Díaz’s move to Bayern Munich for a reported €75 million (around £65.5 million, including add-ons) wasn’t just a blockbuster summer transfer; it was a prime example of Liverpool playing the market smartly. While fans might feel watching the Colombian winger leave after three impactful years at Anfield, the reality is that the Reds cashed in at the right time, on their own terms. Bayern’s earlier bid of €67.5 million was turned down, but when Díaz made it clear he was ready for a new challenge, and Liverpool saw contract extension talks stalling, they took control of the situation. The club chose to sell at full market value rather than risk losing a valuable asset for less down the line. In today’s climate, getting top dollar for a player pushing 30 with no new deal in sight is no small achievement. They signed him from Porto in January 2022 for £37.5 million, rising to £50 million with add-ons. The sale now not only brings in profit but also helps Liverpool enhance their galactic transfer window even further. The Reds Played This Window Like Pros Liverpool has had a busy, record-breaking summer of high spending, with over £300 million spent on fresh faces like Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, and Hugo Ekitike. Those names don’t come cheap, but while many clubs overextend during rebuilds, Liverpool has kept things tidy on the financial front. Offloading Díaz, along with departures like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Caoimhin Kelleher, and Jarell Quansah, has brought in nearly £125 million in total, helping to balance their books and avoid falling foul of FFP regulations. Liverpool found the sweet spot between emotion and economics in a transfer market where clubs either panic-buy or cling onto stars for too long. No Room For Stalemates Let’s not forget, this wasn’t just about money. Behind the scenes, Díaz’s future was uncertain for months. Liverpool made two attempts to extend his contract, but neither went anywhere. Sources close to the player had hinted at his decision to leave as early as summer 2024, especially after his stock rose following a strong 2023/24 campaign. Bayern came knocking with a better deal in July 2025, and the writing was on the wall. The club’s decision to leave Díaz out of the pre-season friendly against AC Milan, despite no injury concerns, was a clear sign that things were moving quickly. Rather than drag the saga out and risk it affecting the dressing room, Liverpool acted decisively. A Big Departure, But Vision Remains Since his Liverpool debut, Díaz has made 148 appearances, scoring 40+ goals and providing around 23 assists. He was electric, unpredictable, and crucial for the club during the 2024-25 season, notching 17 goals and eight assists in 50 games as the Reds lifted the Premier League title. He offered more than just stats; his flair on the left wing, defensive work rate, and ability to change games were undeniable. Liverpool has a long history of letting stars go when the timing is right, and this move feels consistent with that tradition. A Squad Ready To Evolve With Díaz gone and Darwin Núñez also rumored to be on his way out, Liverpool’s front line is undergoing a reshuffle. The likes of Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, and new boy Ekitike give Slot plenty to work with, but the real excitement lies in the club’s pursuit of Alexander Isak. The Newcastle striker is being lined up as a potential record-breaking signing, with Liverpool preparing a huge bid to bring the Swedish international to Anfield, and they’re thinking of breaking the British transfer record for the second time in a single window. Isak has reportedly rejected offers from Saudi Arabia, making Liverpool his preferred destination. The Díaz funds could prove vital in landing him, proof that Liverpool aren’t just cashing in, they’re already preparing the next chapter.
The New York Islanders are entering a new era under a revamped front office, and signs point to a potential retool—or even a rebuild. The most telling move came at the NHL Draft in June, when the team traded star defenseman Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for two first-round picks. It’s a rare move in today’s NHL to deal your top blueliner, and it raised eyebrows across the league. Analysts and fans have wondered if more moves are coming. Since there are several teams looking for quality assets at a reasonable salary cap, it’s a logical question. Is Bo Horvat A Potential Trade Candidate? During an appearance on the Cam and Strick Podcast, newly appointed assistant to the general manager Matt Martin—an Islanders fan favorite and longtime forward—revealed a humorous but telling moment from inside the locker room. Martin, now working closely with the Isles’ new GM, said that Bo Horvat texted him immediately after the front office changes were announced. “You better not trade me,” Horvat reportedly wrote. The comments from Martin suggest that Horvat has no desire to leave the team, even if the Islanders aren’t set to be competitive this coming season. If the team is dumping some of their best talents, he does not want to be among those the organization chooses to sell. Horvat likely didn’t have to worry. He has a full no-trade clause as part of his contract, and even if management were open to asking him to waive it, he could have blocked any deal. It sounds like that would be his intention, so he was getting ahead of things by making sure they knew not to even ask.