Florida steasl standout recruit away from Big Ten team

Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier. Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Billy Napier, Florida steal standout recruit away from Big Ten team

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Jun 18, 2025 8:53 PM ET

Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier is on a roll on the 2026 recruiting trail.

Earlier this week, he landed two big offensive lineman commitments: four-star offensive tackle Tyler Chukuyem and three-star offensive tackle Javarii Luckas. Over the weekend, Florida had landed four-star defensive lineman JaReylan McCoy and four-star running back Carsyn Baker.

Now, the Gators have made perhaps their biggest move yet on the recruiting trail. It was announced on Wednesday that four-star cornerback CJ Bronaugh from Winter Garden, Florida, has flipped his commitment from Nebraska to the Gators.

He decommitted from Nebraska Tuesday, and he's now the top-rated member of the Gators' 2026 class.

BREAKING: Four-Star CB CJ Bronaugh has Committed to Florida, he tells me for @on3recruits

The 6’1 175 CB from Windermere, FL decommitted from Nebraska yesterday

“I’m happy to finally be home, GO GATORS ”https://t.co/eeiM1FyoY5 pic.twitter.com/T0KwhVe0Vs
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 18, 2025

This is a big-time get for Florida, especially considering the fact that Bronaugh had been committed to the Huskers since November 2024.

That's a long commitment in today's recruiting era, but the four-star took an official visit to Florida in early June, and he returned for an unofficial visit earlier this week.

Those trips were enough to seal the deal for the Gators as they put on the full-court press for Bronaugh.

"They were letting me know how much of a priority I was for them and how I would be a perfect fit," Bronaugh told On3 after his official visit to Gainesville.

Florida now has 13 2026 commitments in a class that's ranked 13th in the nation. Again, Bronaugh is now the headliner for Napier and Co.

According to 247Sports, he's the No. 6 cornerback in the 2026 class.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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