Jon Sumrall, Florida win heavyweight fight on recruiting trail for 6-foot-6 OT

Florida head coach Jon Sumrall. Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Jon Sumrall, Florida win heavyweight fight on recruiting trail for 6-foot-6 OT

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Jun 2, 2026 10:07 PM ET

The Florida Gators hosted four-star offensive tackle Kennedee Jackson this past weekend for an official visit.

It was a visit that went so well that Jackson decided to give the nod to Jon Sumrall and his staff.

Jackson's commitment to Florida was announced on Tuesday. It's a big commitment, without a doubt, and that's literal. Jackson checks in at 6-foot-6, 297 pounds as a rising senior in high school.

There's also the competition to consider, though. Florida won out in this recruiting battle over the Georgia Bulldogs and LSU Tigers.

That's a heavyweight fight if there ever was one on the recruiting trail.

BREAKING: Four-Star OT Kennedee Jackson has Committed to Florida, he tells me for @Rivals

The 6’6 301 OT from Lithonia, GA chose the Gators over Georgia and LSU

He’s ranked as the No. 8 OT in the 2027 Rivals300 https://t.co/24Urd3wGCf pic.twitter.com/3ofKg1a2Sf
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 2, 2026

Jon Sumrall wins over four-star OT Kennedee Jackson

Jackson was in Gainesville from Thursday through Saturday, and more than anything, the time spent with Sumrall really sold him on the Gators under their new head coach.

"The main thing I've seen was the head coach spending the most time with me," Jackson told Swamp247. "That really means something."

The Gators also kept it simple for Jackson. They believe he can be a game-changer when it comes to getting Florida football back on track.

"Come to Florida, change the program," Jackson said of Florida's message to him.

The Gators may be right, too, at least according to the rankings.

Jackson is ranked as the No. 14 offensive tackle recruit in the country, according to the 247Sports Composite.

Andrew Kulha

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

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