Official visit helps Florida land LB Tre Geathers over Tennessee

Florida head coach Jon Sumrall talks with Florida cornerback Ben Hanks II (12) during practice during spring practice. Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Official visit helps Florida land LB Tre Geathers over Tennessee

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Jun 18, 2026 7:11 PM ET

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The Florida Gators and new head coach Jon Sumrall have been rolling on the 2027 recruiting trail.

Their latest win is one of note because it came over a big-time SEC rival in the Tennessee Volunteers.

Robert "Tre" Geathers III was considering Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee, but as of early April, the Volunteers were really the program to beat for his commitment.

Geathers is from Charlotte, North Carolina, and he took an official visit to Tennessee in early June. The Gators had offered him in April and were able to get him in for an official visit of their own right before that visit to Knoxville.

It was that visit with Florida that really turned things around in Geathers' recruitment.

“I think after my official visit, just getting to be around everyone and getting to see the culture and stuff like that put Florida on top,” Geathers told Rivals. “The academics, the school history, and learning more about the scheme all helped Florida move up. The official visit is when they overtook Tennessee. On that visit, things changed. It was a great visit.”

Geathers decided to commit to Florida on Thursday, and it's a big commitment for Sumrall and his staff.

BREAKING: Class of 2027 LB Tre Geathers has Committed to Florida, he tells me for @Rivals

The 6’2 215 LB chose the Gators over Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee

“Gator Nation I’m home”https://t.co/eEEykc8VxR pic.twitter.com/uPZCoNO9EL
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 18, 2026

Florida Gators land LB recruit with NFL pedigree

According to Rivals, he's the No. 49 linebacker recruit in the country. He was credited with 87 tackles, eight passes broken up and two interceptions as a junior for Providence Day High School.

He also has elite football genetics. His father, Robert Geathers, played defensive end for Georgia from 2001 to 2003 and was a fourth-round pick in the 2004 NFL Draft.

He spent 10 seasons in the NFL.

His grandfather, Robert Geathers Sr., played defensive line for South Carolina State from 1977 to 1980 and was a third-round pick in the 1981 NFL Draft. He played four seasons in the NFL and also played in the USFL.

Ultimately, the 4-star is excited to be a part of the turnaround in Gainesville.

“The energy within the building really stood out. When I went there for my official visit, it was highly motivating. It felt like they had a chip on their shoulder. Everyone is ready to turn the program around. It’s a new slate," he said.

Sumrall and the Gators now have 23 commitments to a class that is ranked No. 6 in the country.

Andrew Kulha

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

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