5-star EDGE Asher Ghioto is a must-have recruit for Jon Sumrall and Florida in 2028

Jon Sumrall made an early splash in the 2027 recruiting class by landing five-star offensive lineman Maxwell Hiller. Now he's trying to add another five-star prospect early in the 2028 class and Steve Wiltfong believes he's in a good spot for top edge rusher Asher Ghioto.

Steve Wiltfong, the Rivals/On3 Vice President of Recruiting, said that the Florida Gators are in the best position early in Ghioto's recruiting. Ghioto is the top-ranked edge rusher in the nation according to both Rivals/On3 and the 247Sports Composite. He's been to Gainesville several times and was there most recently over the summer.

The 6-foot-5, 240-pounder from The Bolles School in Jacksonville has a busy in-season schedule of unofficial visits, but he was at The Swamp last week when the Gators knocked off Florida Atlantic, and he could be back in Gainesville multiple times before the season ends.

Wiltfong mentioned Miami, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M and Notre Dame as the other schools in the picture, but Florida is trending well.

"Florida is obviously one of the front-runners here. When I talk to sources that have knowledge about this recruitment, I think Florida is in the best position. I think that Florida is really going to make a push to keep Asher home," Wiltfong said. 

5-star EDGE Asher Ghioto is at the top of Florida's wish list for 2028

Ghioto is a very important recruit for Sumrall. Not only is he one of the best players in the country, but he's in Jacksonville, which has traditionally been one of the most reliable in-state areas for Gators recruiting. It's important that Sumrall establishes Jacksonville as one of Florida's primary pipelines.

And if there was ever a class to re-establish that pipeline in Duval County, it's the 2028 class. Ghioto has a couple of teammates at Bolles — four-star running back Xander Edwards and four-star tight end JC Wessel — that are also targets. Not to mention the top wide receiver in the 2028 class, Brysen Wright, is right down the road at Mandarin High. 

But these recruitments are not going to be for the weak at heart. Beyond the schools that Wiltfong listed, don't be surprised if LSU and Oklahoma are also in the picture. And if FSU gets a new coach and a new influx of money, the Seminoles could also be an obstacle out on the trail.

But Ghioto has already been on campus once for a game-day experience and he will be back again. If the Gators can continue to replicate the home atmosphere they had in Week 1, it'll be hard for Ghioto to go anywhere else. 

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