![Florida head coach Jon Sumrall keeps on eye drills during UF spring practice at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_54,w_2678,h_1506/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/213/01kmc2e1v2emvzx7x3y4.jpg "Florida head coach Jon Sumrall keeps on eye drills during UF spring practice at Sanders Practice Fields in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]")
All systems are “go” for five-star offensive lineman Max Hiller to be in the Swamp on Saturday. Florida has continued to make a push for Hiller and over the past few months they’ve quietly snuck in as a favorite to land him. Hiller confirmed on his X account on Sunday that he will be at Florida "this week."
I’ll be at Florida and Tennessee this week! 🐊🍊
— Maxwell Hiller 5⭐️OL (@HillerMaxwell) March 22, 2026
Since Corey Long last wrote about Hiller’s expected visit to Gainesville, the highly-touted junior has continued to praise Florida’s effort.
“I hear from Florida every single day,” he told Corey Bender of Gators Online.
“I hear from Florida every single day.”
— Corey Bender (@Corey_Bender) March 14, 2026
5-star OL Maxwell Hiller breaks down why the Gators are sitting at No. 1 ahead of an important stretch.
INTEL: https://t.co/nqJo0oDfnD (On3+) @ChadSimmons_ pic.twitter.com/hu3adJEeQQ
He also told Josh Newberg of On3 that he “loved the energy and juice around the program.” Even Sean Tatum of John Carroll High School in Fort Pierce has called the Gators’ recruitment energy “electric.” It’s different than the Napier era and players are taking notice.
"He loved the energy and juice around the program"@SWiltfong_ says OL Maxwell Hiller could be Jon Sumrall's first 5-star commitment at UF 🐊👀
— Josh Newberg (@josh_newberg) March 17, 2026
MORE: https://t.co/ziKq0lkVoY pic.twitter.com/1653R84tUa
According to AZ Sports online, this energy is the opposite of that of the recruitment at Goergia and Tennessee, whose programs have appeared to not be as hot on the recruitment trail right now, paving the way for Florida to create waves in the SEC. And they have taken advantage, especially with Hiller.
Jon Sumrall and Phil Trautwein are now just days away from one of the biggest official visits they’ve hosted, knowing it’s now or never and knowing this is their chance to make an impression and pull off their biggest win of 2026. This will be Hiller’s second visit to the University of Florida, having previously attended junior day in January. Their persistency, commitment, and dedication to making Hiller feel wanted, combined with his connection to Trautwein when he was recruiting hiller at Penn State are what led to the junior deciding to return to Gainesville this spring.
Hiller has recently been predicted to commit to Florida, so this visit is huge for Sumrall and Trautwein and you can expect all eyes and all ears to be on Gainesville this week as the No. 1 IOL’s visit approaches and for sure on Saturday when Hiller’s car rolls up to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at the University of Florida.