One of the defenses of Billy Napier during his second year of tenure was that he had a monster recruiting class brewing during the summer of 2023. After a string of commitments, Florida was sitting with a top-five class and even though the product on the field had some gaps, there was a hope that reinforcements were coming.
But as losses piled up, guys decomitted one by one. In total, the Gators had 11 players flip on them and go elsewhere.
Based on how those players from the class of 2024 are going in their new homes, it feels like that top five class was a bit of a mirage to begin with.
Amaris Williams (EDGE) - Auburn
Clinton (Clinton, NC)
2024 - 119 snaps, one sack, PFF 71.8
2025 - 68 snaps, PFF 56.1
The five-star defensive lineman appears to be in a position to be a mainstay in the Auburn rotation for 2025, though he has yet to flash his five-star potential.
Nasir Johnson (DT) - Georgia
Dublin (Dublin, GA)
2024 - 11 snaps
2025 - 10 snaps, PFF 55.0
Another five-star defensive lineman, Nasir Johnson hasn't seen the field much, though Georgia is loaded along the line.
Xavier Filsaime (S) - Texas
McKinney (McKinney, TX)
2024 - 25 snaps
2025 - 23 snaps (3 vs. Ohio State), PFF 67.3
One of the flashpoints for the class of 2024, Xavier Filsaime was originally adamant he wasn't going to flip when Corey Raymond was let go, but alas, he flipped to Texas, where he has yet to crack any meaningful rotation.
Jerrick Gibson (RB) - Texas
IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL)
2024 - 78 carries, 374 yards, 4 TDs
2025 - 7 carries, 38 yards
Another player who flipped to Texas, Jerrick Gibson, has actually been a solid running back for the Longhorns, but his loss was softened by Florida getting Jadan Baugh instead.
Jamonta Waller (EDGE) - Auburn
Picayune Memorial (Picayune, MS)
2024 - 10 snaps
2025 - None
The subject of numerous online debates is arguments on whether or not he was properly ranked; it turned out that the services that had him low ended up being correct.
Wardell Mack (DB) - Texas
John Ehret (Marrero, LA)
2024 - 25 snaps
2025 - None
He didn't play much in 2024, and he has opened 2025 with getting arrested for DWI after the Ohio State game, which led to Mack not playing against San Jose State.
Izaiah Williams (WR) - Texas A&M
Carrollwood Day (Tampa, FL)
2024 - Two catches
2025 - None
Williams was a late flip to Texas A&M, who was also never one of the bigger targets on Florida's board. Since going to College Station, he has two catches.
Adarius Hayes (LB) - Miami
Largo (Largo, FL)
2024 - 8 snaps
2025 - None
Hayes claimed in the summer of 2023 that he had shut down his recruitment, but it was obvious Miami was still poking around. After just eight snaps in 2024, Hayes was involved in a car crash that killed three people in May and he was just charged with three counts of vehicular homicide for the incident.
Kendall Jackson (EDGE) - Texas A&M
Buchholz (Gainesville, FL)
2024 - 10 snaps
2025 - 8 snaps
Fringe four-star guy who has yet to make his mark in College Station.
Chauncey Bowens (RB) - Georgia
The Benjamin School (North Palm Beach, FL)
2024 - 16 carries, 58 yards
2025 - 17 carries, 89 yards
We really liked Bowens when he first committed, and he started to see his ranking shoot up before it settled back in the 200s.
But he seems to be a rotational back with the Bulldogs this year, who should only get more and more carries.
Bobby Engstler (Punter) - FAMU
Lawton Chiles (Tallahassee, FL)
2024 - None
2025 - 13 punts, 45.3 yards per attempt
A wild journey thus far for Engstler, his commitment to Florida barely lasted a month before he opted to sign with Cal on the other side of the country.
That lasted one year, where he didn't play before he transferred to Arkansas State. After spring practice, he transferred again and settled back home at FAMU, where he appears to be their primary punter for 2025.