Recently, a whole saga unfolded as the Miami Hurricanes were scrambling to find their next heir-apparent at quarterback, despite having just played in the National Championship game, because head coach Mario Cristobal has nearly abandoned recruiting QBs right out of high school.
After watching the Canes go through the offseason with reckless abandon, the Florida Gators and head coach Jon Sumrall are clearly trying to avoid a similar chaos.
Currently, Sumrall and his staff are heavily targeting four-star quarterback Wonderful "Champ" Monds IV, who is from right down the road in Vera Beach, FL (and, yes, you read his name correctly).
Gators gaining ground on Champ Monds' recruitment
In a recent podcast from Rivals and On3, recruiting expert Steve Wiltfong told Josh Newberg, a fellow recruiting analyst, that he "liked where the Gators are positioned" in Monds' recruitment process.
As of now, Florida is favored to land Monds, with a 37.2 percent chance, according to On3 and Rivals. The Ohio State Buckeyes are second with 19.8 percent odds, and then the Hurricanes with 11.5 percent.
Especially with the departure of former starting quarterback DJ Lagway, the Gators are looking to rebuild the depth in their QB room. Monds could be the perfect answer.
"I love where the Gators are positioned"@SWiltfong_ says QB Champ Monds is a priority for Jon Sumrall and the new Florida coaching staff 🐊
— Josh Newberg (@josh_newberg) January 28, 2026
MORE: https://t.co/StwMfjMG2R pic.twitter.com/LWxTdVbDP3
Monds is the No. 22 quarterback in the class of 2027 and has amassed an incredible resume over his first few years of high school varsity football.
Even while suffering an injury in the middle of the 2025 season, Monds has already amassed 2,925 passing yards for 30 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He has run for an additional 535 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.
As a freshman, he even punted the ball eight times for 232 yards, landing two of his punts within the 20-yard line.