The crowded coaching carousel made life difficult for Florida in its search for a new coach, but one of the hidden benefits is that the transfer portal is going to have plenty of options to help restock the roster for 2026. As we have well documented, Billy Napier’s approach to the transfer portal was to find diamonds in the rough and seldom looked at the top-rated options.
So it is refreshing that Jon Sumrall is trying to hit the ground running as the transfer portal opens, and he already has a visit lined up with the top-rated defensive back in the country.
Jontez Williams set to visit Florida
Based on multiple reports, Iowa State defensive back Jontez Williams will make a visit to Florida next week. Williams had his 2025 season cut short due to an ACL injury, but in 2024, he played 650 snaps, was targeted 43 times, and gave up just 16 receptions. Of cornerbacks who played at least 300 snaps in 2024, he had the 7th-best reception rate against in the country.
Our Fansided sister site Saturday Blitz has Williams rated as the No. 1 cornerback in the transfer portal.
Williams was not a high-profile prospect coming out of high school. He was the 1,535th-ranked prospect in the country out of the class of 2022, and according to his 247 profile, Iowa State was the only Power Four school that offered him.
The big selling point Florida will have over whoever else might try to poach Williams is that he is from Starke and attended Bradford High, about a 40-minute drive from The Swamp.
The defensive back room for Florida is going to look vastly different in 2026, one way or another. Florida lost several guys to the transfer portal, as well as Devin Moore graduating. Florida will have Cormani McClain, Dijon Johnson, and J’Vari Flowers for sure. The Gators are also still needing to lock up Ben Hank III for 2026.