Florida ramps up QB recruiting with offer to ACC-committed passer

Florida has had a number of QBs on its radar for the class of 2027. Elijah Haven, Davin Davidson, and Wonderful Monds IV are among the names that have popped up on Florida’s radar during this recruiting cycle.

After Thursday’s unofficial visit, there is a new name to pay attention to as Florida has offered a Pitt commit whose film is much stronger than his star ranking would indicate.

Florida offers QB Kevin Verpaele

Kevin Verpaele is a QB from Merritt Island. Listed at 6’2” and 200 pounds, he is a four-star with Rivals and is a three-star with 247 and ESPN. Verpaele is currently committed to Pittsburgh but was on campus on Thursday during a busy recruiting day that also included five-star wide receiver Easton Royal.

On film, Verpaele looks far closer to a four-star than a three-star. What stands out the most is that every one of his passes seems to always hit his receivers in stride. Whether it’s a deep shot or a shorter route, Verpaele’s passes have zip to them, and receivers are seldom forced to slow down to make the catch.

Verpaele also has some athleticism to him, and he is a capable runner. He racked up 480 yards rushing this past season. What seems to hold Verpaele back in the star rankings is that he threw nine interceptions, and he is just a tick smaller than the higher-rated four and five-star guys. Make no mistake, though, he is a highly capable QB who has better film than some who are ranked ahead of him.

Verpaele has been committed to Pitt since October, but it’s clear his recruitment is far from over. Wake Forest, Rutgers, Virginia Tech, and USF are among the other schools also pushing for Verpaele, so one would think Florida should have a leg up over those schools.

Whether or not any of the other big dogs hop in the race remains to be seen, but Verpaele will be a player worth keeping an eye on as the offseason progresses.