![Florida head coach Jon Sumrall and the team blasts out onto the field before the Orange and Blue game at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, April 11, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_2713,h_1526/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/213/01kth3nwawnkcz046kyb.jpg "Florida head coach Jon Sumrall and the team blasts out onto the field before the Orange and Blue game at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, April 11, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]")
Florida has continued to stay red hot on the recruiting trail with three new commits this weekend. The headliner of the three is going to be EDGE Cahron Wheeler, who is a top 100 overall prospect out of Maryland.
But the Gators also picked up LB Ellis McGaskin out of Mobile, AL and while his star ranking isn’t going to raise any eyebrows across the country, his film should have a lot of industry experts doing a double take on his current star ranking.
Ellis McGaskin commits to Florida as part of busy weekend
McGaskin is a three-star with Rivals and 247, while ESPN has him as a four-star. His composite ranking has him sneak in as a four-star.
So when we popped on his film from 2025, it left us thinking, “Are we sure we have the right film?” because McGaskin has the type of film of someone who could easily be in the top 150 overall, and no one would blink.
There is a burst to his first step that pops off right away, and when he does make a tackle, there is a thump to his greeting of ball carriers. He’s not looking to take someone’s head off, but it is a sure-fire tackle that makes sure they are not only going nowhere but also have second thoughts about wanting the ball next time.
He’s not just a downhill blitzer; he can hold his gap and still flash that burst when it is time to fill a hole. He also averaged 9.9 yards a carry as a running back in 2025, and frankly, if you didn’t know he was an LB, you probably wouldn’t blink at him as an RB at the next level.
Size seemingly is the only thing holding back his star ranking. 247 has him listed at 6’1” while Rivals has him at 5’11”. Even at 6’1” and 205 pounds, which 247 has him at, that is a tick smaller than most of the higher-rated four-star LBs in the class of 2027.
But make no mistake about it, McGaskin has the potential to be an explosive presence in the middle of Florida’s field, and he is a worthwhile film to stop and watch.
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