One of the things we always talk about when highlighting high school prospects is that offseason camp performances are nice, but actual on-the-field performances are king. We would much rather have a player come to Florida with great film compared to a great showing in a t-shirt and shorts.
And so Davian Groce, the top rated signee from Florida’s class of 2026, put on a performance this weekend that reminded everyone his star ranking is 100% backed up by his play on the field.
Davian Groce has 310 yards receiving in playoff win
Playing in the Texas Class 5A Division I state semifinals, Groce popped off for 310 yards receiving on 15 catches and had four TDs. All of these stats were needed as Groce’s Frisco Lone Star knocked off Aledo 56-52 to advance to the state championship game.
It really didn’t matter if Aledo played press, off-coverage, zone, or man; Groce was able to torch them all night long. If Aledo played soft, he simply took a pass from the line of scrimmage and used his shiftiness to still score a touchdown. If Aledo played press, he simply burned them over the top. If they played zone, he found the soft spot and sat in it every time.
Noted for his speed, Groce is regarded as a top 100 overall prospect in the class of 2026 and is the top-rated signee Florida had for this cycle. His speed on the field isn’t an illusion, as he has verified track speed and was the 5A state champ in the 200-meter dash.
He originally committed to Florida back in August after visits with Oklahoma, Baylor, and Houston. Given the coaching change at Florida, there had been some worry that Oklahoma might swoop in and flip Groce, but the Gators were able to retain him.
Depending upon how Florida’s roster looks after the transfer portal this offseason, there is a chance Groce will get some early playing time once he arrives in Gainesville. Even if Florida does retain all of its key wide receivers, Groce will slot in as yet another speed demon for Florida to work with.
The state title game for Groce and Frisco Lone Star will be this Friday at 7 PM.