If there is one thing that separates Jon Sumrall’s recruiting from the rest, it’s the relationships he forms with potential recruits and the way he cares about them before they’re even Gators. And that relationship building is exactly what has boosted Florida’s position in four-star running back Andrew Beard’s recruitment rankings.
On Monday, Beard, the 5’10”, 195 four-star running back from Bogart, Georgia, told Swamp 247 that he has narrowed his recruitment down to four schools and the Florida Gators are in the mix, along with Clemson, Tennessee, and his hometown college and Florida rival, the University of Georgia.
New: 2027 4-star RB Andrew Beard has included Florida in his Top 4 schools along with Clemson, Georgia and Tennessee.
— Tyler Harden (@ttjharden8) February 9, 2026
He also tells @Swamp_247 his official visit to Florida is locked in for June 4-6.
“That Junior Day changed everything.”
➡️: https://t.co/hIYfrWjz0K (VIP) pic.twitter.com/RFpJertcgh
“That Junior Day changed everything,” he told Tyler Harden of 247 Sports. After that event, it became even more evident to him that the Gators care. He told Corey Bender of Gators Online that “relationships and offensive familiarity” are what elevated their position in his recruitment.
After Junior Day, Coach Sumrall, Coach Gasparato, and Coast Foster made a visit to Prince Avenue in Georgia to see the player who they’re trying to make an impact on and it worked.
“Florida is a school that has recently shot up my rankings,” he said. And now, the No. 6 running back in the class of 2027 is set to make an official visit to The Swamp. He will be in Gainesville at the University of Florida between June 4-6.
Relationships and offensive familiarity have helped Florida emerge as a serious contender for 4-star RB Andrew Beard.
— Corey Bender (@Corey_Bender) February 9, 2026
"Florida is a school that has recently shot up my rankings."
More on Beard's top four: https://t.co/We0C9iIjF4 (On3+) pic.twitter.com/EpHYOLJvgd
While it appears that Tennessee could be leading his recruitment right now, the Gators don’t seem to be far behind, and as we’ve seen, Coach Sumrall has a way of working their way in even more as the recruitment processes go on.
Beard is ranked by 247 Sports Composite as the No. 5 running back in the class of 2027, the No. 85 recruit nationally, and the No. 13 recruit out of Georgia.
In 2025 as a junior, he had 165 carries on the ground for 1,292 yards and 13 touchdowns. Beard averaged 7.8 yards per carry, with his longest carry being 77 yards. On top of his yards per rush, he had 31 receptions in the air for 450 yards and five touchdowns. He averaged 14.5 yards per carry and had a longest carry of 63 yards. He totaled 1,892 all-purpose yards.
Over the course of his career, including his sophomore season, the junior from Prince Avenue Christian in Athens, GA has 387 rushing carries for 3,229 yards and 34 touchdowns, averaging 8.3 yards per carry and 77 yards as the longest of his career.
In the air, he has 63 receptions for 975 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 15.5 yards per reception and a 63-yard longest carry.
Prior to beginning his senior year, the Georgia native will travel down to Florida for his official visit in June.