New Florida Gators signee Will Griffin has been named the Gatorade Florida Football Player of the Year for 2025. The QB from Tampa Jesuit had been committed to the Gators since the summer of 2024, and even though his ranking has waned, he didn't let that stop him from having a massive senior campaign.
The honor for Griffin is emblematic of something we have said about him throughout the process, and he is also a perfect match for Florida's new offensive coordinator.
Will Griffin should thrive under Buster Faulkner
Obviously, as of now, the plan for 2026 is for DJ Lagway to be the QB for the Gators. Plans are, of course, subject to change, but it's doubtful we will see Griffin on the field beyond the Spring Game for 2026.
But at some point, Lagway will either depart for the NFL, graduate, or transfer, and the Gators will need their next man up.
This is where we intend to keep an eye on Griffin's progress once he arrives in Gainesville. Griffin's star ranking has dropped, but not because of his play on the field. He seemingly has struggled at the 7 v 7 camps that prop up half of these rankings, but that's also because the 7 v 7 camps don't allow Griffin to showcase part of what makes him effective.
When we first profiled Griffin after his sophomore campaign, we noted how he was a willing runner who wasn't afraid to greet linebackers head-on and plow them over.
This past season, Griffin had six rushing touchdowns off 52 carries for 296 yards (an average of 5.7 yards per carry).
Florida's incoming OC, Buster Faulkner, was known for his QB power runs while at Georgia Tech and turned Haynes King into a dynamic runner in the ACC.
We're not saying Griffin is the next Tim Tebow, but he did surpass Tebow's high school career passing yards this season.
And if Griffin becomes QB1 and Faulkner turns him loose, there are bound to be some Tebow comparisons down the road.