With Joe Hamilton back, Florida Football offers 2026 prospect favored for Texas A&M

When Joe Hamilton left Florida Football for Texas A&M, it was seen as a blow to the program, given his ability to find hidden gems before other big-name programs did. In turn, multiple Gators currently on the roster credit Hamilton as being a big part of their recruitment.

Now that Hamilton is back on staff in Gainesville, the Gators have immediately offered a class of 2026 prospect who is considered a Texas A&M favorite.

Florida Football: Built Ford Tough

KJ Ford is a class of 2026 EDGE out of Duncanville, TX. Listed at 6'3" and 225 pounds, Ford is a consensus four-star with 247 grading him the highest at 58th overall and On3 having him the lowest at 179th overall.

On film, what stands out is his all-around strength. Even at 225 pounds and with plenty of room to grow, Ford has no problem chucking offensive linemen out of his way and when he does get to the QB he isn't afraid to bring him down with force.

We'd like to see a bit more explosiveness out of Ford, and he did get to play alongside 2024 five-star Colin Simmons, which meant he wasn't the sole focus for opponents. As such, we would probably agree most with the On3 grade.

On3 has Texas A&M as a heavy favorite for Ford, and Steve Wiltfong logged a prediction for the Aggies back in April. It is not an accident that the day Hamilton arrived back in Gainesville after his stint with the Aggies, Ford was offered by the Gators, and he even tagged Hamilton in his offer post.

So we'll see what kind of inroads Billy Napier is able to make with Ford and if he is a player who will start to shoot up the rankings like so many other players Hamilton has gone after in the past.