Way-too-early All-America list hints at a 2026 disadvantage for Florida

As the transfer portal has come to a close and we start to formally look ahead to the 2026 campaign for Florida, one of the things that the Gators went for with roster construction was more of a solid all-around approach rather than landing a handful of big fish in the transfer portal. The Gators also did well to retain the most critical members of the roster and prevented guys like Jadan Baugh and Jayden Woods from leaving.

But On3 just dropped their list of “Way Too Early All-Americans,” and it serves as a reminder that, as solid as Florida’s roster may seem, it does lack pure star power heading into 2026.

Gators left out of All-American Honors

Florida did not have anyone make the list from On3, which designated a first team and a second team. It’s not really a shock, considering Florida’s roster. The only player who may have had a case was Baugh, but On3 went with Kewan Lacy from Ole Miss, Ahmad Hardy from Missouri, LJ Martin from BYU, and Isaac Brown from Louisville as their four running backs to gain the honor.

What's notable for Florida isn’t just that the Gators landed no one on the list, but the fact that they will also face plenty of players in 2026 who did make it. Texas got five on the list, Georgia got four, Ole Miss got three, and Oklahoma and South Carolina both got two. Missouri, Auburn, and even FSU all wound up with one player on the list.

Of Florida’s 12 games in 2026, only FAU, Campbell, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt didn’t have someone named to the list.

Obviously, one or two players don’t make an entire team. Florida beat Texas last year, and Gator fans will probably feel confident against South Carolina, Missouri, Auburn, and FSU heading into 2026.

But it is a reminder that Jon Sumrall does have his work cut out for him this offseason as the Gators lack the star power that plenty of others on their 2026 schedule seem to have.