The Florida Gators started Saturday without any commitments for their 2026 recruiting class, but that changed with a significant addition. Will Griffin, a four-star quarterback from Tampa (Fla.) Jesuit, committed early, securing one of the Gators’ top targets for the cycle.
Griffin, standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 225 pounds, received an early offer from the Gators, the team he grew up supporting. While his childhood allegiance didn’t heavily influence his decision, it certainly didn’t hurt. Key to his commitment was the strong relationships he built with people around the program.
“The biggest thing for me is, and I’ve been saying this the last few times I’ve visited, around the third or fourth visit, the coaches start to feel like best friends,” Griffin said. “I get along so easily with [Ryan] O’Hara and Coach [Billy] Napier. I call them once a week to stay in touch. I also have a great rapport with DJ [Lagway] and Graham [Mertz]. Whenever I’m with DJ, we talk about how he’s doing, how he’s adapting to the offense, and his overall experience. He’s only been there three months, so I try to empathize with him. I aim to compete for a spot in college and I’m really tight with them.”
Griffin has visited Florida more than any other team during his recruitment. From attending games, junior days, and spring practices to shadowing a player, he has seen the program in-depth. Earlier this spring, he watched the Gators practice and observed the development of quarterbacks under Billy Napier and Ryan O’Hara. The coaching staff emphasizes player development, and Griffin noticed the progress made by Graham Mertz and DJ Lagway since their arrival.
“I was very impressed with DJ after just three months and with Graham going into his second year,” Griffin remarked in March. “Graham is obviously the veteran, but it’s great to see how they are progressing in the offense. It’s a complex system, and you need to know what you’re doing. They’re running an SEC team here, and they’ve done a fantastic job picking it up. It’s impressive to see the transition from the film room to the field. Napier mentioned having many young players in recent years, and he believes both the defense and offense are much improved.”
With Griffin’s commitment, the Gators now have their first pledge for the 2026 class. This addition places them at No. 15 in the 247Sports team recruiting rankings for 2026. The 247Sports Composite, an industry-generated average, currently ranks Griffin as the nation’s No. 89 overall prospect and the No. 7 quarterback in the 2026 class.
