The world of recruiting can be unpredictable, and Florida Football has experienced its fair share of twists and turns over the years. Yet, sometimes predictions from recruiting enthusiasts come true as expected.
The Gators now have a chance to reconnect with a safety many anticipated would return even after committing elsewhere.
BREAKING: Four-Star Safety Hylton Stubbs has Decommitted from USC, he tells me for @On3Recruits
The 6’2 175 S from Jacksonville, FL had been committed to the Trojans since March
Ranked as a Top 5 Safety in ‘25 (per On3 Industry)https://t.co/ODkgRnhDnR pic.twitter.com/6n5PPtfajq
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 28, 2024
**Florida Football: Hylton Inn**
In March, Hylton Stubbs committed to Southern California during a peculiar weekend when Keon Young tried to commit to Florida, but Coach Napier turned him away. The assumption was that Florida was holding out for Stubbs, a top-100 prospect from Jacksonville, but Stubbs committed to the Trojans the next day.
Despite his commitment to USC, many fans predicted he wouldn’t actually end up in Los Angeles in 2025. Those predictions came true as Stubbs de-committed from Southern California yesterday.
When we profiled Stubbs back in February, we noted:
“The general vibe of a top 75 prospect checks out on film as Stubbs has great instincts for the position and excels at reading the quarterback’s eyes. Even when a receiver is on the other side of the field, Stubbs often makes the read and scurries over to either disrupt the play or intercept it altogether.
He’s not afraid to be physical. When given the chance to deliver a big hit, Stubbs will take that opportunity. He’s not just a ball hawk in the back end; he can also burst into the backfield on a blitz and is a sure-handed tackler.”
Now that Stubbs is back on the market, there appear to be two schools in the running: Florida and Miami, the only two schools other than USC where he took an official visit.
Tom Loy of 247 recently logged a crystal ball prediction for the Gators but took it down less than an hour later, indicating it’s a true two-horse race between the Gators and the Hurricanes.
As Florida looks to jump-start their class of 2025, Stubbs is the type of player who could provide the Gators with much-needed momentum.
