On Sunday evening, the Florida Gators saw their commitment list shrink as four-star safety Demetres Samuel Jr. from Palm Bay (Fla.) Heritage flipped his pledge back to Syracuse. The Gators had initially flipped Samuel from Syracuse in late July when he reclassified from the 2026 class to the 2025 class. Samuel had just visited Gainesville before committing to Florida.
However, after a visit to Syracuse over the weekend, Samuel decided to rejoin the Orange. He had originally committed to Syracuse in March as a 2026 prospect but flipped to Florida on July 31 after reclassifying. His recent visit to Florida was for the Gators’ season opener against Miami, and in a conversation with Swamp247, Samuel mentioned his plans to take future visits.
With Samuel’s departure, the Gators are left without a safety in their 2025 recruiting class, which now holds 13 commitments. These include notable players like four-star wide receiver Vernell Brown III and four-star edge rusher Jalen Wiggins, among others.
According to 247Sports, Samuel is a versatile defensive back with significant potential, particularly as a split safety due to his range and ball skills. Standing close to 6 feet tall with impressive athletic metrics, he is seen as a developmental player with room to grow at the college level. The 247Sports Composite ranks Samuel as the No. 242 overall prospect and the No. 21 safety in the 2025 recruiting class.
