March 18, 2026, 7:19 p.m. ET
Florida football was never a major factor for 2027 four-star linebacker Ja’Bios Smith, that is until now.
The Gators have rapidly become a serious contender in the 6-foot-3-inch, 195-pound linebacker’s recruitment overnight. Smith indicated Florida “bumped everybody around” in his personal rankings in a recent interview with On3. The confession cites a pattern of frequent engagement and strong relationship building from the new coaching staff.
Jon Sumrall and his staff can consider this and other votes of confidence as a victory in these initial phases of recruitment for the 2027 class. Gaining favor with a cornerstone piece like Smith shows the momentum building at Florida. Visits continue to line up and interest continues to peak as a result of the Gators aggressive approach on the trail.
The Gators are now locked in a key recruiting battle for the services of Smith, getting the Swainsboro, Georgia native to choose Gainesville over Athens would be a major win for this era of Florida football as it looks to restore SEC respectability.
Ja’Bios Smith recruiting summary
Smith is ranked No. 171 overall and No. 12 at his position nationally according to 247Sports composite; the On3 industry ranking places him at No. 158 and No. 12 respectively. Smith has offers from 26 programs, including 11 other SEC schools; among them are Texas, Alabama and Georgia.
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