The Florida Gators kick off their football season with FAU on Saturday at 7:45 pm inside a sold-out Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. 

Excitement and anticipation are at an all-time high heading into the season opener, which has attracted several top recruits from the 2027, 2028 and 2029 classes. Here are the expected visitors for the weekend, according to On3’s Blake Alderman. 

Gator Commits Make Up the 2027 Class

Florida has already put most of the final touches on its 2027 class. It holds 25 total commitments from recruits across the country, and half are planning to be in Gainesville this weekend. 

Coatesville (Pa.) five-star offensive lineman Maxwell Hiller is the highest-rated commit making the trip. Hiller ranks as the No. 2 overall prospect in the 2027 class, according to 247Sports, and has been pledged to the Gators since April 8. A big reason he teamed up with the Gators is because of new Florida offensive line coach Phil Trautwein. 

Florida’s signal caller in the 2027 class, Sarasota (Fla.) Cardinal Mooney four-star quarterback Davin Davidson will also be in attendance. He committed to the Gators one day after Hiller after the Gators made him a priority since head coach Jon Sumrall was hired. He is a consensus top-200 prospect in the class. 

Another highly touted Gators commit who is visiting is Warner Robins (Ga.) Dodge County four-star defensive back Aamaury Fountain. Fountain flipped to the Gators from South Carolina following Florida’s spring game on April 11. He is the No. 38 overall prospect, according to Rivals. 

Coatesville (Pa.) five-star offensive lineman Maxwell Hiller Sarasota (Fla.) Cardinal Mooney four-star quarterback Davin Davidson Anna (Texas) four-star interior offensive lineman Peyton Miller Bogart (Ga.) Prince Avenue Christian four-star running back Andrew Beard Centerburg (Ohio) High three-star tight end Jackson Ballinger Warner Robins (Ga.) Dodge County four-star defensive back Aamaury Fountain Swainsboro (Ga.) High four-star linebacker Ja’Bios Smith Mobile (Ala.) Williamson four-star linebacker Ellis McGaskinOrlando (Fla.) First Academy three-star defensive back Kamauri Whitfield Tampa (Fla.) Carrollwood Day three-star defensive lineman De’Voun Kendrick Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day three-star linebacker Tre GeathersSharpsburg (Ga.) East Coweta three-star kicker Aaron McWilliamsMendenhall (Miss.) Simpson County Academy three-star long snapper Jaydee LaneSeveral Highly Rated Underclassmen Coming to Town

Arguably the most notable 2028 prospect visiting the Gators this weekend is 2028 Jacksonville (Fla.) Bolles five-star edge Asher Ghioto. He is a consensus top-10 prospect across the major recruiting sites and has been a priority for the new staff. 

The Gators’ lone 2028 commit, Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade Madonna Prep four-star wide receiver Armani Strong, is expected to make the trip.

Four Tampa (Fla.) Carrollwood Day High School 2028 recruits are visiting this weekend. Four-star wide receiver Derrell Hines Jr., four-star defensive lineman Zylen Little, four-star edge Antonio Thomas and three-star running back Kameron Battle are all expected for the game. 

Two 2029 recruits are also making the trek to Gainesville for Florida’s first game in the Swamp in 2026. Those are Tampa (Fla.) Carrollwood Day four-star cornerback James Allen and Cape Coral (Fla.) four-star edge Kymani Nicholas. Allen is Rivals’ No. 1 overall prospect in the class and Nicholas is the No. 21 overall prospect. 

2028 VisitorsJacksonville (Fla.) Bolles five-star edge Asher GhiotoLouisville (Miss.) four-star running back Zaiden JerniganSaint Louis (Mo.) DeSmet four-star tight end Ridge JanesAustintown (Ohio) Fitch four-star offensive tackle Anthony Blalock Jr. (Alabama commit)Lyons (Ga.) Toombs County four-star safety Nick CarrollTampa (Fla.) Bolles four-star safety Jaxon FlowersLakeland (Fla.) four-star cornerback Dominick Harris-Payne. Gainesville (Fla.) Buchholz three-star quarterback Andrew WhittemoreGreenwood (Ark.) three-star offensive tackle Jaxen CepedaMobile (Ala.) Williamson three-star linebacker Reginald WardRuskin (Fla.) Lennard three-star athlete Chayse Brown (Florida State commit) NR Tarpon Springs (Fla.) East Lake offensive tackle Nikolay PetrushevNR Ponte Vedra Beach (Fla.) Nease offensive lineman John O’DwyerNR Vero Beach (Fla.) defensive lineman Josiah TaylorNR Vero Beach (Fla.) safety Jamarion Hillsman2029 VisitorsTampa (Fla.) Carrollwood Day four-star cornerback James Allen Cape Coral (Fla.) four-star edge Kymani Nicholas2030 VisitorsNR Madison (Miss.) Central offensive tackle Chase HatchettNR Cape Coral (Fla.) athlete Noel Devine Jr.

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