Florida is a pipeline state for football recruiting, and out-of-state programs have long treated it as such.
The Sunshine State is raided for talent every year, and the 2027 cycle looks to be no different. While Miami and Florida have done impressive jobs on homegrown talent so far (six of the top 20 players in the state have already pledged for either), other schools are starting to close the gap on elite talent in the Sunshine State.
Advertisement
As more recruits take visits and start to make verbal commitments, we’re hearing a lot of the same names from high-end players.
Here are 10 schools to watch on the recruiting trail in Florida mid-way through the spring:
Texas A&M
The Aggies are doing a good job in Florida thus far, landing a commitment from the No. 2 overall player in the state in IMG EDGE Zyron Forstall, and are leading the pack for much of the upper-echelon of the Top 100. IMG WR Eric McFarland III (No. 4) is set to take an official visit, and Tampa Jesuit LB Kaden Henderson (No. 6) has the Aggies in his top 5. They are also gaining ground in the recruitment of the No. 1 player in the state, St. Thomas Aquinas OT Mark Matthews, and are working to flip coveted Carol City WR Nick Lennear (No. 3) away from his Miami commitment.
Oct 18, 2025; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies head coach Mike Elko prior to the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images
Syracuse
Not much has changed from last season, when the Orange prioritized Florida and connected on some big swings, including five-star wide receiver Calvin Russell Jr. Syracuse was earlier than most on elite recruits like Jones EDGE Fred Ards III (No. 26), Atlantic Coast EDGE Desmond Malpress (No. 28), and Port Charlotte WR Elias Pearl (No. 32), and are making an impact on their recruitment. The Orange currently hold a commitment from First Coast OT Marcus Small (No. 88 overall) as well as Cocoa WR Tank White.
Advertisement
Louisville
Louisville has done a good job of identifying talent early in the Sunshine State, and it’s starting to pan out consistently. After signing four Top 100 players last year, the Cardinals currently hold three pledges from Florida, and all are Top 100 commits in Cardinal Mooney DL Kaleb Exume (No. 56), Carrollwood Day ATH Brookly Maxey (No. 60), and South Fort Myers DL Cornelius Timms (No. 98).
Ohio State
Ohio State will always be a threat to land a elite talent from Florida, and this cycle is not different. There is perennial mutual interest between Ryan Day’s staff and blue-chip recruits in the Sunshine State, and players like IMG WR Eric McFarland III (No. 4), Tampa Jesuit LB Kaden Henderson (No. 6), and St. Thomas Aquinas EDGE Wyatt Smith (No. 19) are all have Ohio State among their frontrunners. The Buckeyes have also not given up on IMG CB Aaryn Washington (No. 5), who has been committed to USC since January but visited Ohio State several times before committing and told us Ohio State was pushing hard for a flip. They also hold a commitment from star pass catcher and south Florida native Jeremiah Smith’s younger brother, Chaminade-Madonna S Angelo Smith (No. 78).
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day prepares for a tv interview during the Ohio State football spring game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on April 18, 2026.
Georgia
Georgia doesn’t hold any in-state commitments from an seniors right now, but the same was true at this time last year and the Bulldogs went on to sign three players ranked in the Top 25 of the USA TODAY Florida Network Top 100. They sit in a good spot with Coral Gables DL Stive-Bently Yondui (No. 22), as well as Port Charlotte WR Elias Pearl (No. 32) and Palm Beach Lakes ATH Turmarian Moreland (No. 38). That’s not to mention the fact that Georgia also holds a commitment from the No. 1 quarterback in the class of 2028 in IMG’s Jayden Wade.
Advertisement
Notre Dame
Marcus Freeman & Co. hold two Top 20 commits in IMG LB Amarri Irvin (No. 12) and St. Thomas Aquinas S Zayden Gamble (No. 15), both the No. 1 players for their respective positions in the state. They added a commitment from 3-star Chaminade-Madonna S John Gay, and are still working to add more to the list. Tampa Jesuit LB Kaden Henderson (No. 6) has the Irish as a finalist, and they’ve set official visits with St. Thomas Aquinas WR Julius Jones (No. 8) and Lakeland EDGE Santana Harvey (No. 34).
PEEK AT THE FUTURE: 10 former Florida high school stars to watch for NFL draft
Nebraska
The Nebraska staff coined the term FloBraska, and top 50 players from last cycle like Danny Odem and Larry Miles bought in. This year, Palmetto WR Kaden Howard (No. 86) is already committed, and the Huskers have locked in official visits with The First Academy CB Bam Whitfield (No. 23), and Western CB Bryce Williams (No. 24).
Pitt
Another program that is not afraid to extend offers early, Pitt has three Top 100 commits mid-way through the spring. Flanagan WR Jacob Thomas (No. 52), who posted a 10.49 100-meter time at the Pepsi Florida Relays, is among the most electrifying pass catchers in the state. Merritt Island QB Kevin Verpaele (No. 66) is also committed, along with St. Thomas Aquinas RB Tyler Reid (No. 82).
Advertisement
Clemson
Clemson finished strong in Florida last year, and could do the same again in the 2027 cycle. While no in-state players have committed yet, they sit as leaders in Godby WR Jamarin Simmons’ (No. 9) recruitment and are doing a good job with The First Academy IOL Reed Ramsier (No. 25) and Lakeland EDGE Santana Harvey (No. 34), all of whom have set official visits.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Florida football recruiting: 10 out-of-state schools to watch for 2027
