Could the Florida Gators snatch this top-ranked quarterback away from their SEC rival?
While first-year Florida Gators head coach Jon Sumrall did a tremendous job in the transfer portal this winter, there is one area in which Florida still has significant question marks: quarterback.
Yes, the Gators were able to nab former Georgia Tech quarterback Aaron Philo in the portal, and Tramell Jones Jr. is on the roster, as well. But neither inspires a ton of confidence heading into 2026.
That's why there is no clear cut starter on the team at the moment, even if Philo is generally viewed as the favorite.
But what about the future in Gainesville?
Well, Florida has been hot on the heels of Elijah Haven, the top-ranked signal-caller in the class of 2027. And apparently, Haven is very interested in the Gators.
While On 3/Rivals is predicting Haven to end up with Alabama, it has tabbed Florida as the No. 2 team in the running, giving the Gators an 18.7 percent chance of landing the 6-foot-5, 215-pound talent.
The Crimson Tide own significant lead at 78.8 percent, but the fact that Florida is actually the second-ranked team on the list — ahead of Auburn and Georgia — is certainly impressive.
Elijah Haven. Credit: Tyler Orsburn/News Herald / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.Now, it should be noted that the Gators' interest in Haven began long before Sumrall took over as head coach. Haven unofficially visited the Swamp back in October when Billy Napier was still head coach, so you do have to wonder if things have changed in terms of his interest in Florida.
You would think that Sumrall's presence in Gainesville would only increase Haven's intrigue, but you never know.
Haven is not only Rivals' top-ranked quarterback in 2027, but also the 14th-ranked player in the class overall. Meanwhile, 247 Sports has him tabbed as the No. 2 player in the country as a whole (for 2027).
Should Florida land Haven, it would represent a massive win for Sumrall and a program that has not been quite the same in recent years.
The Gators went just 4-8 in 2025 and have posted four losing campaigns in the past five seasons, marking one of the worst stretches in school history.
Sumrall is hoping to change that, and securing a commitment from Haven would be a great way to go about instilling that change.
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