Blue-chip safety Cyion Smith spurned Auburn and USF to join Florida’s rising defensive core.
Four-star safety Cyion Smith committed to the Florida Gators roughly an hour before they are scheduled to kickoff against No. 4 Ole Miss.
In what could be a season-defining game, head coach Jon Sumrall got a huge boost of confidence when Rivals' Chad Simmons broke the news that Smith will be a Gator.
Smith stands 6-foot-2, 175-pounds, and is Rivals No. 26 safety in the class of 2028.
Nationally, he's the No. 279-ranked player, and he's the No. 37 player to come out of Florida.
The Blountstown native was highly targeted from both USF and Auburn, but at the end of the day he decided that his collegiate career would be best suited with the Gators.
Smith said it was an 'easy decision'
When discussing his commitment with Simmons, Smith told the Director of Recruiting "it was really a pretty easy decision."
Smith said he's been feeling this way in regard to Florida "for a while" which is a huge boost, especially now that the results on the field are starting to come together.
The result of the Ole Miss game will have no impact on Smith's commitment, but it would be quite the day to see them bring in a four-star difference maker and then take down a top-five team in the country.
Smith touched on the coaching staff, calling them "amazing" and he "loves being around them."
Florida's defense may not have been their specialty last week against Auburn, but they picked up an incredible 44-39 win on the road that further pushed what Smith is saying.
The Gators are suddenly turning into a College Football Playoff contender, and that's something Smith wants to be part of.
By the time he graduates high school, it'll be extremely interesting to see what type of position this team is in.
When looking at where they are from this point in the 2025 season compared to now, it's clear the sky is the limit for these incoming 2028 recruits.
Florida lands second 2028 commitment
Officially, Florida now has two commits in the class of 2028. Smith is a slightly lower-ranked player than wide receiver Armani Strong who was the team's first commitment back on June 28.
Both are four-star players who decided to stay in their home state and play with the Gators.
Remember, Strong is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound wideout who's the No. 252-ranked player in the nation, and is listed as the 32nd best recruit in the state.
