As Florida Gators’ newly-hired head coach Jon Sumrall continues to settle into his new position with the program, the former Tulane Green Wave product is slowly navigating his way through the recruitment scene.

Sumrall did an excellent job of utilizing the transfer portal upon his arrival to Gainesville, landing a total of 25 players this offseason. This includes former Georgia Tech backup quarterback Aaron Philo and Auburn wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr.

However, with the transfer portal beginning to die down, Sumrall and his staff will now shift their focus towards the 2027 recruiting class before the 2026 college football season. Here are three names that fans should keep an eye on in the upcoming recruiting cycle:

One of the prized possessions in the 2027 recruiting class is five-star quarterback Elijah Haven, who could be close to picking his next school.

After receiving an offer from the Gators last year, Haven was projected by many to commit to Florida. However, this quickly changed with the arrival of the new coaching staff, as multiple schools would eventually offer the talented quarterback throughout the 2025 season.

Now, Haven is down to four schools, including Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, and Florida. Luckily, Sumrall was able to get Haven to come back and Gainsville to meet the new coaching staff, which could improve the program’s chances of landing the highly touted quarterback from Baton Rouge, LA.

Haven is currently the No. 2 quarterback in the 2027 class and the No. 4 prospect in the state of Louisiana, according to 247Sports’ Composite.

The Gators’ offensive lineup from the 2027 recruiting cycle could wind up becoming one of the best in the nation with five-star interior offensive lineman Maxwell Hiller potentially joining the mix.

As the No. 1 player at his position and a consensus top-three prospect in the state of Pennsylvania, Hiller was one of the first recruits to receive an offer from Florida under the new regime. More importantly, the well-rounded lineman recently took a visit to Gainesville and seemingly had nothing but great things to say about the Gators, according to Rivals’ Chad Simmons.

Landing a prospect from the Northeast would be a significant signing for Sumrall, as it will prove to the fanbase that he can pull recruits from across the country.

Another offensive playmaker to keep close tabs on is four-star tight end Anthony Cartwright, who is still on the radar of the program.

Cartwright received his offer from Florida back in April of 2025, but fortunately for Sumrall’s staff, the Gators remain as a top school for the 6-foot-5, 235 lbs. weapon. However, despite still being in the mix for Florida, both Michigan and Ohio State are still in play for Cartwright.

It’s clear that the time to strike for the Gators’ coaching staff is now due to the recent coaching changes for the Wolverines. While he does not have a previous relationship with newly-hired head coach Kyle Wittingham, Cartwright has made it known that he is excited to build a relationship with the new regime in Michigan.

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