Please Read: Welcome to the new-look Inside the Gators
- Recruiting Quick Hitter: Top linemen talk Florida
- Recruit Reaction: Over 20 visitors share their Jr. Day thoughts
- Buy, Sell, Hold: 12 Jr. Day Visitors
- Five-star lineman left with a positive impression of Florida
- Take Five: Breaking down Florida’s Portal Activity
- Florida Football Class Breakdown
- Getting to Know: Davian Groce
FOUR-STAR COMMITMENT VIDEO
A week ago, during Florida’s second Jr. Day, Plantation (Fla.) American Heritage four-star cornerback Amare Nugent became Florida’s first, and only, pledge here in the early stages of the 2027 recruiting cycle.
“Florida felt like the best fit for me,” Nugent told Inside the Gators. “The staff showed me how I can develop there, and I believe in what they’re building.”
He also said that the facilities and coaches played a huge part as well.
“The highlight was spending time with the coaching staff and seeing the facilities up close. Just getting a real feel for the program and the direction they’re headed. I like Coach [Jon] Sumrall a lot. He’s a strong leader, and you can tell he has a clear vision for Florida.”
The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder said he wants to return to Gainesville for a spring practice, plus he has set his one and only official visit.
Recruiting is volatile, but Nugent sounds as if he is solid – at least for now.
“I feel really good about my decision. Florida is where I want to be.”
He added that, as you would expect, other programs are still recruiting him, but none stand out as coming after him harder than the others.
Nugent is the No. 208 ranked prospect in the nation according to the Rivals Industry Composite.
FAST RISING LINEMAN SETS FLORIDA VISIT
A name that has exploded on the recruiting scene here lately is that of Coral Gables (Fla.) Rise Preparatory 6-foot-4, 290-pound unranked defensive lineman Stive-Bentley Keumajou.
Though he is new to the sport, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, and Miami are among the double-digit number of programs that have offered over the last month.
“It felt surreal,” Keumajou said of receiving offers from major P4 programs. “Last year, I was mainly focusing on getting to the States and playing football. Now, getting all these offers in such a short period makes me feel blessed.”
These offers are pouring in after coaches visited him at his high school. For his part, he hasn’t visited any programs for a recruiting event.
Yet.
“I haven’t visited any campuses yet, but I’ve scheduled a visit for Florida on the 28th-30th of May.”
Why will Florida get him on campus the first weekend of official visits?
“I really like Coach [Gerald] Chatman. His demeanor is really approachable. He made it easy for me and him to converse, and I can tell he doesn’t sugarcoat anything; he keeps everything real.”
It’s still incredibly early, and the offers continue to pile up, but for now, Keumajou has five programs that he said are standing out above the crowd.
“Teams that stand out for me are Florida, Miami, Auburn, Kentucky, and Nebraska.”
