Please Read: Welcome to the new-look Inside the Gators
- Florida players to keep an eye on during Transfer Portal Window
- Watch & Read: Lagway will be throwing in a couple of weeks
- Instant Analysis: True freshmen shine in spring game
- O&B Game Box Score
- O&B Board: Live Updates O&B Game
- Mock Signing Class 2.0
- Initial Impression: Early Entry Freshmen
- Initial Impression: Five transfers
- Watch: A behind the scenes look at a Florida unofficial visit
- Commitment Burn Barometer
- 10 Most Wanted: Florida’s Top 10 Targets
- O&B Board: Spring Practice Observations
- O&B Board: List of injured Florida football players
- Watch: DJ Lagway limited this spring
- Pre-Spring Ranking of Florida position-by-position
- 15 Pre-Spring Class of 2026 Out-of-State Names to Know
- 20 Pre-Spring Class of 2026 In-State Names to Know
- Impact Analysis: Where Florida Football Signees Come From
After being one of the first upper-end P4 programs to extend an offer to Cocoa (Fla.) four-star defensive back CJ Hester last year, Florida made an immediate impact on his recruiting process in the beginning.
Those feelings have only solidified as he has visited campus multiple times over the last several months, including being in town for the Gators’ O&B Game on Saturday.
“The highlight of the visit was getting to see the players and the big plays that they made,” replied Hester when asked what stood out the most about his trip to Gainesville. “I think it was crazy [getting 50K fans for a spring game], and the atmosphere was loud.”
The 6-foot-1, 175-pounder also had a chance to continue to build a relationship with new Florida coach Deron Wilson.
“He said that he wants me to be a Gator, and I can be an impactful player.”
Though he hasn’t ‘officially’ released a leaderboard, Hester said that there are six programs that stand out.
“UF stands high for me,” said Hester. “Some of my leaders are Syracuse, UF, Auburn, Iowa, UCLA, and Georgia.”
Out of those six, he said he has four official visits set so far.
“I got Auburn (56/16), Florida (5/30), Syracuse (6/6), and Iowa (6/20) for Ovs.”
Hester is the No. 240 rated prospect in the nation according to the On3 Industry Composite.
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