Florida remains a factory for blue-chip high school football talent.
By the count, there will be 52 four- or five-star candidates in the Sunshine State in the 2026 cycle Competitor Industry Rankingutilizing a weighted average of all major recruiting media companies. All but one of those prospects are now signed to a Final Four program.
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Of the top 15 players, only four will stay at state. Here are Florida State’s top prospects this cycle and where they will play college football next season:
School: american heritage
Competitor Industry Ranking: NATL No. 8. (Quarterback No. 3)
Reconnaissance summary: “Accurate passer with the arm talent, size and athleticism to compete in college football and beyond. Measured approximately 6’2.5” with 10-inch hands and weighed 215 pounds prior to his senior season. Mechanically clean, he is able to replicate a smooth throwing motion on a consistent basis. Possesses graceful footwork that integrates with his upper body. Shows a high level of arm talent that can throw passes to multiple levels of the field and is a dangerous pocket operator who showed significant improvement as a starter as a junior, including two 40-point plays during his junior season. He also scored more than 2,597 yards passing (11.4 yards per attempt) and was named the Elite Eleven MVP before his senior season in 2025. The level of improvement he showed during his junior season should be seen as an encouraging sign for his long-term improvement.
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School: IMG Academy
Competitor Industry Ranking: NATL No. 40. (Overtime No. 7)
about: Pepe earned playing time as a freshman at IMG in 2022 and was an All-American in his first two years on a truly deep offensive line. This fall, he became the team’s starting left tackle and helped build one of the best defensive lines in the country. In May, he committed to the Trojans program in Miami, Oregon, among many others.
3. Edge Jack Krull — Oklahoma
School: IMG Academy
Competitor Industry Ranking: NATL No. 46. (Edge No. 8)
about: Krul elected to spend his final two seasons of high school football at IMG, transferring from Bishop Moore in Orlando. As a sophomore for the Hornets, he was an absolute threat to the offensive line. In addition to 76 tackles, he also had 34 tackles for loss and a whopping 17 sacks. He played alongside a host of Division I talent last fall at IMG, recording 39 tackles, six sacks and 11 quarterback rushes. On Aug. 12, he picked Oklahoma State over Texas and Ole Miss, earning the Sooners a huge win. This fall, he was part of an undefeated IMG team and posted impressive results for the Ascenders.
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School: saint augustine
Competitor Industry Ranking: NATL No. 47. (No. 6 WR)
Scout Take: “Wingo is one of the premier post-catch threats in this class. Every time the ball reaches his hands, he is a legitimate scoring threat. As a runner, Wingo plays like a tank. His powerful leg drive and sudden changes of direction allow him to tear up arm tackles in tight spaces and shake defenders with surprising consistency. On top of that, he has the strongest hands in the round-robin game , is a natural playmaker above the rim. His elevation and pulling ability will make you see flashes of it under the Friday night lights, but his basketball background more vividly illustrates his leaping and explosiveness as a dunker, making it easy to see why Wingo is so dominant in contested situations, though his explosiveness and ability to change gears make him a clear riser in the rankings.
School: booker
Competitor Industry Ranking:
Reconnaissance summary: “Smooth corner with length, athletic skills and coordination. Prior to his senior season, he was 6’1.5″, 185 lbs., with 32″ arms and large hands. Possesses good speed in track and combine, running an 11.08 in the 100 meters as a junior while also winning the 200 Qualified for the MI State finals (21.85). Played cornerback and receiver on his high school team, especially with his size, and has shown playmaking ability in an offense that might not overwhelm one zone at a young age.”
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School: northwestern university
Competitor Industry Ranking: NATL No. 52. (WR No. 7)
High School Review: The 6-foot-5, 195-pound Russell did it all in high school, playing quarterback and wide receiver. Not to mention he was a Division I basketball phenom and earned multiple high-level professional contracts there. During his senior season, Russell completed 15 of 19 passes for 368 yards and four touchdowns as a quarterback. As a receiver, he caught 25 passes for 390 yards and five scores.
School: saint thomas aquinas
Competitor Industry Ranking: NATL No. 53. (CB No. 7)
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Reconnaissance summary: “One of the top defensive backs in the 2026 cycle with combination of size, speed and skill. Prior to his senior season, approximately 6’0.5″ tall, 200 lbs., with arms over 31″. An elite athlete who has shown considerable improvement in speed, as a junior he consistently ran under 11.0 seconds in the 100 meters and ran a 21.97 in the 200 meters SEC. The outside corner from South Florida area powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas, who has the ability to move receivers outside the line of scrimmage, moves receivers smoothly on vertical routes and has two interceptions and seven pass breakups on contact, lacks offensive experience without the younger brother of former Alabama star draft pick Minkah Fitzpatrick, a former All-Pro safety. Fitzpatrick, who has the versatility to play corner, nickel or safety at the next level and the upside to develop into an early draft pick.”
School: boles
Competitor Industry Ranking: NATL No. 61. (WR No. 8)
Reconnaissance summary: “Hyper-dynamic pass catcher who is a level three receiver who is able to separate defenders on the run and after the catch due to his extreme athleticism. Proven height of 5’10.5″, 185 lbs with over 10″ hands. Top speed in the 100m during his junior track season was 10.64 in the 100m 22.41 on average. He dominated in space with the ball, struggled to knock down the football in the open field due to his elusiveness, and was able to attack with confidence and pull the football away from his frame as a junior. He gained 829 yards and 25 yards per catch as a junior. A bright prospect as a receiver due to his excellent ball skills and movement skills.”
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School: first college
Competitor Industry Ranking: NATL No. 68.
Scout Take: “Devin Jackson has continued his offseason dominance into his senior season. He has been a playmaker early in his senior season in high school. He can make plays on the football whether in man-to-man or zone coverage and convert completed passes into interceptions. Jackson has the size, speed and coverage skills to be a true three-dimensional safety prospect at the next level.”
School: Chaminade – Madonna Preparation
Competitor Industry Ranking: NATL No. 74. (RB No. 4)
Cooper on Texas: "They showed their commitment to me," cooper told rivals. “I just wanted to be a part of a program like this. I felt like I was the best fit for Texas.” “It’s a really good school and a really good choice,” he said. “Coach Scott is a very good coach; he’s made great progress with the players.”
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Other top signees from Florida this cycle
11.S Aiden Pouncey —Notre Dame de Paris
12. Edge Trenton Henderson — Louisiana State University
13. pounds Isaiah Williams — Florida
14.DL james johnson — Texas
15.CB CJ Bronaugh — Florida
16.CB Danny Oldham —Nebraska
17.CB Jalen Waters —Miami
18. Work overtime johnny jones jr. — Missouri
19. WR Tyronn Horns
20.CB Kenton Dobson — North Carolina
21. Edge Ashari Charles —Miami
22.DL Elijah Golden —Notre Dame de Paris
23. WR Justin Williams — Florida
24. Intraocular lens Samuel Roseborough —Texas A&M University
25. WR Jayden Pettit — Oklahoma
