In the high stakes of recruiting battles at Florida Gators football, winning at Lakeland High School carries a little extra weight. Billy Napier has some special ties with Lakeland, it seems. That’s the same powerhouse program that produced former five-star defensive back Cormani McClain, and now another elite defender is on the verge of potentially making Gainesville his home. The Gators have been gaining steam on the recruiting trail, turning early momentum into tangible results, and their latest push has put the big three of the Sunshine Sates squarely on notice.
A few days back, On3’s Corey Bender crystalballed his RPM for the target Malik Morris, a four-star LB who has all the makings of a future SEC star. Now the RPM has reached 95.9%. Standing at 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, Morris is a relentless force on the field, racking up 95 tackles, nine sacks, and three forced fumbles during his junior campaign. His efforts helped propel Lakeland to a dominant 13-1 season and an appearance in Florida’s 5A title game. Naturally, that level of production has attracted a who’s-who of college football powerhouses—Miami, Texas A&M, Georgia, Oregon, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida State, Oklahoma, and Ole Miss are all in the mix. If this intel from Bender on X is any indication, the Gators are pushing all the right buttons.
Malik Morris has been a major priority for Billy Napier’s staff, and their full-court press is paying dividends. He has already spent significant time in Gainesville, and after one particular visit this spring, he didn’t hold back on how he felt about the program. “Florida fits right in my heart,” he said, a statement that only reinforced the growing confidence in Gainesville. Sources now indicate that Morris is inching closer to making his decision, with Florida in prime position to lock in his commitment. Optimism around his recruitment has been steadily building for months, but in recent weeks, that belief has turned into something more tangible.
Florida insider @Corey_Bender has logged an expert prediction for the Gators to land a 4-star recruit from the Sunshine State
View: https://t.co/Fkfxm0ZkL0 pic.twitter.com/3YnXI0vUpw
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) March 24, 2025
A big reason for that shift? The relationships Florida’s staff has cultivated with Morris. Billy Napier and his coaching staff, including co-defensive coordinator Ron Roberts and assistant linebackers coach Cannon Gibbs, have made him feel like a top priority from day one. The addition of new linebackers coach Robert Bala—who previously spent time at Alabama and Washington—has only strengthened that bond. By all accounts, Bala made a strong first impression, and Morris’s comfort level with the Gators’ defensive staff continues to trend in the right direction.
Florida’s linebacker recruiting efforts are already making national waves. They’ve already secured a commitment from Izayia Williams, On3’s No. 1-ranked linebacker, and landing Morris would give the Gators a potential game-changing duo at the position. If they can lock him in, Florida’s linebacker class for the 2026 cycle could end up being the best in the nation—a foundation that could shape the program’s defensive identity for years to come.
The final stretch of Malik Morris’s recruitment is quickly approaching. He currently has official visits lined up with three schools: Florida, Texas A&M, and Miami. But the most crucial visit on that list may be his June 13-15 trip to Gainesville. The Gators have positioned themselves as the frontrunners, but in the unpredictable world of recruiting, Napier and his staff know they can’t take their foot off the gas just yet.
Billy Napier’s last 5% Battle for Malik Morris
The Gators are this close to locking in four-star LB Malik Morris, but there’s still that pesky 5% standing in their way. While Florida is in a strong position, the competition is heating up. Morris isn’t making his decision just yet—he’s got trips planned with the Canes (May 30) and Texas A&M (June 6), and that last visit could get interesting.
Why? Former Florida inside linebackers coach Jay Bateman is now at A&M, and he’s trying to lure Morris to College Station. Bateman knows the Gators’ pitch well—he helped build it—so Florida needs to be on its A-game to fend off the Aggies.
Adding to the drama, Florida just secured its first 2026 linebacker commit in four-star Izayia, the top-ranked LB in the nation. That’s a big-time pull for the program, showing that the Gators are building something special at the position. They’ve offered 16 linebackers as of March 8, but Morris remains one of their top priorities. So, will Florida close the deal and bring Morris to Gainesville? Or will Bateman and A&M pull off the steal?
The post Billy Napier’s Gators Inch Closer to Elite In-State Recruit to Put Miami, FSU and Others on High Alert appeared first on EssentiallySports.