The Florida Gators are entering a new phase, with Jon Sumrall as their head coach. Sumrall assembled an excellent coaching staff during the offseason, with one of his most notable additions being the appointment of former Florida standout Phil Trautwein as his offensive line coach.
Trautwein has served as Penn State’s offensive line coach for the previous six seasons, demonstrating his ability to recruit and develop once he has his targets on campus. While it is early, he is already doing the same for the Gators, placing them in the thick of the battle for five-star interior offensive lineman Maxwell Hiller.
He is from Coatesville, Pennsylvania, and his previous friendship with Trautwein enabled Florida to quickly become a part in his recruiting, offering him a scholarship in December and hosting him for a visit in January. They also intend to invite him for an official visit in June.
Despite the fact that there is still time and he is receiving considerable competition, Florida has emerged as the frontrunner in his recruitment. Tyler Harden of 247Sports and Blake Alderman of On3 both predict that he will commit to Florida. The only other guess for where he will go favors Alabama, however it was made last November, before the Crimson Tide appointed a new offensive line coach.
Hiller is the No. 4 overall player and No. 1 interior offensive lineman in the 247Sports composite ratings. He is also the top player in Pennsylvania. While he is classified as an inside prospect, his 6-foot-5 and 300-pound frame would also suit at tackle.
The Gators have recruited well under previous past coaches, but they have not signed an offensive line prospect like Hiller in over a decade. The last five-star offensive lineman they recruited was Martez Ivey in 2015. There is plenty of time remaining, but they are currently in a fantastic position to recruit Hiller, and bringing him in is the type of move Sumrall needs to make with his first recruiting class as Florida’s coach.
