The Florida Gators’ top goal for the 2027 recruitment class is expected to make his decision, with Garner (N. C. ) four-star linebacker AJ Randle announcing on Thursday that he will announce his pick on May 21. Florida joins Georgia, Miami, North Carolina State, Ohio State, and South Carolina as Randle’s finalists.
According to Rivals, Randle (6-3, 215 pounds) is the country’s No. 5 linebacker and No. 57 overall prospect.
NEWS: Four-Star LB AJ Randle will announce his choice on May 21st, he told me for @Rivals. The 6’3 215-pound linebacker is rated as a four-star prospect. LB will choose between Miami, South Carolina, Ohio State, Florida, NC State, and Georgia.
While Florida is a hat on the table, the Gators seem to be on the outside looking in for Randle’s services. He presently has forecasts from On3/Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong, EJ Holland, and Chad Simmons to commit to Miami. The Gators are also one of two finalists, together with North Carolina State, whom Randle has not scheduled to visit this summer.
After formally visiting South Carolina on May 1, he plans to travel to Miami on June 5, Ohio State on June 12, and Georgia on June 19.
With no linebacker commitments and Randle expected to go elsewhere, the Gators will have to explore alternative candidates to create their linebacker group. Names to watch for, particularly since the summer OV season begins at the end of the month, are four-star Ja’Bios Smith, four-star Ellis McGaskin, three-star Tre Geathers, four-star Joakim Gouda, four-star Isaac McNeil, and three-star Drew Williams.
Smith, McGaskin, and Geathers will visit from May 28 to 31, and Gouda will do so the following weekend. McNeil will visit campus on June 11 for the third OV weekend, and Williams will participate in the final OV weekend on June 18.
