Florida high school football is never short on storylines and that’s thanks in-part to the amount of eyeballs that are always on the Sunshine State. From a recruiting standpoint, the state also continues to churn out blue-chip talent.
As of Aug. 14, there are 37 blue-chip prospects in the 2027 cycle that will play their senior seasons in Florida, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. All 37 of those prospects are already committed, too.
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The in-state trio of Miami, Florida and Florida State has landed 13 of those 37 pledges. The Hurricanes alone have seven. Texas A&M has infiltrated the state, swiping commitments from five of the 10 highest-ranked recruits in the state.
From a positional standpoint, there’s a slew of coveted wide receiver prospects in Florida this cycle. Nine of the 37 blue-chippers are ranked as receivers. There are also seven EDGEs, six cornerbacks and four safeties.
It should be noted that Florida is the state that often sees the most blue-chip transplants, thanks mostly to prep powerhouse IMG Academy. Five of the 37 prospects do not originally hail from the state. They will still be included in this exercise, however. Rivals takes a look at the top Florida prospects in the cycle and where they are currently committed ahead of football season:
1. OT Mark Matthews — Texas A&M
School: St. Thomas Aquinas
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 4 NATL. (No. 1 OT)
Committed Since: May 15
Scouting Summary: “High-upside offensive tackle prospect with top-notch physical and athletic tools for the position. Measured in at 6-foot-5.5 and around 285 pounds with plus length before his senior season. Added nearly 15 pounds to his frame early on in the offseason before his junior year. Has an ideal build for an offensive lineman with little bad weight and considerable mass in his lower body, helping to create a strong base. Tests as an athlete in the combine setting, with a 4.98 second 40-yard dash and 4.69 short shuttle at the Miami Rivals Camp after his junior season. Relatively new to football, first playing the sport as a freshman in high school. Took over the left tackle spot at South Florida powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas as a sophomore before moving to the right side as a junior. A twitchy athlete with outstanding movement skills. Flashes an effortless kick slide and movement when working to the second level.
…Projects as a high-end pass protector. Played defensive line as a freshman before becoming an offensive lineman. Shows competitiveness in the camp setting. Has a basketball background. Will need to continue adding play strength and could stand to ratchet up the physicality on a play to play basis Has flashes of dominance on Friday nights, but plenty of room for improvement with continued experience.Younger for the cycle, turning 17 years old in April of his junior year. Looks to have one of the higher upsides among offensive line prospects in the 2027 cycle with the ceiling of developing int an early round draft pick.” — Charles Power, Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings
2. CB A’Mir Sears — Miami
School: Columbus
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 10 NATL. (No. 2 CB)
Committed Since: July 31
Scouting Summary: “Two-way star at the high school level who was the top cornerback prospect early on in the 2028 cycle. Has good stature at 6-foot-1 and will need to continue adding weight to his lean frame. One of the best high school football players to come from South Florida in the last few cycles. Very polished in coverage, showing natural ability to stay in-phase with receivers on downfield routes. Has high-level ball skills, as seen in his ability as a wide receiver. Had a very strong sophomore season, catching 42 passes for 942 yards and 11 touchdowns along with three interceptions and 11 pass breakups. Will need to continue getting bigger and stronger while improving his top-end speed.” — Power
3. WR Nick Lennear — Miami
School: Miami Carol City
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 17 NATL. (No. 3 WR)
Committed Since: March 5
Scouting Summary: “Tremendous ball tracker with natural hands that possesses savvy body control in order to put himself in the best positions to attack the football. Smoother than twitchy athlete with natural route running ability to create space at every level of the field. A clean-hands catcher of the football, he rarely allows the football to get into his frame. Will need to continue physically developing and add mass to his leaner, athletic frame. Should be able to add explosiveness to his game as he adds strength to his lower half. Would like to see more from him after the catch, but he has the hands, route-running, and ability to reel in contested catches at an extremely high level. High floor prospect that can step into an immediate complementary role at the next level.” — Cody Bellaire, Rivals National Scout
4. EDGE Zyron Forstall — Texas A&M
School: IMG Academy
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 25 NATL. (No. 5 EDGE)
Committed Since: March 31
Scouting Summary: “Electric pass rusher who is already showing signs of dominance as a high school underclassman. Measured in at 6-foot-3.5, 235 pounds prior to his junior season. Registers as a strong athlete in the combine setting. An apex predator off the edge. Flashes excellent first-step quickness, knifing into the backfield with regularity. Considerable power at the point of attack. Sinks his hips and drives through offensive linemen. Lives behind the line of scrimmage, where he’s an emphatic, physical finisher. Has shown early signs of a pass rush skill set with an explosive spin move.
…Also lines up as an off-ball linebacker at times. Motor runs white hot. Stalks down ball carriers from sideline to sideline. Totaled nearly 30 tackles for loss and double-digit sacks as a sophomore. Has game-wrecking qualities, forcing fumbles at a high rate. Looks to be one of the top overall prospects in the 2027 cycle early on.” — Power
5. LB Kaden Henderson — Texas A&M
School: Jesuit
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 30 NATL. (No. 1 LB)
Committed Since: June 18
Scouting Summary: “Prototypical off-ball linebacker prospect who displays elite length with tremendous athletic ability to close to ball carriers from sideline to sideline. Verified 6-foot-1, 218 pounds with incredibly long 34-inch levers at inside linebacker. Has quality range and closing speed, combined with the ability to trigger to the ball quickly. A very heady and instinctive player who processes the game efficiently. Quick downhill mover that is willing to take on blocks and stick their face in the fan. Violent tackler on impact that explodes through contact.
…Shows some pass-rush ability off the edge and as a designed blitzer. Comfortable in space and fluid in coverage. One of the more polished off-ball backers in the last few recruiting cycles at the position. Has the chance to be an every-down player at the next level that can be a versatile chess piece in the front seven for a multitude of defensive schemes.” — Bellaire
6. WR Eric McFarland — Texas A&M
School: IMG Academy
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 34 NATL. (No. 6 WR)
Committed Since: June 28
Scouting Summary: “Diminutive playmaker who is electric with the ball in his hands. Measured at around 5-foot-8, 175 pounds prior to his senior season. Has outstanding speed in the combine setting, running in the 4.4 to 4.3 range. Primarily used as a slot wide receiver who is an extension of the running game. A threat to score every time he touches the ball. Has elite quickness and gets to his top gear in a flash. Uses his compact frame and contact balance to pinball off of tacklers. Dangerous in the quick game and on screens and end arounds. Not targeted downfield often, but shows solid tracking ability and reliable hands. Should project as a return man at the next level, as well. The focal point of IMG Academy’s passing game as a junior and looks like the best wide receiver in the program’s history after Carnell Tate.
…Competitive player who finds a way to make an impact in every setting. Finished his junior season with 29 catches for 595 yards and 11 touchdowns. Reclassified into the 2027 cycle prior to his junior season. Has a naturally limited catch radius given his size and has a much shorter average depth of target than most of his highly-rated peers. Will likely need to show he can win at multiple levels of the field to end up as one of the top wide receivers to come from the cycle, but has undeniable playmaking juice with the ball in his hands.” — Power
7. WR Osani Gayles — Alabama
School: IMG Academy
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 48 NATL. (No. 8 WR)
Committed Since: June 27
Scouting Summary: “Gayles is an explosive wide out with a ton of versatility. He can line up out wide, in the slot and adds value as a punt/kick returner as well. He’s electric with the ball in his hands and is a true game breaker who can stretch the field and score from anywhere on the field. He’s a polished route runner, fluid in how he moves with little wasted motion and knows how to set up an opposing corner. A natural pass catcher with soft hands and doesn’t fight the ball and is able to tuck it and get up the field. Plays with a lot of shake and wiggle and is one of the better receivers after the catch.
…Routinely makes multiple defenders miss in space and shows the ability to play in any type of offensive scheme. Has a solid track profile with multiple sub 11.0-100m times and a personal best 10.76. from his sophomore season. Projects as a multi-year starter at the high Power 4 level with an NFL ceiling as well.” — Greg Biggins, Rivals recruiting insider and scout
8. EDGE Frederick Ards III — Texas A&M
School: Jones
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 54 NATL. (No. 9 EDGE)
Committed Since: June 2
Scouting Summary: “One of the best edge rushers in the country and shows some natural pass rushing skill. Explodes up the field and can win with speed around the edge but has a nice move cutting back inside as well. Can change his tempo to set up an opposing tackle and his ability to close on a ball carrier jumps out. Has a lean 215 pound frame and will need to add on some good weight, especially in his upper body but is a strong kid and has some pop at the point of contact. Can bull rush or long arm a tackle in to the backfield and is tough in run support.
…Worked out some at linebacker at the Under Armour Camp but struggled a bit in coverage and playing in space and looks much more comfortable playing with his hand in the ground or out of a two-point stance. Can plant, change direction and has the kind of flexibility you like to see in a young edge. Productive junior season with 73 tackles, 13 for loss and 11 sacks and we think his game will take another leap this fall.” — Biggins
9. WR Jamarin Simmons — Clemson
School: Amos P. Godby
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 70 NATL. (No. 11 WR)
Committed Since: May 20
Scouting Summary: “Jamarin Simmons made a strong push as the top wide receiver at Rivals Camp Miami. The Tallahassee (Fla.) Godby consistently caught our attention during drills. Simmons moves with suddenness and gracefulness within his routes. He’s highly coordinated and effortlessly plucks the football with strong catching technique. Simmons was also highly competitive, taking perhaps the most reps of any top receiver on the day.” — Power
10. EDGE Wyatt Smith — Ohio State
School: St. Thomas Aquinas
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 76 NATL. (No. 11 EDGE)
Committed Since: May 17
Scouting Summary: “Athletic, productive frontline defender who is quickly developing into one of the top pass rushers in the 2027 cycle. Measured at 6-foot-6, 237 pounds at the Rivals Elite Camp in Miami coming out of his junior season. Tests as a top athlete, posting a scintillating 4.64-second 40-yard dash, among the best on the camp circuit for a prospect his size in the 2027 cycle. Had a breakout junior season at national power St. Thomas Aquinas, racking up 25 tackles for loss and 13 sacks. A high-effort defender who makes plays in the backfield at a high rate. Flashes high-end closing speed. Eliminates angles, stalking down ball-carriers.
…Strong run defender who can set the edge and play contain. Second-effort led to a high sack count as a junior, as he doesn’t give up on plays. Flashed a quick first step in the camp setting. Still developing a pass rush arsenal as he’s more of a “see ball, get ball” type at this stage. Already a very productive player but has more upside for growth with continued technical development. Has high-end NFL bloodlines as he’s the son of former top five pick and NFL All-Pro Justin Smith. Looks to be an ascending prospect who could end up as one of the top EDGE prospects in the 2027 cycle.” — Power
Other top 2027 Florida prospects
11. WR Julius Jones — Notre Dame
12. WR Elias Pearl — Florida
13. CB Aaryn Washington — USC
14. QB Davin Davidson — Florida
15. S Zayden Gamble — Notre Dame
16. WR Tramond Collins — Florida
17. EDGE Jackson Vaughn — Notre Dame
18. EDGE Desmond Malpress — Clemson
19. CB Censere Gaylord – Washington
20. IOL Sean Tatum — Miami