Florida Lands in Top 3 of Big-Time Recruit originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Florida Gators have had an incredible two days on the recruiting trail. After landing a commitment from four-star defensive lineman Kendall Guervil on Wednesday and four-star safety CJ Hester on Thursday afternoon, UF was dealt some more good news just a few hours later.
KJ Ford, a 2026 four-star edge rusher out of Duncanville, Texas, announced through Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett on Thursday that Florida is one of his final three schools. He has been a top target of head coach Billy Napier and the Gators throughout the recruiting cycle.
Ford will decide between UF, Ohio State and Texas A&M when he announces his commitment on July 11.
NEWS: Four-Star EDGE KJ Ford is down to Florida, Texas A&M, & Ohio State, he tells me for @rivals
The 6’4 245 EDGE from Duncanville, TX will announce his Commitment on July 11th
Where Should He Go? ⬇️https://t.co/vI9jwNqacUpic.twitter.com/s6FwRRmUv1
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 3, 2025
The Duncanville High School defensive stopper is the No. 11 edge in the country and 16th-ranked player in the state of Texas, per the Top247 rankings. Ford tore up opposing offensive lines as a junior in 2024, totaling 57 tackles, 16 tackles-for-loss and seven sacks.
If Ford puts on the Gators hat next week, he would join Florida’s 2026 class, which currently ranks 13th in On3’s Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. He would become UF’s first edge, 10th four-star and 17th overall commit in the class.
“Well-rounded, classic defensive end with sneaky size and requisite length,” said 247Sports scouting analyst Gabe Brooks of Ford in June. “Projects to the high-major level as a potential multi-year starter with long-term pro upside.”
At 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds, the edge rusher has the possibility of being both a force in the pass rush with his quickness while plugging holes with his size in the run game.
It has already been a fantastic start to July for Napier and the Gators, and with Ford putting UF in his top three, there is a great chance for even more improvement in the near future.
Related: Florida Receives Exciting Recruiting News on Thursday
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.