Tommy Douglas didn’t arrive in Florida’s 2027 class with the kind of splash that usually turns heads right away. When the New Jersey tight end committed in April, he was sitting outside the top 500 and joining a wave of Gator pledges with more buzz attached to their names.
That hasn’t stopped him from looking like the kind of prospect Florida fans can get excited about. Douglas recently posted a video from his offseason work, and the headline moment was a 315-pound power clean done with plenty left in the tank. It was a quick reminder of the kind of force he brings, and a glimpse of why Jon Sumrall went after him in the first place.
“315 Power Clean ‼️‼️ @Red_Zone75 @Tonyrazz03 @EvanMckissack pic.twitter.com/beVcQI6Kp7
- Tommy Douglas (@TDouglas1249) July 14, 2026”
Back when Douglas made his pledge and was still ranked No. 679, the evaluation was already pointing to a player who looked better than the number next to his name. His tape showed a tight end who doesn’t just block adequately - he looks eager to bury people in the run game. The physicality jumps off the screen, to the point where he could almost pass for an offensive lineman if he were a little bigger.
His stock has climbed since then. Douglas is still listed as a three-star by Rivals and 247, but ESPN has him as a four-star, and his overall ranking has moved up to No. 367 as a composite four-star.
That kind of profile makes him easy to picture in Gainesville once he gets into the weight room. New strength coach Rusty Whitt has made it clear that comfort won’t be part of the program, and Douglas looks like the sort of player who should respond to that approach.
If he puts together a strong senior season, Douglas could pick up that fourth star from Rivals and 247 and end up looking like one of the better recruiting steals in Sumrall’s 2027 class.
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