Florida’s recent recruiting momentum has carried it into the mix for one of the state’s top young receivers, and the Gators are now in the final three for 2028 four-star Tyree Mannings Jr.
Mannings, a Venice, Fla., standout, trimmed his list this week to Florida, Kentucky and Auburn. He’s rated by 247Sports as the nation’s No. 17 receiver in the 2028 class and the No. 9 player in Florida.
The Gators have been active with Mannings for a while. They brought him in for visits on Oct. 10 and Nov. 6, while Auburn also got him on campus in October. Florida is the only in-state program left standing after beating out Florida State and Miami for a spot in his top three.
Mannings began his high school career at Booker High School in Sarasota before transferring to Venice ahead of the 2025 season.
At 6-foot, 170 pounds, he brings the kind of speed that jumps off the screen. A simple slant or bubble screen can turn into a touchdown if a defender is even a half-step off.
But the film shows more than straight-line burst. He’s also shown the ability to work through traffic, hold onto the ball in tight spaces and stay upright through contact in a way that stands out for a player his size.
Across two seasons tracked by MaxPreps, Mannings has piled up 99 catches for 1,572 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Rivals has Florida as the clear favorite here, giving the Gators a 96.4 percent chance to land him. If he does choose Florida, he could end up alongside another 2028 receiver target in Armani Strong out of Hollywood, Fla.
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