Aaron Chiles Returning to Florida for 2026: Why This Could Be a Breakout Year for the Gators’ Linebacker
In today’s college football landscape, “I’m coming back” announcements have become as common as transfer portal entries. Players are making it official - and when it comes to high-upside talent, that’s news worth celebrating. On Tuesday, Florida got exactly that kind of good news: linebacker Aaron Chiles is returning to Gainesville for the 2026 season.
And make no mistake - this is a big win for the Gators.
Chiles, a key piece of Florida’s 2024 recruiting class, came in alongside fellow linebacker Myles Graham as part of a duo that had Gator fans buzzing. Ranked as the third-highest prospect in that class behind only DJ Lagway and LJ McCray, Chiles brought the kind of athletic profile that coaches dream about. During fall camp of his freshman year, the Florida staff reportedly called him an “alien” - a nod to his rare combination of size, speed, and field awareness.
But like a lot of young players adjusting to the college game, Chiles had a relatively quiet freshman campaign. He saw just 130 snaps in 2024, mostly in rotational duty. It wasn’t until this past season that he began to carve out a real role on the defense.
In 2025, Chiles’ snap count jumped to 472, and he finished the year with 52 total tackles and half a sack. Not eye-popping numbers, but they show a player who’s trending upward.
His PFF grade came in at 62.5 - solid, if unspectacular - but the tape tells a more nuanced story. His best performance came against USF, and he also made his presence felt in games against Texas A&M and Mississippi State.
At 6-foot-3 and 244 pounds, Chiles has the build of a player who should be living near the line of scrimmage - wreaking havoc, plugging gaps, and occasionally getting after the quarterback. But that wasn’t the kind of defense Florida played under former defensive coordinator Ron Roberts.
Roberts favored a conservative approach, leaning heavily on soft coverage and dialing back the blitz. For a player like Chiles, that meant fewer chances to do what he does best: attack.
After head coach Billy Napier was fired following the Mississippi State game, Florida’s defense began to shift - but not necessarily in a way that helped Chiles. His production noticeably dipped in November, a sign that the scheme still wasn’t maximizing his skill set.
That’s what makes the upcoming season so intriguing.
With Jon Sumrall now in charge and Brad White stepping in as defensive coordinator, there’s cautious optimism that the Gators’ scheme will evolve. White’s defenses at Kentucky were known for their discipline and zone-heavy looks, which on the surface might not seem like a great fit for Chiles.
But early indications suggest Florida won’t be copying Kentucky’s playbook wholesale. Instead, the expectation is a more blended approach - one that could unlock Chiles’ full potential.
Heading into his junior year, Chiles has the tools, the experience, and now, potentially, the right system to take a major leap. He’s already shown flashes of what he can be - now it’s about consistency and fit.
If Florida can turn him loose in a more aggressive, downhill role, don’t be surprised if Chiles becomes one of the breakout names in the SEC next fall.