New Florida head coach Jon Sumrall didn’t waste any time making a statement in Gainesville - and he just landed a big one. On the first day of the Early Signing Period, the Gators locked in a signature from four-star quarterback Will Griffin, one of the top arms in the 2026 class and a major building block for the program’s future.
Griffin, out of Jesuit High School in Tampa, is ranked as the No. 14 quarterback nationally and the No. 29 overall player in the state of Florida, according to the 247Sports Composite. And if you’ve been following his high school career, those numbers make sense - this kid has been lighting it up since middle school.
Yes, middle school.
Griffin didn’t just play varsity as an eighth-grader - he starred. Back in 2021, he threw for 2,449 yards and 30 touchdowns before he was even in high school.
That early success wasn’t a fluke. His sophomore season in 2023 was his most prolific through the air, with 3,404 passing yards and 34 touchdowns.
And he didn’t slow down from there. In 2025, Griffin tossed 37 touchdown passes, pushing his career total to a staggering 143 - breaking none other than Tim Tebow’s Florida state record for career touchdown passes.
At 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, Griffin brings a prototypical frame to the position, but it’s not just about size. He’s a polished passer with five years of varsity experience and the kind of production that turns heads at every level.
He wrapped up his high school career last weekend in the Class 4A regional finals, finishing with 12,299 passing yards and a 62.4% completion rate. He also added 759 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground, showing he’s more than capable of making plays with his legs when needed.
This commitment is a major win for Sumrall, who was officially hired Sunday to replace Billy Napier after a successful four-year run at Tulane and Troy, where he went 42-11. It’s also a strong signal to Gator fans - and to recruits around the country - that Florida isn’t planning on sitting quietly in the SEC.
With Griffin in the fold, Florida’s 2026 recruiting class now features 18 commitments, including 13 four-star prospects, and currently sits at No. 16 in the 247Sports Composite team rankings. That’s a solid foundation for Sumrall to build on, especially with a quarterback like Griffin leading the charge.
The Gators have had their share of quarterback talent over the years, but Griffin’s combination of early production, physical tools, and competitive fire puts him in rare company. His tweet after signing - “Let’s F’in do this!!!
🐊” - says it all. Florida just added a QB who’s not only ready to compete but ready to lead.