When a coaching change hits a college football program, the ripple effects are almost immediate-and they often hit the recruiting trail first. That’s exactly what happened Monday evening in Gainesville, where the Florida Gators took a significant hit to their 2026 recruiting class.
Four-star running back Carsyn Baker has officially decommitted from Florida. The Fairburn, Georgia native had pledged to the Gators back in June, but with the recent coaching shakeup, he's decided to reopen his recruitment. For Florida, this is more than just a name off the board-it’s a strategic loss at a position they’d only just begun to build around.
Baker is no small-time prospect. According to the 247Sports Composite, he ranks as the No. 211 overall player in the 2026 class, the No. 15 running back nationally, and the No. 23 player in Georgia-a state that consistently produces top-tier talent. Before committing to Florida, Baker had drawn attention from several programs in his home state, including Georgia, Georgia Tech, and Georgia State.
With Baker now back on the market, Florida finds itself without a running back commit in the 2026 cycle. That’s a tough spot to be in, especially considering the importance of building depth at the position early in a recruiting class. The Gators will need to pivot quickly, with eyes likely turning toward other available backs, such as Alvin Celestin, a three-star prospect currently listed as the No. 36 running back in the 247Sports Composite.
For Baker, the decommitment doesn’t mean he’s starting from scratch. He’s been active on the visit trail recently, making stops at North Carolina, South Carolina, and Kentucky. Those programs are clearly in the mix, and all signs point to him making a decision soon-Dec. 3, the opening day of the Early Signing Period, is when he’s expected to announce his next move.
As for Florida, this is a reminder of how fragile recruiting momentum can be in the wake of a coaching transition. The Gators will need to recalibrate quickly to avoid falling behind in a competitive SEC landscape where every commit counts-and every decommitment stings.