Florida is making an early push to get in front of one of the more intriguing names in the class of 2028, and the target fits the kind of physical defensive back the Gators clearly want in the fold.
That player is Cyion Smith, a safety from Blountstown in Florida’s panhandle, about an hour down FL-20 from Tallahassee. Rivals lists Smith as a four-star and places him inside the top 200 nationally, while ESPN and 247 both have him as a three-star.
At 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds, Smith has the kind of frame that still leaves plenty of room to grow. But the tape shows a defender who plays much bigger than that number suggests.
He’s not shy about contact, and when the ball is in his area, he’s hunting for a chance to deliver a hit-stick moment and make somebody think twice the next time it comes his way. His coverage game is still developing, and the film being evaluated comes from his sophomore season, but the physical edge is hard to miss.
Smith made a couple of campus visits this summer, and Gators Online has already logged a prediction that he’ll end up committing to Florida.
That said, this is still the 2028 class, so nothing is anywhere close to finished. Even if Smith were to choose the Gators now, there would still be a long road ahead before he actually arrives on campus. The class of 2027 is not even locked in yet, and those verbal commitments can still shift.
Still, there’s real reason for Florida to like where this is headed. Rivals ranking Smith as highly as it does is notable, especially for a player whose game is built around physicality more than polish. He picked up offers this summer from Michigan, Ole Miss, FSU, and Wisconsin, and the Gators will have to keep fending off that kind of attention if they want to close the deal.
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What makes the Panthers especially interesting is the familiarity factor. Dave Canales, now Carolinas coach, was Trasks offensive coordinator in Tampa Bay, which at least gives the quarterback a connection to a staff that already knows what he can handle. Whether that familiarity turns into something more will be the next thing to watch, especially with the Panthers still evaluating how they want to handle their quarterback room heading into the preseason. [Read more 🡒]
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The intrigue is less about who is on the roster than who can actually separate once camp gets rolling. Florida has bodies to evaluate, and the staff will have a chance to sort through past production, upside and fit, but the bigger question hanging over the position is still the same one every fall camp brings when a room loses experienced players: who, if anyone, takes control before the season starts. [Read more 🡒]
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Baughs role could grow beyond the traditional lead-back job, too, as Florida plans to lean more on its running backs in the passing game. He has already shown he can contribute there, and the staffs broader vision points to a backfield that can carry more of the offense instead of merely complementing it. The bigger question is how far Baugh can take that momentum in 2026, with a chance to keep climbing the programs rushing list while helping define what this new-look attack wants to be. [Read more 🡒]