The first domino has fallen in Gainesville following the coaching shake-up - and it comes in the form of a decommitment from a key piece of Florida’s 2026 recruiting class.
Four-star running back Carsyn Baker, out of Langston Hughes High School in Fairburn, Georgia, announced Monday that he’s backing off his pledge to the Gators. Baker had committed back on June 13, during a summer surge in recruiting momentum under then-head coach Billy Napier. At the time, his commitment was a big win for Florida’s future backfield - he’s rated the No. 15 running back in the 2026 class, per the 247Sports Composite.
Baker’s initial decision came after a strong visit to Gainesville, where he spoke highly of the program’s culture and his connection with running backs coach Jabbar Juluke and the rest of the staff. “They never changed up on me,” he said at the time. “I really loved it a lot.”
But things did change - at least at the top. Napier was fired on October 19, and while Baker stayed committed in the weeks that followed, the door clearly opened for other programs to make their pitch.
And they did. Baker took official visits to Kentucky, Ole Miss, North Carolina, Georgia Tech, and South Carolina after Napier’s dismissal, signaling that his recruitment was far from over.
His decommitment comes on the same day Jon Sumrall was officially introduced as Florida’s new head coach - a significant milestone for the program as it looks to stabilize heading into the early signing period. Sumrall, who officially signed his contract with Florida on Sunday, wasted no time getting to work. He’s been in contact with most of the current commits, holding Zoom calls and FaceTimes to connect personally and reassure them of their value to the program.
“I’m going to fight like heck to hold on to them,” Sumrall said. “I FaceTimed with as many of them as I could last night until I fell asleep. I’m going to FaceTime with the rest of them tonight and make sure they know - man, I can’t wait to coach them.”
It’s clear Sumrall understands the urgency. With the early signing period just days away, keeping the current class intact is priority No.
BREAKING: Four-Star RB Carsyn Baker has Decommitted from Florida, he tells me for @rivals⁰⁰The 6’2 200 RB from Fairburn, GA had been Committed to the Gators since June⁰⁰https://t.co/I2lIgJkDKa pic.twitter.com/dwfBi2Pdcg
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 2, 2025
- Florida’s 2026 class currently sits at 18 players and ranks 16th nationally, according to 247Sports.
A number of those players have already reaffirmed their commitment - either staying solid through the coaching change or backing Sumrall publicly since his hire.
New general manager Dave Caldwell, officially announced as part of the staff on Monday, echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that the staff intends to honor every existing commitment.
“I think we’ve got a lot of great players, and I think we’ve really got high character in that class,” Sumrall added. “I think the staff has done a good job.”
Baker’s departure is a hit, no doubt - especially at a premium position like running back. But it’s also the first real test of Sumrall’s ability to steady the ship in a turbulent moment. The Gators still have a strong class, and with Sumrall now in place and actively recruiting, the next few weeks will be crucial in determining just how much of that foundation remains intact heading into the new era of Florida football.