By ESPN | Created at 2024-11-25 15:21:34 | Updated at 2024-11-25 17:29:19
2 hours ago
play
Jaxson Dart's interception seals Gators' upset vs. Ole Miss (0:20)
Jaxson Dart's second late-game interception ends Ole Miss' hopes as Florida secures the upset. (0:20)
Eli Lederman, ESPN Staff WriterNov 25, 2024, 09:58 AM ET
- Eli Lederman covers college football and recruiting for ESPN.com. He joined ESPN in 2024 after covering the University of Oklahoma for Sellout Crowd and the Tulsa World.
Florida completed the flip of four-star USC linebacker pledge Ty Jackson on Monday morning, securing a commitment from the nation's top inside linebacker prospect as the Gators continue a hot run on the recruiting trail in the final days before the early signing period.
Jackson, No. 54 in the 2025 ESPN 300, had been committed to USC since Sept. 8 and remained the third-ranked prospect in Lincoln Riley's 2025 class. The defender from Loxahatchee, Florida, is now the eighth ESPN 300 prospect to decommit from the Trojans in the 2025 cycle, joining a list that includes five-star quarterback Julian Lewis and top-100 defenders Justus Terry, Isaiah Gibson, Anquon Fegans and Hylton Stubbs.
Jackson's flip to Florida comes two days after he visited the Gators during the program's 24-17 win over No. 9 Ole Miss, which vaulted Florida to bowl eligibility for the second time under third-year coach Billy Napier. Jackson now stands as the second-ranked member of the Gators' 2025 class behind only four-star wide receiver Vernell Brown (No. 44 in the ESPN 300) and joins four-star defensive end Jalen Wiggins (No. 68 in the ESPN 300) as the second top-100 prospect set to sign with Florida when the early signing period opens on Dec. 4.
Florida's 2025 class sat at No. 27 in ESPN's latest class rankings for the 2025 cycle prior to Jackson's commitment, and his pledge continues the strong run the Gators have enjoyed on the recruiting trail since the school announced its plans to stick with Napier beyond the 2024 season earlier this month.
Florida secured a commitment from former Florida State quarterback Tramell Jones on Nov. 17, then followed with pledges from four-star defensive tackle Stephon Shivers (former Georgia pledge) and three-star offensive lineman Daniel Pierre Louis (Florida State flip) last week. And the Gators are expected to remain active in the final stretch of the 2025 cycle as they target multiple ESPN 300 targets including five-star Ohio State cornerback commit Na'eem Offord (No. 4 in the ESPN 300) and four-star Texas wide receiver pledge Jaime Ffrench (No. 25)
Following back-to-back ranked wins over LSU and Ole Miss, Florida travels to Florida State in Week 14 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
