The Florida Gators have finally pulled the trigger and fired Billy Napier. Napier was seemingly on the hot seat for the last year and a half or so, but was able to keep his job after a strong turnaround last season that resulted in a 7-5 regular season and a win in the Gasparilla Bowl over Tulane. However, things never got on track in Gainesville this season, as a Week 2 loss to South Florida put Napier behind the 8-ball once again. He was never able to bounce back and get off the hot seat, and the school decided to officially end the Napier era in Gainesville on Sunday afternoon.
The coaching move in Gainesville means it's likely that several Florida commits decide to look elsewhere and re-open their recruitments. There are several names from Florida's 2026 recruiting class that LSU should look to bring in.
Two Florida recruits LSU should target
As it stands, LSU has the No. 11 ranked recruiting class and Florida has the No. 14 class for 2026 according to 247Sports. Here are a pair of Florida recruits that Brian Kelly and his staff should look into.
CJ Bronaugh, CB
CJ Bronaugh is a 6'1" 166-pound cornerback from Windermere, FL. He is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 6 cornerback in the country and is the highest-rated prospect in Florida's 2026 class. Bronaugh possesses elite speed and turned heads this spring at the Under Armour Next Camp in Orlando. He put on a show an earned MVP honors among all DBs in attendance.
LSU was involved in his recruitment early on, and extended an offer on Jan. 25. He committed to Napier and the Gators this past June, and after missing out the first time, LSU should give it a go again with Bronaugh.
Marquez Daniel, WR
The highest-rated offensive player in Florida's 2026 recruiting class is WR Marquez Daniel. Hailing from Tuskegee, AL, Daniel is also the highest-rated player in the class not from the state of Florida. He is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 14 WR in the 2026 class, and committed to Florida on June 14. Like Bronaugh, LSU was also involved in Daniel's recruitment, offering him on May 14.
In 2024, Daniel totaled 38 catches for 757 yards and 12 touchdowns at Booker T. Washington High School. Owning a large 6'5" 195-pound frame, Daniel is described by 247Sports Director of Scouting Andrew Ivins as a "jump ball winner with a hoops background that is a mismatch for most defenders with his size, balance and hands." His strong skill set could be a nice fit in Baton Rouge.