Florida Football’s Latest LB Recruit Malik Morris Shocks Fans by Enrolling Early—What Does This Mean for the Season?

Malik Morris, the incoming freshman linebacker with a serious knack for making game-changing plays, has officially enrolled for the spring semester at Florida. Standing at 6-foot-1 and packing 225 pounds of pure determination, this Lakeland High standout commands attention—not just for his physicality but also for his impressive resume: a four-star rating, the No. 3 linebacker spot, and ranked 25th overall nationally by the USA Today Florida Network. Morris’s junior year stats? 95 tackles, 9 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and an interception—yeah, he’s that impactful. With Morris now on board, the Florida Gators have secured all 19 of their prized freshman scholarship signees for spring enrollments, setting the stage for an electric spring training under first-year head coach Jon Sumrall. The anticipation is real as these young guns prepare to hit The Swamp starting March 3, culminating in the much-anticipated Orange and Blue game on April 11. Curious about the full lineup of promising freshmen gearing up to electrify Florida football? Dive into the latest rundown below. LEARN MORE

Florida football incoming freshman linebacker Malik Morris is enrolled for the spring semester, the Sun confirmed on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Morris, from Lakeland High, was rated as a four-star prospect and as the No. 3 linebacker and No. 25 overall player in Florida by the USA Today Florida Network. Named the Lakeland Ledger’s Big School defensive player of the year in 2024, Morris posted 95 tackles, 9 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and an interception during his junior season.

With the addition of Morris, the Florida Gators now have all 19 of their incoming freshman scholarship signees enrolled for the spring semester. As a result, all 19 will take part in spring practices under first-year coach Jon Sumrall, which start on March 3 and will conclude with the Orange and Blue game on April 11 at noon at The Swamp.

Here’s an updated rundown of UF’s early incoming freshman enrollees:

Florida football 2026 early enrollees

Tyler Chukuyem, OT

School/Hometown: South Palding HS/Douglasville, Ga.

Height/Weight: 6-6, 290

Rating: Three-star

Scouting report: Rated as the 36th-best tackle and 554th-best prospect in the 2026 class, per 247Sports. Chose Florida over offers from Florida State, Cincinnati, Ole Miss and Appalachian State.

Justin Williams, WR/RB

School: Buchholz

Height, Weight: 5-11, 190 pounds

Rating: Four-star

Scouting report: “Williams tallied 2,534 yards of offense while throwing just one pass at Buchholz. His second gear is special, and he’s very shifty with the ball in his hands. While his route-running as a receiver isn’t eye popping, his separation and balance are. When the ball finds William’s hands, odds are that the sticks will be moving.” – Courtesy USA Today Florida Network

Heze Kent, TE

School/Hometown: Brunswick HS/Brunswick, Ga.

Height/Weight: 6-6, 310

Rating: Four-star

Scouting report: Rated at the 167th best overall player and 11th best athlete in the 2026 class, per 247Sports. Kent finished last season with 41 catches for 983 yards and 8 receiving TDs, along with 32 carries for 211 yards and 8 rushing TDs. He chose Florida over offers from Texas, Miami, Alabama and Florida State.

Javarii Luckas, OT

School: Glades Central

Height, Weight: 6-5, 305 pounds

Rating: Three-star

Scouting report: Luckas is a project of a prospect. His size is undeniable, but his strength, movement, and technique are not to the level of his peers yet. The foundations are there, but he struggles to handle even smaller defenders and takes a while to generate momentum from his base. – Courtesy USA Today Florida Network

CJ Bronaugh, CB

School: Windermere

Height, Weight: 6-1, 166 pounds

Rating: Four-star

Scouting report: “Nobody in the state has boosted their stock this offseason like Bronaugh has. His electric speed is his biggest plus. He is a state champion track athlete, and ran a 4.39 40-yard dash at UA Next Orlando while dominating matchups in 1-on-1 drills. He’s a ball-hawk that baits and punishes bad throws.” – Courtesy of USA Today Florida Network

Chancellor Campbell, OT

School: St. Pete Lakewood

Height, Weight: 6-8, 295 pounds

Rating: Three-star

Scouting report: “Few offensive linemen boosted their stock at the Under Armour Next camp in Orlando like Campbell. Standing at 6-8 and nearly 300 pounds, his frame and technique have made him a priority for schools like Miami and Penn State. He’s extremely mobile, and his footwork is sound.” – Courtesy USA Today Florida Network

Desmond Green, OL

School/Hometown: Timberland HS/St. Stephen, S.C.

Height/Weight: 6-5, 354

Rating: Three-star

Scouting report: Rated as the 90th-best interior offensive lineman and 393rd-best prospect in the 2026 class, per 247Sports. Chose Florida over offers from South Carolina, Georgia, Oklahoma and Virginia Tech.

JaReylan McCoy, DE

Height/Weight: 6-6, 245

School/Hometown: Tupelo HS/Tupelo, Miss.

Rating: Four-star

Scouting report: Recorded 30 tackles (7.5 tackles for loss), 4 quarterback hurries and 1.5 sacks to help lead Tupelo High to the Mississippi Class 6A state championship. Chose Florida over offers from LSU, Ole Miss, Alabama and Alcorn State.

K.J. Ford, DE

School/Hometown: Duncanville HS/Duncanville, Texas

Height/Weight: 6-4, 245

Rating: Four-star

Scouting report: Rated as the 11th-edde rusher and 98th-best prospect in the 2026 class, per 247Sports. Finished his junior year of high school with 57 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recover, and 15 hurries. Chose Florida over offers from Ohio State, Texas A&M, Alabama and Arizona State.

Marquez Daniel, WR

School/Hometown: Booker T. Washington HS/Tuskegee, Ala.

Height/Weight: 6-5, 195

Rating: Four-star

Scouting report: Caught 38 passes for 757 yards and 12 TDs in his junior year at Booker T. Washington HS. Chose Florida over offers from Miami, Kentucky, Louisville and LSU.

Will Griffin, QB

School: Tampa Jesuit

Height, Weight: 6-foot-3, 230 pounds

Rating: Four-star

Scouting report: “Griffin is a muscular quarterback with an SEC frame, which is why the Gators offered him after his freshman season. The four-year starter will likely eclipse 10,000 career passing yards before the start of September. He has a cannon of an arm and shows good poise while under pressure.” – Courtesy of USA Today Florida Network

Corey Brown, OL

Height/Weight: 6-2, 280

School/Hometown: Jones HS/Orlando, Fla.

Rating: N/A

Scouting report: The younger brother of Vernell Brown III, Brown started at guard for Orlando Jones this past season and will join UF as a preferred walk-on.

Kendall Guervil DL

School: Fort Myers

Height, Weight: 6-5, 310 pounds

Rating: Four-star

Scouting report: “Guervil is a textbook plug-stopper. His 6-foot-5 frame makes him a matchup nightmare up front, and he is extremely powerful up top and drives through the line of scrimmage. He has average mobility for his position.” – Courtesy of USA Today Florida Network

G’Nivre Carr, IOL

School: IMG Academy

Height, Weight: 6-4, 336 pounds

Rating: Four-star

Scouting report: “Carr is a mobile blocker with active hands and quick feet. He has an above-average wingspan and great strength. He’s quick off the line and is an effective blocker, plus has the size to compete for time on the field quickly.” – Courtesy of USA Today Florida Network

Davian Groce, WR

School/Hometown: Frisco Lone Star HS/Frisco, Texas

Height/Weight: 6-1, 190

Rating: Four-star

Scouting report: Rated as the eighth-best receiver and 52^nd overall player in 2026 class, per 247Sports. Selected Florida over offers from Baylor, Houston and Oklahoma. Gained close to 1,400 scrimmage yards and scored 12 offensive TDs as a junior in 2024, including 702 receiving yards and 5 TDs and 687 yards rushing and 7 TD. Added 3 return TDs as well, with two coming on kickoff returns and one on a punt return.

Dylan Purter, DB

School/Hometown: Booker T. Washington HS/Tuskegee, Ala.

Height/Weight: 6-1, 165

Rating: Four-star

Scouting report: Rated as the 20^th best safety and 207^th best overall prospect in the 2026 class by 247Sports composite. Purter, who finished with 97 tackles, 3 sacks and 2 interceptions as a high school junior in 2024, is versatile enough to play both corner and safety. He had offers from Auburn, Tulane and Arkansas and flipped his commitment from LSU to sign with the Gators.

CJ Hester, S

School: Cocoa

Height, Weight: 6-1, 185 pounds

Rating: Four-star

Scouting report: “Hester is a gamer. He reeled in two picks in the Class 2A regional semifinal and then reeled in two more interceptions while breaking up four passes in a state semifinal win. He’s a textbook ballhawk that knows how to bait throws. He is a tip-drill pro and has great speed.” – Courtesy of USA Today Florida Network

Kaiden Hall, S

School: Milton

Height, Weight: 6-3, 195 pounds

Rating: Four-star

Scouting report: “Hall displays an incredible understanding of his position whichever it is on the field. He has arguably the best run support of any safety in the class, elite size that makes him a dangerous receiver. He’s very physical, and his explosiveness is a real plus.” – Courtesy of USA Today Florida Network

Malik Morris, LB

School: Lakeland

Height, Weight: 6-1, 225 pounds

Rating: Four-star

Scouting report: “Few players impact winning at storied programs like Lakeland as much as Morris. Every big win the Dreadnaughts notched, Morris can be credited with a game-defining play on either side of the ball. He reads the game at a high level and is effective in coverage, but he is also a bruiser with incredible strength.” – Courtesy of USA Today Florida Network

Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida football incoming freshman LB Malik Morris enrolls for spring