Five-star defensive end JaReylan McCoy has officially committed to the Florida Gators, marking a significant boost to their 2026 recruiting class. Standing at 6-foot-7 and weighing 260 pounds, McCoy is ranked as the No. 9 overall prospect by ESPN and the second-ranked defender in the nation.

McCoy, hailing from Tupelo, Mississippi, initially committed to LSU but reopened his recruitment in February. After narrowing his choices to Florida, LSU, and Texas, McCoy made his decision following an official visit to Florida from May 30 to June 1. His connection with Florida coach Billy Napier and defensive ends coach Mike Peterson, along with the program's family atmosphere, played pivotal roles in his commitment.

During his three varsity seasons at Tupelo High School, McCoy recorded 140-plus tackles and 18.5 sacks, showcasing his dominance on the field. His commitment is a major recruiting victory for Napier and the Gators, especially after retaining Napier last November and closing the 2024 season with four straight wins.

McCoy's addition would be the Gators' first five-star recruit since they landed quarterback D.J. Lagway (No. 8 overall) and pass rusher L.J. McCray (No. 10) in the 2024 class. If he signs with Florida later this year, McCoy will be the program's highest-ranked defensive signee since CeCe Jefferson in the 2015 class.

Currently, McCoy leads the Gators' 2026 recruiting class, which includes four-star quarterback Will Griffin (No. 69 overall) and running back Carsyn Baker (No. 167). Florida also secured the commitment of four-star wide receiver Marquez Daniel (No. 216) on Saturday, bringing their total to seven ESPN 300 commits in this cycle.

As the Gators enter a busy summer recruiting period, they aim to secure back-to-back top 10 recruiting classes. The addition of McCoy and other high-profile visitors like five-star tight end Kaiden Prothro (No. 19) and top-40 running back Davion Groce underscores Florida's commitment to building a formidable team for the future.