Four Florida Freshmen to Watch During Gators' Spring Camp

The Gators' highly-ranked 2026 recruiting class includes several intriguing newcomers who could make an early impact.

Feb. 25, 2026 at 5:21pm

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Florida's 2026 recruiting class finished ranked 17th nationally and includes several freshmen who could play key roles this spring. The group includes wide receiver Davian Groce, edge rusher KJ Ford, tight end Heze Kent, and defensive lineman Kendall Guervil. The Gators' coaching staff has been impressed with the potential of these newcomers and expects them to compete for playing time during spring practices.

Why it matters

Florida is undergoing a roster overhaul this offseason, adding nearly 50 new players through the transfer portal and recruiting. The performance of these freshmen during spring camp will be crucial in determining their roles for the 2026 season as the Gators look to rebuild under new head coach Jon Sumrall.

The details

Davian Groce, a 10.75-second 100-meter sprinter, is the highest-rated signee in Florida's class and has a chance to earn playing time at wide receiver despite the Gators' deep room at the position. KJ Ford, a 6-foot-3.5, 245-pound pass rusher, could emerge as a key piece of the edge rotation behind standout Jayden Woods. Heze Kent, a 6-foot-6, 300-pound tight end, is a unique prospect who the Gators are working to get below 300 pounds. Kendall Guervil, a 6-foot-4.5, 315-pound defensive lineman, is recovering from a torn ACL and meniscus but could help address a major need for the Gators up front.

  • Spring camp is scheduled to kick off on March 3, 2026.

The players

Davian Groce

A highly-rated wide receiver signee from Frisco, Texas who recorded over 1,800 total yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior in high school.

KJ Ford

A 6-foot-3.5, 245-pound edge rusher from Duncanville, Texas who recorded 31 total tackles and 8.5 sacks as a senior in high school.

Heze Kent

A 6-foot-6, 300-pound tight end signee from Brunswick, Georgia who recorded 37 catches for 674 yards and 16 total touchdowns as a senior in high school.

Kendall Guervil

A 6-foot-4.5, 315-pound defensive lineman from Fort Myers, Florida who recorded 137 total tackles with six sacks and four forced fumbles in the past two seasons before suffering a torn ACL and meniscus as a senior.

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What they’re saying

“There's times where you're like, 'Hey, you got strain a little bit more,' and then you look up, and he won 13 reps in the gauntlet, right? He's a guy that can run fast with good size, so that always translates well, right? Very, very productive.... Been really impressed with him and excited to see what he goes out there and does this spring and making plays.”

— Trent McKnight, Inside Receivers Coach

“KJ has been good. He's an eager guy. He looks up to Woods in a sense a lot. But he's a guy that's coming in very mature. He works. He puts in the time. The one thing I'm looking forward to seeing him do in the spring is just go out and execute at a fast pace. So he's been good.”

— Bam Hardman, Outside Linebackers Coach

“A lot of guys can see him as a project tackle, or this or that. The guy's here to go play tight end, that's what I tell him, and he can definitely do it. He's gradually losing weight, and biggest thing, he's got great athleticism, and he had some injury issues... He's finally kind of gotten over those humps, and is way more available in workouts.”

— Evan McKissack, Tight Ends Coach

“DK (Kalu), Emmanuel (Oyebadejo), Mason (Clinton), Kendall (Guervil), JaReylan McCoy those are all new guys that we added...they all have traits, they all have the measurables, the length, they all have explosion, they all have the ability, we're going to find out the rest after we take the through the process and get on the field.”

— Gerald Chatman, Defensive Line Coach

What’s next

The Gators will be closely monitoring the progress of these freshmen during spring camp as they look to determine their roles for the 2026 season.

The takeaway

Florida's highly-ranked 2026 recruiting class features several intriguing newcomers who could make an immediate impact this spring. The performance of players like Davian Groce, KJ Ford, Heze Kent, and Kendall Guervil will be crucial as the Gators look to rebuild under new head coach Jon Sumrall.