Florida Gators finished 8-5 in Billy Napier’s third season as the head coach. And all three seasons didn’t quite deliver what the Gators were after. To rectify that, the Gators are making inroads, with Billy Napier tightly holding on to his prospects. And luring prospects to his camp. The 2025 class sure looks star-studded and brimming with optimism, as Napier has roped in 26 commits and 5 transfer additions. And the focus is now shifted to the 2026 class.

In the 2026 class, so far, Billy Napier has roped in 3 commits and is ranked 14th nationally. The class doesn’t look quite empty as of now, but that doesn’t mean Napier isn’t doing everything to fill it with talent. The additions in the class are Izayia Williams (LB, 4-star), Well Griffin (QB, 4-star), and 3-star safety Devin Jackson. However, it’s looking like another addition in the defensive room is on the cards, and the player has even clarified his stance on the Gators.

The player is none other than 4-star Nebraska commit CJ Bronaugh, who plays as a cornerback and has now gone to Florida on a visit. He praised Billy Napier and the program in quite encouraging words. “I loved the whole vibe and energy of UF,” Bronaugh told On3. “The coaches were amazing, and the campus and facilities were so nice. I liked talking to Coach Napier. He’s a really funny, energetic guy.” The praise for Billy Napier and the program may point towards changing the tides for Nebraska. But can Matt Rhule keep him from swaying?

Well, Nebraska and Matt Rhule will be in a bit of a pickle now after the player’s visit. Add to that, he has also locked in visits to 4 major programs and will be visiting them soon. Bronaugh will visit Florida again on May 30 on an official visit, then move on to Nebraska on June 6th. Following the visit, the player will then reach FSU’s camp on June 13. And will wrap up his visitations after an official visit to Penn State on 20th June.

So far, these 4 colleges have the maximum chance to land the prospect. But it remains to be seen if the player ultimately switches his camp from Nebraska. In terms of the 2026 class’s potential, Nebraska will leave no stone unturned to make him stay. This is because their 2026 class is quite weak now, and the player is the only top-rated player amongst the 3 commits they have garnered. The other two are Dveyoun Banwell-Witte (WR) and Dayton Raiola (QB), and both players are three-star prospects.

Florida native CJ Bronaugh an exceptional prodigy?

Nebraska had taken in the commitment of CJ Bronaugh back in November 2024 after major interest from other programs like Oklahoma. Standing at 6 foot 1 and 166 lbs, the player offers exceptional athleticism and defensive prowess. A multi-sport athlete, he also has an illustrious background in track and field, where he was a 1A champion in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes as a sophomore in high school. Moreover, he also clocked an impressive 10.3-second time for his 100-meter dash recently at the Like Ike Invitational at Lake Minneola. His speed gives him the edge to track even the slipperiest of receivers and mark them tightly. His high school career is a testament to that.

Recently, he was named the Alpha Dog and the MVP of the defensive backs when playing at the Under Armour camp in Orlando. Furthermore, in the 2024 season, he featured as a two-way player for his high school, Windermere, and totaled 30 tackles and 6 interceptions along with 3 pick-sixes, finally topping it off with 2 sacks. He guided his team to a 10-0 season on an independent schedule. A native of Florida, the player has a lot of potential, and the proximity might favor Florida in that sense.

However, that doesn’t mean Nebraska or other teams do not have enough to sway him in. If the On3 probability rankings are to be believed, then Oklahoma, at 35.8%, has the maximum chance to land him. With Nebraska trailing second at 31.3%, followed by UCF and Penn State. Matt Rhule might have some leeway right now after leading the Cornhuskers to their first winning season since 2016. But the test of recruitment will be quite stern. Now, it remains to be seen if the player will flip from Nebraska or remain intact in Matt Rhule’s camp.