Florida fans look away — this one hurts. A towering force in the 2026 recruiting class just made his decision, and it’s shaking up the college football world. Well, the Tuscarawas Valley giant from Mineral City has been skyrocketing up the rankings. At 6’8″ and 285 pounds, he’s a four-star powerhouse, ranked No. 29 among OTs by 247Sports Composite. Now, the wait is over — he’s made his move for his football future. But instead of suiting up for Billy Napier’s Gators, the elite lineman is heading to an ACC program. While it is a huge win for his future team, it’s a brutal miss for the Gators.

The athlete in question? Ben Congdon. The rising OT received a Miami offer last month, and now, he’s made it official. Ranked as the No. 55 OL and No. 37 prospect from Ohio, Congdon is taking his talents to South Beach. And he announced his pledge on X, making it clear where his heart is – “All about The U! Canes family let’s go to work.” Moments later, On3 Recruits dropped the bombshell, posting, “BREAKING: 4-star OT Ben Congdon has committed to Miami🙌.”

However, it’s still a verbal commitment, but Miami just landed a big one for the future. Congdon chose The U over a stacked list of programs, including PSU, Kentucky, Florida, Arkansas, Florida State, Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin, and more. But the sting? Florida felt it the most. Because after a January 19 visit to Gainesville, Congdon seemed to be locked in. And he even took to X, thanking Billy Napier and OL coach Jonathan Decoster.

“Excited to have earned my eleventh D1 offer from The University of Florida! Thank you for believing in me @coach_bnapier, & coach Decoster,” wrote Congdon. Although the Gators saw his potential early, making a smart move in recruiting him. In the end, he made his call, and it wasn’t the Gators, but for Mario Cristobal. As of now, Congdon is Miami’s fourth commit in the 2026 class, strengthening the trenches for the Miami Hurricanes. He has also built a strong bond with Cristobal and OL coach Alex Mirabal, and that connection helped seal the deal. To be honest, Florida made the offer — but Miami made the move.

And when talking about Miami and his connection, Congdon didn’t hold back. “I love Coach Mirabal and Cristobal. I love the campus. And I love how they treat and interact with my family. When the head coach and position coach are recruiting me like they are, it shows how much they want you,” he said. But his praise didn’t stop there, and he raved about his January visit to Coral Gables, calling it a game-changer.

“Miami was amazing. They checked off all the boxes. It was great to sit down, talk ball, and learn from a legendary offensive line coach like Coach Mirabal. Also, how beautiful campus and the community. I also just was blown away by how genuine the whole staff was. They treated me, along with my mom, very elite and told me I’m a priority,” Congdon shared. Safe to say, from the staff to the atmosphere, Miami made its mark, and in the end, it was just too good to pass up.

Now, with Ben Congdon’s official visit to Coral Gables locked in for June 20, Florida’s chances of flipping him seem to be gone. But don’t think Miami has it easy just yet. Another ACC giant – Florida State Seminoles is still lurking. And his visit to Tallahassee went well, and Coach Mike Norvell won’t back down without a fight.

Even without Billy Napier, the race continues

The Seminoles are building one of the best 2026 recruiting classes in the nation, but they’re not slowing down. And while the grind isn’t over, Ben Congdon is one of their key targets. Well, the massive prospect recently took a trip to Tallahassee, and the Noles made their pitch. As of now, the question is — can they seal the deal?

However, the visit to Tallahassee seemingly made an impression, and Ben Congdon didn’t hesitate to mention it when talking with On3’s Steve Wiltfong. “It was good, great coaches and place to be,” stated Congdon. And he may be listed as a 4-star prospect. Look, with over 20 scholarship offers, the competition is fierce, and the Seminoles are in the mix, but they’ll have to battle it out to land this rising star.

Although Ben Congdon has made his verbal commitment, but without an official visit, nothing is set in stone. That means Billy Napier and FSU still have a shot to flip his commitment. Now, it’s up to Mario Cristobal to prove he has what it takes to keep Congdon locked in. So, can he check all the boxes? That’s only time will tell.