Now it’s the official time for college football stars to enjoy the spotlight. At a time when CFB fans are intrigued about Shedeur Sanders and Jalen Milroe’s NFL spots, a high school recruit is turning heads. That’s none other than the four-star wide receiver, Naeem Burroughs. The young chap is one of the most promising uncommitted juniors in the nation. After all, not every high school recruit can fall into the wishlist of 35 college football programs. Yes, you read that right. Burroughs is now pursued by almost three dozen programs. And that’s somehow a sad moment for Florida Gators HC Billy Napier.

Back in May 2024, Michigan State football made an offer to one of the top wide receivers in the country, a four-star prospect from Florida. The native of Jacksonville, Florida, who played at The Bolles School tweeted on May 26, “AGTG ✞ Blessed to earn an offer from The Michigan State University #GoGreen.” After all, Burroughs carries with him a resume that is tough to resist. In his freshman campaign, he posted 659 receiving yards and seven touchdown receptions. Standing tall at 6 feet and weighing 170 pounds, in the 2023 season, he totaled 1,019 yards and 15 touchdowns on 47 receptions. The talented chap used his talents stretching 33 receptions into 829 yards with 12 touchdowns during the 2024 season. Hayes Fawcett released an intriguing figure.

On January 23, Hayes with Naeem posted about “Offers on the Table Thus far for Elite 2026 WR Naeem Burroughs.” Well, they didn’t reveal the exact numbers. But they had released Burrough’s poster where the suitors’ logos are there. Now you are surely going to get tired while counting the numbers. It’s 35! They include Florida Gators, Clemson Tigers, Alabama Crimson Tide, Ohio State, Texas Longhorns, Ole Miss Rebels and the list continues. Now this number is surely going to leave Florida HC Napier in complete panic mode. Burroughs might have just lit the flame of possibility for the player to don the Gators’ colors.

Billy Napier loses his edge in the Naeem Burroughs race  

Burroughs being a Florida native, the Gators had the top chance of landing the wide receiver. They had a 38.6% probability rate. Gainesville has long been a second home for the athletes who attended camps and visited the campus multiple times. Plus, their wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales might have been the best fit for Burrough to develop his talents. Napier knew about these factors but couldn’t be assured until it came from the athlete himself. 

So then the wide receiver too revealed in an interview with Swamp247. He said that Napier’s program has ‘set the pace’ in his recruitment, “I would say Florida (is in front), because they were my first offer, and they’ve always been there consistently. Coach (Billy) Gonzales is a great coach, Coach (Billy) Napier has never stopped showing love. He’s continued showing love.” The Gators have also ticked off the good vibes factor. 

Unfortunately, Billy Napier is not going to get any added advantage. Rather he will now have to fight with 34 others to land the brother of the Wisconsin Badgers’ WR Quincy Burroughs’ younger brother. Do you know what makes Naeem Burroughs so irresistible? He is also a track star. He and his 4×100 team won gold at the FHSAA 2A meet his freshman season and won the state title this season as well. The WR also qualified for regionals in the 100-meter dash this year with a personal best time of 10.64 at districts. All these might aggravate Napier’s pain.