Much like last week with Penn State firing James Franklin, the Florida Gators are about to see a mass exodus of their 2026 recruiting class following the firing of head coach Billy Napier.
Here are three
players committed to Florida that Michigan should check in on.
Four-star CB CJ Bronaugh
Cornerback remains a top need for the Wolverines in this class, and Bronaugh is among the top players at the position in the country. The 6-foot-1, 166-pounder is ranked No. 109 overall and No. 13 at the cornerback spot on 247Sports’ composite. 247Sports’ Director of Scouting Andrew Ivins scouted Bronaugh in February and said he is an “ascending defensive back prospect with some of the best speed markers in the class.”
Bronaugh also has a knack for making big plays, as he recorded three pick-sixes as a junior in 2024. He’s also a track athlete at his high school in Winter Garden, Florida, and the Wolverines have historically valued multi-sport athletes on the recruiting trail. He checks a lot of boxes for Michigan, so it would be wise for LaMar Morgan to pick up the phone and give Bronaugh a call.
Four-star QB Will Griffin
Michigan already has a quarterback committed to the class in four-star Brady Smigiel, but he tore his ACL and will unfortunately miss the rest of his senior year. You never know how an athlete is going to be following a major injury and recovery like that, so checking in with a top quarterback in the country in Griffin might be a decent idea for Chip Lindsey.
Griffin actually visited Ann Arbor for The Game back in 2023, so he is at least familiar with what Michigan has to offer him. He is ranked No. 200 overall in the class and plays for Jesuit High School in Tampa. He had a good junior year in which he completed 186-of-286 passes for 2,213 yards, 24 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He also had 37 rush attempts for 240 yards and five touchdowns.
This is pretty unrealistic, as Griffin has been committed to the Gators since June 2024. But the Wolverines have nothing to lose here by checking in with him and seeing if there is any shot of him reconsidering.
Four-star DB CJ Hester
Hester (6-foot-1 and 195 pounds) can play nickel and safety, and we all know how much Morgan values versatility in his defensive backs. He racked up 72 tackles, 10 pass breakups, three interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery as a junior last season. The Cocoa, Florida native is also a track athlete, which is another box checked for the Wolverines.
This would be a bit of a luxury addition, but you can never have too many quality players in the secondary.