![Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier, left shakes hands with Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal after the Hurricanes defeated the Gators during the season opener at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, August 31, 2024 against the University of Miami Hurricanes. The Hurricanes defeated the Gators 41-17. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_5600,h_3150/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/200/01k7yzesnsk8gasvr87h.jpg "Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier, left shakes hands with Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal after the Hurricanes defeated the Gators during the season opener at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, August 31, 2024 against the University of Miami Hurricanes. The Hurricanes defeated the Gators 41-17. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]")
Florida firing Billy Napier on Sunday could reopen the recruitment of several commitments to the Gators and other players who were leaning strongly towards Gainesville. Miami was on the short list of several Florida commitments and other prospects who were leaning towards Miami.
Jon Santucci and Nick Wilson of USA Today Network asked, "Who are Florida football's in-state commits, who may poach them after Billy Napier firing?" Santucci and Wilson mentioned four-star Lakeland linebacker Malik Morris and IMG Academy interior offensive lineman G'Nivre Carr as potential Miami poaching prospects.
Miami came in second in the recruitment of Morris, per Rivals. "Colorado was at the front of the race" for Carr, other than Florida, per Santucci and Wilson. On3 was listed as the runner-up to Florida for Carr per the Rivals Recruiting Prediction Machine.
Four-star linebacker D.Q. Forkpa, projected with an 81 percent chance per the On3 RPM to commit to Florida, took an official visit to Miami in June. Forkpa could be a prospect to watch for Miami. Missouri is second behind Florida with a 15 percent chance for a Forkpa commitment per On3.
Miami was a strong candidate in the recruitment for four-star Brunswick, Georgia tight end Heze Kent, who committed to Florida in July has visited Miami five times, including an official visit to Coral Gables in June. Florida beat out Florida State, Miami and Texas to gain the commitment from Kent.
Kent told Tyler Harden of 247Sports he chose Florida because of his relationship with offensive coordinator Russ Callaway and that "he also wanted a place where he's seen as a true, pass-catching tight end." With Mike Norvell reportedly on his way out at Florida State, Miami and Texas could compete for Kent.
Kent and Morris are the only Florida commits who have taken official visits to Miami per 247Sports. Some de-commitments should be expected after Napier was fired. Mario Cristobal and his staff are relentless recruiters. The firing of Napier could work in favor of Miami for players considering Florida.