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The 2026 high school football recruiting class is loaded with future college and NFL talent. Last week, we took a look at the top 2026 prospects from Texas.
Now it's time to take a look at the top 2026 players from the Sunshine State.
Florida is a haven for top high school football talent, producing some of the best teams and players the game has ever seen.
This cycle's crop of players is no different. Here's a look at 15 of the top 2026 high school football recruits in Florida you need to know about.
School: American Heritage (Fort Lauderdale)
Position: Quarterback
Commitment: Texas
Summary: A Longhorns pledge since last June, Bell had a standout junior season. He led the Patriots to a state title, completing 701% of his passes for 2,597 yards and 29 touchdowns.
School: Northwestern (Miami)
Position: Wide Receiver
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Standing at 6-foot-5 and 195 pounds, Russell was pivotal in leading Teddy Bridgewater's Bulls to a state title. He caught 35 passes for 645 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Miami is currently the favorite candidate during his recruitment.
More: 'These scouts want to see plays!': Teddy Bridgewater weighs in on current highlight tapes
School: IMG Academy (Bradenton)
Position: Offensive Tackle
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Standing in at 6-foot-7 and 320 pounds, Pepe is a massive 2026 prospect with many offers.
He's a top talent playing for one of the nation's best programs, so there's little surprise that his recruitment has been hot for some time.
School: Booker (Sarasota)
Position: Cornerback
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Kennon's a two-way standout, accounting for 33 tackles on defense and six touchdown receptions at receiver.
His two official visits scheduled are to Auburn (May 16) and Florida State (June 13).
School: Chaminade-Madonna Prep (Hollywood)
Position: Athlete
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Cooper did a bit of everything for the Lions on both sides of the ball. He was their lead back, rushing for 905 yards and 13 touchdowns on 124 carries.
Defensively, he accounted for 46 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and four sacks. His official visit list includes Auburn (May 16), Miami (May 30), Alabama (June 6), Georgia (June 13), Penn State (June 17) and Ohio State (June 20).
School: IMG Academy (Bradenton)
Position: EDGE
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Kreul has the looks of an instant-impact player wherever he decides to go.
The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder was a standout for IMG's loaded defensive front last season, accounting for 39 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hurries, and six sacks.
School: Pensacola Catholic (Pensacola)
Position: EDGE
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Henderson has a hefty list of official visits coming up. He's set to visit Auburn (May 16), Vanderbilt (May 30), Alabama (June 6), Florida (June 13) and Florida State (June 20).
As a junior, he recorded 50 tackles, 20 quarterback pressures, 18 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, and six pass breakups.
School: St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale)
Position: Cornerback
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Fitzpatrick is one of the most sought-after cornerbacks in the 2026 cycle, and for good reason. Miami appears to be the early favorite in his recruitment, and he has an official visit to Coral Gables scheduled for June 6.
He also has officials lined up in Georgia (May 30) and Texas (June 13). He recorded 34 tackles and a pair of interceptions during his junior season.
School: Northwestern (Miami)
Position: Defensive Lineman
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Johnson was a force up front for the Bulls, recording 83 tackles and seven sacks in 10 games.
He has official visits scheduled to Illinois (April 11), Penn State (May 16), Syracuse (May 30), Miami (June 6), Florida (June 13) and Georgia (June 20).
School: IMG Academy (Bradenton)
Position: Safety
Commitment: Georgia
Summary: Fort doesn't have to worry about a college decision. He committed to Georgia in January.
Last year, he accounted for 36 tackles, four tackles for loss, and an interception.
School: Windermere (Winter Garden)
Position: Cornerback
Commitment: Nebraska
Summary: The Cornhuskers commit was a pest last season for opposing offenses.
Bigger than a lot of the receivers he squared off against, Bronaugh intercepted six passes as a junior. He returned three for touchdowns.
School: The Bolles School (Jacksonville)
Position: Linebacker
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: A linebacker/safety hybrid, Caldwell is an up-and-coming prospect who projects as a top-100 recruit. Last season, he recorded 80 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and three sacks.
Caldwell has unofficial visits to Michigan (March 22), Ohio State (March 29 & April 12), and USC (April 26) scheduled. His official visits include Miami (May 30), USC (June 6), Notre Dame (June 13) and Ohio State (June 20).
School: Tavares
Position: Linebacker
Commitment: Florida
Summary: The Gators landed a massive in-state win when Williams committed in March.
Last season, he recorded 125 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and four sacks for the Bulldogs.
School: Berkeley Prep (Tampa)
Position: Offensive Tackle
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: With his 6-foot-6 and 305-pound frame, Jones looks like the type of player who can come in and play wherever on day one.
He has seven official visits lined up to Colorado (April 5-6), Vanderbilt (April 12-13), Ole Miss (April 18-20), Florida State (May 31-June 2), UCLA (June 6-8), Penn State (June 13-15) and Miami (June 20-22).
School: Venice
Position: EDGE
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Charles racked up the numbers during the Indians' state title run. He accounted for 106 tackles, 20 quarterback hurries, 15.5 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, and 2.5 forced fumbles.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY High School Sports Wire: 2026 recruiting rankings: Florida high school football prospects
Continue reading...
Now it's time to take a look at the top 2026 players from the Sunshine State.
Florida is a haven for top high school football talent, producing some of the best teams and players the game has ever seen.
This cycle's crop of players is no different. Here's a look at 15 of the top 2026 high school football recruits in Florida you need to know about.
Dia Bell
School: American Heritage (Fort Lauderdale)
Position: Quarterback
Commitment: Texas
Summary: A Longhorns pledge since last June, Bell had a standout junior season. He led the Patriots to a state title, completing 701% of his passes for 2,597 yards and 29 touchdowns.
Calvin Russell
School: Northwestern (Miami)
Position: Wide Receiver
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Standing at 6-foot-5 and 195 pounds, Russell was pivotal in leading Teddy Bridgewater's Bulls to a state title. He caught 35 passes for 645 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Miami is currently the favorite candidate during his recruitment.
More: 'These scouts want to see plays!': Teddy Bridgewater weighs in on current highlight tapes
Keenyi Pepe
School: IMG Academy (Bradenton)
Position: Offensive Tackle
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Standing in at 6-foot-7 and 320 pounds, Pepe is a massive 2026 prospect with many offers.
He's a top talent playing for one of the nation's best programs, so there's little surprise that his recruitment has been hot for some time.
Chauncey Kennon
School: Booker (Sarasota)
Position: Cornerback
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Kennon's a two-way standout, accounting for 33 tackles on defense and six touchdown receptions at receiver.
His two official visits scheduled are to Auburn (May 16) and Florida State (June 13).
Derrek Cooper
School: Chaminade-Madonna Prep (Hollywood)
Position: Athlete
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Cooper did a bit of everything for the Lions on both sides of the ball. He was their lead back, rushing for 905 yards and 13 touchdowns on 124 carries.
Defensively, he accounted for 46 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and four sacks. His official visit list includes Auburn (May 16), Miami (May 30), Alabama (June 6), Georgia (June 13), Penn State (June 17) and Ohio State (June 20).
Jake Kreul
School: IMG Academy (Bradenton)
Position: EDGE
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Kreul has the looks of an instant-impact player wherever he decides to go.
The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder was a standout for IMG's loaded defensive front last season, accounting for 39 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hurries, and six sacks.
Trenton Henderson
School: Pensacola Catholic (Pensacola)
Position: EDGE
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Henderson has a hefty list of official visits coming up. He's set to visit Auburn (May 16), Vanderbilt (May 30), Alabama (June 6), Florida (June 13) and Florida State (June 20).
As a junior, he recorded 50 tackles, 20 quarterback pressures, 18 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, and six pass breakups.
Justice Fitzpatrick
School: St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale)
Position: Cornerback
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Fitzpatrick is one of the most sought-after cornerbacks in the 2026 cycle, and for good reason. Miami appears to be the early favorite in his recruitment, and he has an official visit to Coral Gables scheduled for June 6.
He also has officials lined up in Georgia (May 30) and Texas (June 13). He recorded 34 tackles and a pair of interceptions during his junior season.
James Johnson
School: Northwestern (Miami)
Position: Defensive Lineman
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Johnson was a force up front for the Bulls, recording 83 tackles and seven sacks in 10 games.
He has official visits scheduled to Illinois (April 11), Penn State (May 16), Syracuse (May 30), Miami (June 6), Florida (June 13) and Georgia (June 20).
Zech Fort
School: IMG Academy (Bradenton)
Position: Safety
Commitment: Georgia
Summary: Fort doesn't have to worry about a college decision. He committed to Georgia in January.
Last year, he accounted for 36 tackles, four tackles for loss, and an interception.
CJ Bronaugh
School: Windermere (Winter Garden)
Position: Cornerback
Commitment: Nebraska
Summary: The Cornhuskers commit was a pest last season for opposing offenses.
Bigger than a lot of the receivers he squared off against, Bronaugh intercepted six passes as a junior. He returned three for touchdowns.
Simeon Caldwell
School: The Bolles School (Jacksonville)
Position: Linebacker
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: A linebacker/safety hybrid, Caldwell is an up-and-coming prospect who projects as a top-100 recruit. Last season, he recorded 80 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and three sacks.
Caldwell has unofficial visits to Michigan (March 22), Ohio State (March 29 & April 12), and USC (April 26) scheduled. His official visits include Miami (May 30), USC (June 6), Notre Dame (June 13) and Ohio State (June 20).
Izayia Williams
School: Tavares
Position: Linebacker
Commitment: Florida
Summary: The Gators landed a massive in-state win when Williams committed in March.
Last season, he recorded 125 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and four sacks for the Bulldogs.
Johnnie Jones
School: Berkeley Prep (Tampa)
Position: Offensive Tackle
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: With his 6-foot-6 and 305-pound frame, Jones looks like the type of player who can come in and play wherever on day one.
He has seven official visits lined up to Colorado (April 5-6), Vanderbilt (April 12-13), Ole Miss (April 18-20), Florida State (May 31-June 2), UCLA (June 6-8), Penn State (June 13-15) and Miami (June 20-22).
Asharri Charles
School: Venice
Position: EDGE
Commitment: Uncommitted
Summary: Charles racked up the numbers during the Indians' state title run. He accounted for 106 tackles, 20 quarterback hurries, 15.5 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, and 2.5 forced fumbles.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY High School Sports Wire: 2026 recruiting rankings: Florida high school football prospects
Continue reading...
