The Florida Gators hosted over 70 total prospects at junior days this weekend with the 2026 cycle being the focus across the country in January. 2026 four-star safety CJ Hester was in attendance this weekend and spoke with Gator Country on where the Gators currently stand in his recruitment, and it looks like Coach Napier and Coach Harris made great impressions.
“They are very high in my recruitment. They were still high before but now they are really high,” Hester said on where the Gators currently stand in his recruitment. “I might get back over here and spend some time with Coach Harris and stuff, so they are very high on my list now.”
The four-star defensive back from Cocoa High School is a big fan of Coach Will Harris and everything he’s about. It’s clear that the Gators are only climbing up the ladder for Hester to begin the year.
“Coach Harris, he’s my dude. He’s very passionate about it, he’s very passionate about every detail. We were in the room just learning about the defense and what he liked,” Hester said on Coach Harris. “It was getting me fired up that he was fired up that I was able to get some nods from him. It makes me understand that I feel like I fit here.”
I’s extremely early in the 2026 cycle, but the Gators couldn’t have had a better start with the 6-1, 185-pound safety and check off all the boxes for Hester.
“Right now they do, they fit all what I’m about and what I want,” Hester said. “Their coaching staff, the academics and just the overall place is special.”
The No. 20 safety and No. 230 overall prospect in the 2026 class holds over 16 offers including offers from Florida, Georgia Tech and Kentucky. Syracuse has yet to offer the four-star defensive back, but the Orange look to be a top school in Hester’s recruitment if they end up pulling the plug.
With Coach Harris looking to be a big factor in Hester’s recruitment, I expect the Gators to remain at the top for the four-star throughout the rest of the year. In three seasons played so far at Cocoa High School, Hester has recorded 149 total tackles (90 solo), 16 passes defended, six interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and a tackle for loss.