Big Intel on CJ Hester’s College Football Future as Georgia, Miami and Other Powerhouse Make Aggressive Push

The recruitment of Cocoa (Fla.) CB CJ Hester is shaping up to be one of the more high-stakes battles of the 2026 cycle. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound DB has trimmed his list to six schools, and the competition is fierce. Among the contenders: Auburn, Georgia, Iowa, Miami, Syracuse, and one SEC school that’s quietly becoming a monster again on the trail. Hester, On3’s No. 17 corner in his class, has become a national name, with a game that blends speed, physicality, and instincts. And while his recruitment has had some twists, the path ahead is starting to come into focus, with a summer surge expected to set the tone.

Enter Billy Napier and the Florida Gators. According to intel gathered by On3’s Chad Simmons, Florida isn’t just in the mix—they’re leading the race. “Florida is the team to beat for local CB,” Simmons reported. The Gators have long held Hester high on their board, and the Cocoa standout appears to be reciprocating that energy. Florida will host CJ Hester for a pivotal official visit on May 30, giving Napier and his staff a final chance to lock in one of the most talented defenders in the Sunshine State before a July 1 commitment. While AU surged after a strong visit last weekend, Florida’s grip remains strong.

Syracuse on June 6 and Iowa on June 20. He also had a trip to UCLA scheduled on June 13, although the Bruins did not make his top six. The Gators have momentum, but they’re not resting easy. AU’s recent push moved the Tigers up Hester’s board, and Georgia, a perennial recruiting juggernaut, is lurking. Canes, Iowa, and Syracuse round out the top six, and while they may seem like long shots compared to the SEC heavies. Each has had meaningful conversations with Hester and remains in line for upcoming visits. Still, it’s Florida that has the strongest current pull. Multiple insiders, including On3’s Blake Alderman and Corey Bender, have already logged predictions in favor of the Gators, signaling that the tide in this recruitment may already be rolling in.

Florida is the team to beat for 4-star CB CJ Hester, @ChadSimmons_ reports

Read: https://t.co/TxBa1ZZtEK pic.twitter.com/U29mc4yMyp

— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) May 23, 2025

CJ Hester has remained methodical through the process. While Florida looks like the frontrunner, he’s emphasized that upcoming visits will be critical in his decision-making. “I will be committing on July 1,” Hester told On3. “I have talked to the colleges and let them know that [it] is my date. The official visits and communication between now and then will help me pick a school.” Those trips will help test the Gators’ lead, including stops with other programs aiming to flip the momentum.

The chessboard for cornerbacks in the 2026 cycle is loaded with talent, but Hester’s blend of size and technique makes him a foundational piece. For a Florida staff looking to return to elite recruiting territory under Napier, locking down a local blue-chipper like Hester is both a tactical necessity and a symbolic victory.

The Gators need to win these kinds of battles—not just to build their depth chart but to reassert dominance in the state of Florida, where programs like Miami and FSU are swinging heavy again. If Florida closes on Hester, it won’t just be a win—it’ll be a statement.

What CJ Hester wants from his future home

CJ Hester isn’t just scanning depth charts or chasing the biggest NIL bag. He’s diving deep into what really matters before making his commitment this July. The talented prospect is doing his homework, and he’s got a checklist longer than a playbook.

“When I commit to a school in July, it will be about a lot of different things,” Hester told On3’s Steve Wiltfong. “How can I get on the field, what their plan is for me, who I can talk to outside of football, and the connections I have with the coaches? NIL will be a factor too because it will show who is really interested in me. The overall culture is probably the most important thing for me, though.”

Hester’s looking for more than just shiny facilities or big-game hype—he wants a real, all-around fit. And so far, Florida is looking like the clubhouse leader. “Just the relationship I have with them,” he said of the Gators. “I talk to them almost every day. Every time I go up there, they make me feel like a priority.” The numbers back it up, too. On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM) gives the Gators a whopping 95.8% chance to land him. But the recruiting landscape is unpredictable. Let’s see what happens next with Hester.

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