Texas WR commit Jaime Ffrench: Florida ‘definitely’ has a chance after OV

Ffrench’s high school quarterback flipped from the Noles to the Gators while in Gainesville with his star wide receiver.

In recruiting news for the Texas Longhorns, the trip to Fayetteville to face the Arkansas Razorbacks ensured the focus would always be elsewhere and the official visit of Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin wide receiver Jaime Ffrench with the Florida Gators made some waves given his pledge to the Longhorns.

Initially, the trip was primarily viewed as an opportunity for Ffrench to catch a game with his high school quarterback, consensus four-star prospect Tramell Jones. But then Jones flipped his pledge from Florida State to Florida on Sunday on evening, adding to the intrigue.

Also on Sunday, Ffrench told Gators Online that Florida “definitely” has a chance to flip his commitment.

“DJ Lagway, the coaching staff, like, with them having another year, everything makes sense,” Ffrench said.

Before Florida traveled to Austin to take a 49-17 beating from Texas, the school announced that third-year head coach Billy Napier will return for another season in Gainesville, more an admission that the Gators don’t have the $26-plus million to pay Napier’s buyout than an actual expression of confidence in a coach with a 16-19 record leading Florida.

So Ffrench mentioning the Gators coaching staff in such a positive light is a rather odd statement, but the Monday morning announcement from Rosenhaus Sports that Ffrench has signed with them for his NIL representation adds another layer to the whole situation.

The Florida official visit, then, may be a leverage play from Ffrench and his new representation to ensure the maximum value for his NIL deal in college.

With the likelihood that Isaiah Bond and Matthew Golden will both declare early for the 2025 NFL Draft, Texas likely has some available funds to ensure the consensus five-star prospect ranked as the No. 24 overall player and the No. 5 wide receiver, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, isn’t overly tempted to jump on Napier’s sinking ship.