Aug 172 min read

Florida Picks Up 2025 Four-Star Cornerback

The Florida Gators and head coach Billy Napier have made a splash in the 2025 recruiting class. According to On3Recruits, the Gators landed 6-foot-1, 170-pound cornerback Ben Hanks Jr. Hanks chose the Gators over the Miami Hurricanes and Louisville Cardinals. Hanks is also the son of former All-Southeastern Conference Gator linebacker Ben Hanks Sr. A major part in Hanks coming to the Gators was his dad's legacy as a player there as well and wanting to continue said legacy.

Hanks in High School

Hanks went to high school in Miami at Booker T. Washington High School. In his sophomore year, he tallied 31 total tackles, 8 pass breakups and also had 3 interceptions in 11 games played. He helped his school finish 9-3 that year and they made Florida's 2M playoffs.

In his junior year, he tallied 38 total tackles, 6 interceptions with 3 of them being returned for touchdowns, blocked 3 field goals and had a fumble recovery for a touchdown.

Florida 2025 Recruiting Class

Hanks joins an already flooded recruiting class that the Gators have put together for the 2025 season. According to 247Sports, the Gators 2025 recruiting class ranks No. 30 in the nation and has 13 total commits.

The recruiting class contains six four-stars-including Hanks and seven three-stars.

Andrew Ivins, 247Sports Director of Scouting, gave a breakdown of who Hanks is as a player.

"Long-limbed, reactionary athlete that has proven to be a ballhawk out on the perimeter while facing speedy Miami-based competition," Ivins said. "Comfortable in one-on-one situations and has experience working out of both press-man and off-man coverage. Fluid midline allows him to mirror with his hips and maintain phase. Should be viewed as a potential multi-year starter at the Power Four level that can duke it out with large and fast wide receivers."

Ivins also mentioned that Hanks is going to need some time to adjust to the difficulty of the college game and take some time to get his body right. He also mentioned that Hanks has the tools that most teams look for in an outside cornerback.

Stay tuned to College Football Dawgs throughout the season for continued coverage on the Florida Gators.