Florida CB signee Ben Hanks III named No. 23 prospect in final 2025 On300

Despite an up-and-down season last fall, Florida still managed to rake in the nation’s No. 11 recruiting class. The Gators are bringing in some elite talent to Gainesville, including multiple big-time legacy recruits.

Miami Booker T. Washington cornerback Ben Hanks III is continuing one of those legacies, and on Thursday the 6-foot-1, 170-pounder was named a new five-star prospect in the final 2025 On300 recruiting rankings.

Hanks checks in at No. 23 overall and is now also a top-five cornerback in the cycle. Since his commitment to the Gators back in August, Hanks has continued to emerge as one of the nation’s top defensive backs.

As a senior, Hanks broke a Miami-Dade County record with 13 interceptions. He also had 40 total tackles, captaining a team that won 12 games in 2024. Across four seasons, Hanks tallied 113 tackles and a whopping 21 INTs.

The son of former Florida linebacker Ben Hanks also recently impressed during Navy All-American Bowl week earlier this month in San Antonio. He drew high praise from On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power:

“Ben Hanks III hasn’t been targeted a ton at Navy All-American Bowl practices for good reason. The Florida pledge has locked down his side of the field for much of practice. He is rarely out of position and has given up very few catches on the week to this point,” Power wrote after the second day of practice.

“Opposing quarterbacks have tended to go away from his side through the first two days. Hanks is a fluid mover with outstanding ball skills, as evidenced by a ridiculous 13 interceptions as a senior. He looks like one of the smoothest cornerbacks on hand in San Antonio.”

Hanks helped get the ball rolling for Florida recruiting

Before head coach Billy Napier and the UF staff rattled off over a dozen commitments in the last two months ahead of the Early Signing Period, Hanks was a big win for the in-state program over the summer.

Hanks chose the Gators over Miami, Georgia and Louisville on Aug. 16. His long-term relationships in Gainesville sealed the deal when the time came to make a decision.

“I have a great relationship with coach Billy Napier and coach Will Harris. I have been going to Florida since I was a kid. My dad played there, my sister went there, my cousin Treon Harris played there, so it is like home for me,” Hanks told On3’s Chad Simmons.

“That is what it came down to. Florida feels like home.”

Now, Hanks is one of five top-100 signees in Florida’s 2025 haul. In-state four-star safety Hylton Stubbs and four-star safety Lagonza Hayward are also top-100 recruits, making for an elite defensive back haul. Hanks is the lone five-star in the On300 for UF, though wide receivers Dallas Wilson and Vernell Brown III are also five-star recruits in the On3 Industry Ranking.