4-star S Hylton Stubbs signs with Florida
On Wednesday, 4-star safety Hylton Stubbs of Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin signed with the Florida Gators during the first day of the Early Signing Period. Here is everything you need to know about him.
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Position: Safety
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1/185 pounds
On3 Industry Rankings: No. 58 prospect | No. 4 safety | No. 8 prospect in Florida
Commitment date: 12/2/24
Chose Florida over: Miami
Time of enrollment: January
2024 Stats: 54 tackles (39 tackles), 4 pass deflections, 3 forced fumbles, 2 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery
Stubbs says: “The main reason for this decision is my belief in the football program and the incredible opportunity to compete for a national championship. Coach (Billy) Napier’s vision, leadership, and genuine approach stood out to me, and I’m confident he’s building something special in Gainesville. I’m excited to play for a coach who prioritizes development both on and off the field. Go Gators!”
Notable: Stubbs, who was trending heavily toward Florida at the start of 2024, made previous commitments to USC and Miami, respectively. His decision to flip to Florida came after a strong unofficial visit one day before the dead period.
Social Media: X (drakestubbs1); Instagram (tmh.drake)
What the Gators are getting in Hylton Stubbs
The first thing that stands out about Stubbs in his anticipation. He has a great football IQ in the back end of the defense and breaks on the ball very well. He is light on his feet and shows no problem changing direction when reacting to the quarterback’s movements. Once Stubbs diagnoses the play, there is no looking back. The game comes easy to him.
Then you have the ball skills. Over the last two seasons, Stubbs has recorded eight interceptions to go along with nearly a dozen pass deflections. He also does a good job of getting vertical to high-point the ball. At 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, Stubbs makes use of his length and times his jump very well. His instincts are some of the best at the position for the 2025 cycle. This ties into the first section, as Stubbs does a good job of reading what’s in front of him.
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Let’s just say Stubbs is not afraid of contact; in fact, he gladly welcomes it and has a reputation for making ball carriers pay when going in his direction. He provides a thud at the point of attack and does a good job of driving through his opponent with force. Once finding a lane, Stubbs gets downhill in a hurry and shows off his impressive burst to the ball, often resulting in a strong hit on the ball carrier.
Stubbs doesn’t boast elite speed but doesn’t lack in that department either. He makes up for it with his acceleration and instincts. He is a good scheme fit for the Gators, as he will likely be moved around to utilize his gifts in both the run and pass game. It’s hard to find many knocks in his game. He has a strong frame for the position with length, ball skills in the pass game, and makes his presence felt in run defense.
