Gators legacy Ben Hanks Jr., a top-100 prospect, commits to Florida
Billy Napier and the Florida Gators just made another splash on the recruiting trail, this time landing a top target on defense.
Ben Hanks Jr., a 4-star cornerback from Miami Booker T. Washington, announced his commitment moments ago. Florida beat out Miami and Louisville for his services.
Joining Vernell Brown III and Demetres Samuel, Hanks is another legacy commit for the Gators, as his father is former Florida linebacker Ben Hanks. The former All-SEC standout played for Steve Spurrier and racked up 300-plus career tackles in college, He was a part of three SEC-championship teams at UF.
Now, Hanks Jr. is slated to carve out a career with the Florida Gators as well.
According to the On300 rankings, the 6-foot-1, 170-pound Hanks is the No. 72 prospect and No. 10 cornerback in the 2025 class.
“I know my dad had a legacy there. For me to go there, it would continue the legacy,” Hanks recently told On3. “They have the coaching staff, the environment there, and it’s a winning program. The winning mentality there is amazing. Coach (Billy) Napier wants me to be a Gator, stay home, and continue the legacy.”
The Gators surged with Ben Hanks Jr. when it mattered most
Prior to Hanks’ commitment, the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine favored the Gators with odds north of 90 percent. That was due to the handful of picks submitted across the network. Louisville was considered Florida’s top competition down the stretch.
At the same time, however, the Gators only received one visit until an official visit took place in June. That experience alone catapulted them into serious contention, while Hanks was also on campus for Booker T.’s 7-on-7 tournament. That visit was just prior to his Miami OV and likely needed down the stretch.
As Hanks spent more time around the Gators, momentum started shifting and now the rest is history.
“The best thing about Florida to me is the culture here — a winning culture,” Hanks recently told GO. “They have a good coaching staff and I love everything about them.”
One of those staff members continuing to push the right buttons is secondary coach Will Harris.
“Me getting to know him — coming here and talking to him about on and off-field stuff — he’s a great guy. I like him,” Hanks said. “He’s a great coach and he has a good background from the NFL.”
With Hanks on board, the Gators now hold commitments from 13 prospects in the 2025 class. The highest-ranked prospect in the group is wide receiver Vernell Brown III.
Stay tuned to Gators Online.
