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USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Nebraska defensive back commit flips to Florida Gators
Former Nebraska defensive back commit flips to Florida Gators Class of 2026 four-star corner CJ Bronaugh decommitted from the Nebraska football program on Tuesday night. On Wednesday, he committed to the Florida Gators. He made the announcement on social media. Bronaugh was the top commitment in the Huskers' 2026 class. The talented corner is ranked the No. 106 overall player in the 2026 class. He is the No. 14 overall corner in the class, and the No. 12 overall player in his class from the state of Florida per the On3 rankings. He originally committed to Nebraska on November 26, 2024. Now, he has a chance to be closer to home. He is currently the highest-rated commitment in the Gators' 2026 class. The 2026 recruiting class has five commitments and ranks near the bottom of the Big Ten recruiting rankings.. The program will look to class over the next couple of days, as things on the recruiting trail begin to heat up, and they may be able to gain some ground. Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Windermere speedster CJ Bronaugh's gives Gators first top-100 commitment in '26 class
GAINESVILLE — Windermere cornerback CJ Bronaugh's commitment Wednesday gives Florida its first top-100 prospect of a 2026 class rising the rankings by the day. UF moved to No. 13 in 247Sports team composite rankings with the commitment of Bronaugh, considered the nation's No. 12 player at his position and No. 99 overall. He also holds the No. 9 spot in the Sentinel's 2026 Central Florida Super60 football prospects. Advertisement Bronaugh originally committed to Nebraska last fall. But he flipped to UF on Wednesday even after recently visiting Florida State, one of more than two dozen schools pursuing the 6-foot-1, 166-pound speedster from Winter Garden. Bronaugh compiled 30 tackles, three for loss, six interceptions, including three pick-sixes, and four pass breakups in eight games in 2024, according to MaxPreps. But Bronaugh was unstoppable in 2025 as a sprinter, highlighted by a 10.24 time in the 100-meter dash at the Florida Relays — to rank No. 3 all-time in the Orlando area. His 10.34 to win the Class 4A state title might be the last time he displayed his speed away from the football field. 'It's all about summer football workouts and my college visits,' Bronaugh told the Orlando Sentinel last week. 'I'm going to put on some more muscle and keep my speed up. It definitely helps to be fast on the field.' Advertisement Few will be faster than Bronaugh, who won his final 13 100 races, including nine in 2025 with six of them 10.34 or faster. He also had four 200 victories in four tries, including an area-best 20.87 in the 200 for a third school record. Bronaugh is the 13th commitment, and ninth in two weeks, for the Gators and coach Billy Napier. Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida football earns commitment from blue-chip cornerback CJ Bronaugh in 2026 cycle
Florida football earns commitment from blue-chip cornerback CJ Bronaugh in 2026 cycle Another day, another commitment for Florida football. On Wednesday, the Gators added four-star cornerback CJ Bronaugh out of Winter Garden (Florida) Windermere to its 2026 recruiting class with a verbal pledge. The 6-foot-1-inch, 166-pound defender had previously committed to the Nebraska Cornhuskers — whom he had pledged to back in November — but recently de-committed, opening the door for Billy Napier and Co. to swoop in and snatch the talent. Bronaugh holds 26 total offers with the Florida State Seminoles also in the mix, as well as the Penn State Nittany Lions and Missouri Tigers. He made an official visit in Gainesville back on May 30, followed by a trip to Lincoln for an OV with the Huskers and one in Tallahassee last weekend with FSU. Alas, the Orange and Blue prevailed... for now, at least. CJ Bonaugh's relationship with Florida football "I really like the culture that Florida has," Bronaugh previously told Swamp247. "The school is in a good area, has good facilities and is in the SEC." Defensive backs' coach Deron Wilson has spearheaded the efforts to get the Central Florida product into the Swamp, as well as Napier. Their approach is the same that has been seen across the program's recruiting efforts over the past few years, which focuses on fostering close relationships with the young prospects. "Since Coach Wilson has gotten to Florida, he's been hitting me up a lot to let me know I'm important to him... He's a really good person. If you put coaching to the side, he's just a really good dude to spend time around," Bronaugh notes. "Coach Napier is even talking with me and my family a lot... they are definitely showing they want me." CJ Bronaugh's Recruiting Summary Bronough is ranked No. 99 overall and No. 12 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite while the On3 industry ranking has him at Nos. 106 and 14, respectively. "Ascending defensive back prospect with some of the best speed markers in the class," 247Sports director of scouting Andrew Ivins begins. "Hasn't faced the stiffest competition to date, but turned heads spring before senior year at an Under Armour Next Camp in Orlando where he not only tested off the charts, but also locked down one side of the field in coverage. Meets key length thresholds as he has been verified at over 6 feet and is equipped with some additional length in the arms. "Straight-line burst and sideline-to-sideline range is optimal for a single or two-high safety role, but warrants a look at corner as he will fight for positioning out on the perimeter and has the agility to mirror most weapons. Not afraid to take risks and jump routes, which led to three pick-sixes as a junior. "Serviceable as an open-field tackler on Fridays, but improved play strength would go a long way on Saturdays, especially if he's going to be asked to fit corridors. Will need to soak up coaching and keep perfecting his craft, but should be viewed as a traits-heavy secondary player that could emerge as a bonafide playmaker for a Power Four program with his frame and acceleration." Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Why Nebraska struggles to hold elite defensive backs in 2026 class
Why Nebraska struggles to hold elite defensive backs in 2026 class (Image Source: Cornerback CJ Bronaugh, a four-star recruit, decommitted on Tuesday evening, and it is a devastating blow to the Nebraska Cornhuskers football program because the staff of the new football coach, Matt Rhule, will have to go out of its way to land top-notch defensive talent. Bronaugh, who was the tenth-best cornerback in the Class of 2026 nationally, had committed to the Nebraska Cornhuskers in November 2024, after his first visit to Lincoln. The move by the Florida native to reopen his recruitment highlights the fact that Nebraska is having to fight to continue to recruit against the traditional powers and especially those in talent-heavy recruiting grounds such as Florida and the Southeast. Timeline reveals Nebraska Cornhuskers' recruiting missteps with CJ Bronaugh At first, it seemed like the Nebraska Cornhuskers were doing a good job by securing the commitment of CJ Bronaugh in November 2024, as they took advantage of an early offer to Bronaugh during his breakout junior year, in which he amassed six interceptions. But it turned sour when the national profile of Bronaugh rose due to his track and field accomplishments with victories in the Florida State championships in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash races. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Windermere High School standout also captured defensive back MVP honors at the Under Armour Next Camp in Orlando, and his recruitment has been broadened tremendously. Even though Bronaugh had committed to the Nebraska Cornhuskers, he planned official visits to several schools, such as the University of Florida, Florida State University and Pennsylvania State University. His weekend visit to Florida State University in Tallahassee was especially influential, and on Tuesday, he made a surprise mid-week trip back to the University of Florida. According to sources, he is now focused on these two in-state programs, indicating that Nebraska's geographical disadvantage was too much to overcome. Matt Rhule's Nebraska Cornhuskers face broader recruiting challenges beyond CJ Bronaugh's loss The loss of CJ Bronaugh is not just a personal recruiting setback to the Nebraska Cornhuskers, but it also accentuates the underlying issues in the program-building process spearheaded by Matt Rhule. This decommitment leaves Nebraska with only five commits in the 2026 recruiting class, and none of them are four-star recruits as ranked by the big recruiting services. The class is currently 67th in the country and 18th in the Big Ten Conference, which is an indication of how difficult a task Nebraska has in that regard, as it competes against traditional recruiting forces. To make it even worse, the Nebraska Cornhuskers have lost four-star running back DeZephen Walker to the University of Oklahoma, who pledged to the Sooners just a few days before his official visit to Lincoln. Such losses are in addition to the increased performance on the field in 2024 when Nebraska had its first bowl appearance since 2016 and won its first postseason game since 2015. Nebraska Cornhuskers are not out of hope yet as there are still targets on their radar, like Florida State University commit Tedarius Hughes, who will be at Lincoln this week as a possible flip candidate. Four-star prospects Danny Odem and Devin Jackson are also slated to visit this weekend, and it will be a chance to show off the recruiting abilities of the Matt Rhule staff. Also Read: College football star LaNorris Sellers ignores $8M transfer deal to stay at South Carolina The CJ Bronaugh decommitment is an ugly reminder that Nebraska has a long way to go before being a national power again because it must win its recruiting battles on a regular basis against historically and geographically advantaged teams. In his third season, Matt Rhule understands that recruiting high-quality talent such as Bronaugh is the key to achieving long-term success, and recruiting weekends in the future hold greater importance to the future of the program. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida Predicted to Flip Blue-Chip DB From Historic College Football Program
Florida Predicted to Flip Blue-Chip DB From Historic College Football Program originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Florida got some good recruiting news on Tuesday night when four-star cornerback C.J. Bronaugh de-committed from Nebraska. Advertisement Per On3's Hayes Fawcett, Bronaugh had been committed to Nebraska since last November before re-opening his recruitment on Tuesday. The Gators have some reason to be excited about flipping Bronaugh because, according to Corey Bender of Gators Online, he visited their campus on Tuesday. On3's Steve Wiltfong later logged a crystal ball prediction for the Gators to land Bronaugh. Florida head coach Billy Napier.© Brett Patzke-Imagn Images This would be a big recruiting win for the Gators since Bronaugh is from Florida. He is a four-star recruit in the 2026 recruiting class and the No. 12 recruit in his home state, per 247Sports composite rankings. He is also the No. 12 cornerback recruit in the nation and the No. 99 overall recruit. Advertisement The Gators currently have the No. 24 recruiting class in the country in 2026 and can improve that ranking by landing Bronaugh. Gators head coach Billy Napier has been at the helm for three seasons, compiling a 19-19 record. He had his best season with the Gators in 2024 when they finished 8-5. Their eighth win came in the Gasparilla Bowl against the Tulane Green Wave. It was a season that Napier needed since the Gators finished below .500 in his first two seasons as head coach. He'll try to continue to ride that momentum into the 2025 season when the Gators play their first game against the Long Island Sharks on August 30. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m. ET. Related: DJ Lagway Injury Scare Not the Only Red Flag for Billy Napier's Florida Gators in 2025 This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
