Florida has been struggling to build its 2025 recruiting class amid uncertainty about Billy Napier’s future. The fact that the Gators are at 15th in the SEC on the 247Sports Composite rankings was likely a factor in UF athletic director Scott Stricklin announcing last week that Napier will return for the 2025 season despite a losing record in 2-plus seasons. It won’t do much to move the needle, but Florida has a 12th commitment.

Evan Noel, a kicker from Mississippi, took to social media to announce Monday that he has flipped his commitment from Arkansas to Florida.

Noel is ranked the No. 2 kicker in the nation on the Composite as well as Kohl’s Kicking. Florida, Arkansas and Ole Miss are the 3 schools to extend scholarship offers.

“Noel competed at the National Scholarship Camp in July of 2024 and had an outstanding camp,” his Kohl’s bio reads. “He scored 32/36 points on field goals and 107.5 points on kickoffs. Noel might have the best overall talent in the 2025 class! He is very consistent and handles pressure very well. Noel had another strong showing at the 2024 Underclassman Challenge. He scored an impressive 19 points on field goals and won a field goal competition at the UC Challenge.”

The addition of Noel gives the Gators 12 verbal pledges for 2025. The class is now ranked No. 45 nationally on the Composite, still 15th in the SEC. Mississippi State is 14th in the conference at No. 33 nationally. Vanderbilt checks in at No. 83 nationally for 16th.