Highest-rated football recruits from Florida over the last 20 years

Written by:
May 15, 2022
247Sports

Highest-rated football recruits from Florida over the last 20 years

Football recruiting provides reliable drama, with recruitments and announcements becoming events in their own right. We love to see players from our own states make it big, and watch with pride as they go on to successful careers, knowing their origins shaped them into professional players. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated football recruits from Florida since 2000 using 247Sports. Players are ranked by national ranking with ties broken by rating. Keep reading to discover the highest-rated football recruits from your home state.

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#50: Willie Williams (2004)

- College: Miami
- High school: Miami Carol City (Opa Locka, FL)
- National ranking: #19 in 2004 (5 stars, 0.9988 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (OLB)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#49: Antone Smith (2005)

- College: Florida State
- High school: Pahokee (Pahokee, FL)
- National ranking: #18 in 2005 (5 stars, 0.9932 rating)
- Position ranking: #3 (RB)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#48: Xavier Carter (2004)

- College: LSU
- High school: Palm Bay Senior (Melbourne, FL)
- National ranking: #17 in 2004 (5 stars, 0.993 rating)
- Position ranking: #4 (WR)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#47: Dalvin Cook (2014)

- College: Florida State
- High school: Miami Central (Miami, FL)
- National ranking: #13 in 2014 (5 stars, 0.994 rating)
- Position ranking: #2 (RB)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#46: Demetrice Morley (2005)

- College: Tennessee
- High school: Killian (Miami, FL)
- National ranking: #13 in 2005 (5 stars, 0.9952 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (CB)
- Read more details on 247Sports

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#45: Calvin Ridley (2015)

- College: Alabama
- High school: Monarch (Pompano Beach, FL)
- National ranking: #12 in 2015 (5 stars, 0.9932 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (WR)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#44: Lamarcus Joyner (2010)

- College: Florida State
- High school: St. Thomas Aquinas (Miami, FL)
- National ranking: #12 in 2010 (5 stars, 0.9941 rating)
- Position ranking: #2 (ATH)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#43: Tyson Campbell (2018)

- College: Georgia
- High school: American Heritage (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
- National ranking: #12 in 2018 (5 stars, 0.9944 rating)
- Position ranking: #2 (CB)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#42: Gervon Dexter (2020)

- College: Florida
- High school: Lake Wales (Lake Wales, FL)
- National ranking: #12 in 2020 (5 stars, 0.9946 rating)
- Position ranking: #3 (DT)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#41: Marcus Forston (2008)

- College: Miami
- High school: Northwestern (Miami, FL)
- National ranking: #11 in 2008 (5 stars, 0.994 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (DT)
- Read more details on 247Sports

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#40: Leon Washington (2002)

- College: Florida State
- High school: Andrew Jackson (Jacksonville, FL)
- National ranking: #11 in 2002 (5 stars, 0.9946 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (CB)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#39: Gary Brown (2009)

- College: Florida
- High school: West Gadsden (Greenville, FL)
- National ranking: #10 in 2009 (5 stars, 0.9935 rating)
- Position ranking: #2 (DT)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#38: Leonard Taylor (2021)

- College: Miami
- High school: Miami Palmetto (Miami, FL)
- National ranking: #10 in 2021 (5 stars, 0.994 rating)
- Position ranking: #4 (DL)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#37: Joshua Kaindoh (2017)

- College: Florida State
- High school: IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL)
- National ranking: #10 in 2017 (5 stars, 0.9948 rating)
- Position ranking: #3 (WDE)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#36: Noel Devine (2007)

- College: West Virginia
- High school: North Fort Myers (North Fort Myers, FL)
- National ranking: #10 in 2007 (5 stars, 0.9957 rating)
- Position ranking: #3 (RB)
- Read more details on 247Sports

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#35: Aaron Lynch (2011)

- College: Notre Dame
- High school: Island Coast (Cape Coral, FL)
- National ranking: #9 in 2011 (5 stars, 0.9947 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (SDE)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#34: Kevin Toliver II (2015)

- College: LSU
- High school: Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, FL)
- National ranking: #9 in 2015 (5 stars, 0.995 rating)
- Position ranking: #2 (CB)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#33: Kenneth Phillips (2005)

- College: Miami
- High school: Miami Carol City (Opa Locka, FL)
- National ranking: #9 in 2005 (5 stars, 0.996 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (S)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#32: Ciatrick Fason (2002)

- College: Florida
- High school: Duncan U. Fletcher (Neptune Beach, FL)
- National ranking: #9 in 2002 (5 stars, 0.997 rating)
- Position ranking: #2 (RB)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#31: Dallas Turner (2021)

- College: Alabama
- High school: St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
- National ranking: #8 in 2021 (5 stars, 0.9952 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (Edge)
- Read more details on 247Sports

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#30: Matthew Thomas (2013)

- College: Florida State
- High school: Booker T. Washington (Miami, FL)
- National ranking: #8 in 2013 (5 stars, 0.9957 rating)
- Position ranking: #2 (OLB)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#29: Sam Young (2006)

- College: Notre Dame
- High school: St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
- National ranking: #8 in 2006 (5 stars, 0.9964 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (OT)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#28: Xavier Lee (2004)

- College: Florida State
- High school: Seabreeze (Daytona Beach, FL)
- National ranking: #8 in 2004 (5 stars, 0.9964 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (DUAL)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#27: Nick Bosa (2016)

- College: Ohio State
- High school: St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
- National ranking: #8 in 2016 (5 stars, 0.9965 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (SDE)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#26: Evan Neal (2019)

- College: Alabama
- High school: IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL)
- National ranking: #7 in 2019 (5 stars, 0.9946 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (OT)
- Read more details on 247Sports

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#25: CeCe Jefferson (2015)

- College: Florida
- High school: Baker County Senior (Glen Saint Mary, FL)
- National ranking: #7 in 2015 (5 stars, 0.9952 rating)
- Position ranking: #2 (SDE)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#24: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (2011)

- College: Alabama
- High school: Dr. Phillips (Orlando, FL)
- National ranking: #7 in 2011 (5 stars, 0.9955 rating)
- Position ranking: #2 (S)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#23: Andre Caldwell (2003)

- College: Florida
- High school: Jefferson (Tampa, FL)
- National ranking: #7 in 2003 (5 stars, 0.996 rating)
- Position ranking: #2 (WR)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#22: Nicholas Petit-Frere (2018)

- College: Ohio State
- High school: Berkeley Prep (Tampa, FL)
- National ranking: #7 in 2018 (5 stars, 0.9963 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (OT)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#21: Keith Rivers (2004)

- College: USC
- High school: Lake Mary (Lake Mary, FL)
- National ranking: #7 in 2004 (5 stars, 0.997 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (ILB)
- Read more details on 247Sports

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#20: Trey Sanders (2019)

- College: Alabama
- High school: IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL)
- National ranking: #6 in 2019 (5 stars, 0.9963 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (RB)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#19: Trent Richardson (2009)

- College: Alabama
- High school: Escambia (Pensacola, FL)
- National ranking: #6 in 2009 (5 stars, 0.9972 rating)
- Position ranking: #2 (RB)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#18: Patrick Surtain II (2018)

- College: Alabama
- High school: American Heritage (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
- National ranking: #6 in 2018 (5 stars, 0.9973 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (CB)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#17: Patrick Peterson (2008)

- College: LSU
- High school: Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach, FL)
- National ranking: #6 in 2008 (5 stars, 0.9977 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (CB)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#16: Jacobbi McDaniel (2009)

- College: Florida State
- High school: Madison County (Greenville, FL)
- National ranking: #5 in 2009 (5 stars, 0.9974 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (DT)
- Read more details on 247Sports

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#15: Fred Rouse (2005)

- College: Florida State
- High school: Lincoln (Tallahassee, FL)
- National ranking: #5 in 2005 (5 stars, 0.998 rating)
- Position ranking: #3 (WR)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#14: Chris Davis (2002)

- College: Florida State
- High school: St. Petersburg (Saint Petersburg, FL)
- National ranking: #5 in 2002 (5 stars, 0.998 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (ATH)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#13: Derwin James (2015)

- College: Florida State
- High school: Haines City Senior (Auburndale, FL)
- National ranking: #5 in 2015 (5 stars, 0.9982 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (S)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#12: Laremy Tunsil (2013)

- College: Ole Miss
- High school: Columbia (Lake City, FL)
- National ranking: #4 in 2013 (5 stars, 0.9976 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (OT)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#11: Karlos Williams (2011)

- College: Florida State
- High school: Ridge Community (Davenport, FL)
- National ranking: #4 in 2011 (5 stars, 0.9977 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (S)
- Read more details on 247Sports

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#10: Alex Leatherwood (2017)

- College: Alabama
- High school: Booker T. Washington (Pensacola, FL)
- National ranking: #4 in 2017 (5 stars, 0.9981 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (OT)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#9: Shea Patterson (2016)

- College: Ole Miss
- High school: IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL)
- National ranking: #4 in 2016 (5 stars, 0.9982 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (PRO)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#8: Vernon Hargreaves III (2013)

- College: Florida
- High school: Wharton (Tampa, FL)
- National ranking: #3 in 2013 (5 stars, 0.998 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (CB)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#7: Ryan Moore (2002)

- College: Miami
- High school: Dr. Phillips (Orlando, FL)
- National ranking: #3 in 2002 (5 stars, 0.9986 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (WR)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#6: Byron Cowart (2015)

- College: Auburn
- High school: Armwood (Seffner, FL)
- National ranking: #3 in 2015 (5 stars, 0.9987 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (SDE)
- Read more details on 247Sports

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#5: Xavier Thomas (2018)

- College: Clemson
- High school: IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL)
- National ranking: #3 in 2018 (5 stars, 0.9988 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (SDE)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#4: JC Latham (2021)

- College: Alabama
- High school: IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL)
- National ranking: #2 in 2021 (5 stars, 0.999 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (OT)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#3: Martez Ivey (2015)

- College: Florida
- High school: Apopka (Apopka, FL)
- National ranking: #2 in 2015 (5 stars, 0.9991 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (OT)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#2: Nolan Smith (2019)

- College: Georgia
- High school: IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL)
- National ranking: #1 in 2019 (5 stars, 0.9994 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (WDE)
- Read more details on 247Sports

#1: Ernie Sims (2003)

- College: Florida State
- High school: North Florida Christian (Tallahassee, FL)
- National ranking: #1 in 2003 (5 stars, 1 rating)
- Position ranking: #1 (ILB)
- Read more details on 247Sports

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