BREAKING NEWS: Florida Gators Land 5-Star Wide Receiver in Shocking Flip from Texas Tech Due to Concerns Over Red Raiders’ Future
BREAKING NEWS: Florida Gators Land 5-Star Wide Receiver in Shocking Flip from Texas Tech Due to Concerns Over Red Raiders’ Future
In a stunning twist on the recruiting trail, the Florida Gators have officially landed a major commitment from 5-star wide receiver Malik Thompson, who has flipped from Texas Tech. This move comes amid growing uncertainty surrounding the direction and stability of the Red Raiders football program.
Thompson, a dynamic 6-foot-2, 195-pound pass catcher from Houston, Texas, had been verbally committed to Texas Tech for nearly a year and was one of the crown jewels of their 2025 recruiting class. However, in recent weeks, questions about the program’s long-term vision, leadership, and offensive identity reportedly shook Thompson’s confidence in sticking with the Red Raiders.
Sources close to Thompson’s camp revealed that Florida’s consistency, elite development of NFL-caliber receivers, and the leadership of head coach Billy Napier played a massive role in swaying the blue-chip recruit.
> “At the end of the day, I need to be somewhere that’s serious about winning, about development, and about building a future,” Thompson said. “Florida’s energy, direction, and plan for me—it just felt real. I couldn’t ignore that.”
This flip is not just a massive win for the Gators, but also a serious blow to Texas Tech, which had made Thompson the face of its 2025 offensive recruiting class. Florida’s wide receivers coach and recruiting ace Billy Gonzales was reportedly instrumental in building a relationship with Thompson and his family, emphasizing not only player development but also a long-term plan to prepare him for the next level.
The Gators, already building one of the strongest classes in the SEC, now add yet another elite weapon to their future arsenal. Thompson’s commitment gives Florida its second 5-star pledge of the cycle and further signals that Napier and his staff are turning recruiting promises into recruiting results.
With this latest move, the Gators now boast a top-3 nationally ranked class, while pressure is mounting in Lubbock as fans question the program’s recruiting stability and direction under head coach Joey McGuire.
Stay tuned as signing day approaches—because if this is any indication, the Gators aren’t done shaking up the
recruiting world.
