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Gators Lose Commitment from Legacy Safety

Four-star safety Demetres Samuel Jr. has seemingly gone full-circle with his flip from the Gators to an ACC program.

Cam Parker

Panther Demetres Samuel, Jr. carries the ball at the Heritage High Panthers at Viera High Hawks football game. Credit: Tim Shortt / Florida Today / USA Today Network
Panther Demetres Samuel, Jr. carries the ball at the Heritage High Panthers at Viera High Hawks football game. Credit: Tim Shortt / Florida Today / USA Today Network / TIM SHORTT / FLORIDA TODAY / USA TODAY NETWORK
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After a near-two month commitment to the Florida Gators, four-star safety Demetres Samuel Jr. (Palm Bay, Fla.) flipped his pledge back to Syracuse, he announced late Sunday night.

Samuel Jr. was the Gators' first defensive back commit of the class after he reclassified from the 2026 class to the 2025 class. He was previously committed to Syracuse from March 30 until July 31, when he flipped to Florida.

He is also the younger cousin of former Florida safety Marcus Maye.

"Orange fans I'm locked in! Let's do it!" he said, via a post from On3's Hayes Fawcett.

Samuel Jr. confirmed his decision in a post to his personal "X" account.

Samuel Jr.'s flip back to Syracuse leaves Florida with only one defensive back commit in the class in four-star legacy corner Ben Hanks Jr. His decision also comes in the midst of a crucial portion of the season for the Gators. Sitting at 2-2 and a tough eight games to finish the season, head coach Billy Napier's seat has never been hotter.

Should the Gators continue to struggle and eventually make a change in leadership for the football program, it wouldn't come as a surprise if more follow Samuel Jr. in looking towards other programs for their services.

Florida hosts UCF on Saturday at 7:45 p.m. before facing seven-straight SEC opponents, five of which are ranked and three of which are considered top-five programs in the most-recent AP Poll.

As it stands, the Gators have the nation's No. 19 overall class in this recruiting cycle, according to On3.

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Cam Parker
CAM PARKER

Cam Parker is a contributing writer at AllGators.com of FanNation-Sports Illustrated and is a recent graduate of the University of Florida with a degree in journalism. He also covers and broadcasts Alachua County high school sports with The Prep Zone and Mainstreet Daily News. When he isn't writing, he enjoys listening to '70s music such as The Band or Lynyrd Skynyrd, binge-watching shows and playing with his cat, Chester.

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