By Evan MasseyShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThe Florida Gators went through a long process deciding on who to hire to be their next head coach following the midseason decision to part ways with Billy Napier. While Lane Kiffin looked to be the top target at one point in time, the Gators settled on former Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall to lead the program into the future.
Sumrall was a coveted option on the coaching market this year. However, Florida was able to lock him up with a six-year, $44.7 million contract.
Since the move was made, there has been a mixed reaction from Gators fans. Some like the hire and believe that Sumrall could be the guy to get the program back to being a contender. Others don't think it moves the needle for Florida.
Read more: Pete Carroll’s Surprising Role in Lane Kiffin Deciding on LSU
Quickly after the Sumrall hiring was made official, the Gators have received some bad recruiting news.
...According to a report from Hayes Fawcett of Rivals, four-star running back Carsyn Baker has de-commited from the program. He had been committed to Florida since June.
"BREAKING: Four-Star RB Carsyn Baker has Decommitted from Florida, he tells me for @rivals," Fawcett wrote in a post on X. "The 6’2 200 RB from Fairburn, GA had been Committed to the Gators since June."
Losing Baker is a tough blow for the Gators. He has the talent to become a true lead back in the near future.
Hailing from Langston Hughes High School in Georgia, Baker is ranked as the No. 15 running back in the 2026 recruiting class according to 247 Sports composite rankings. He has also been given the ranking of being the No. 211 ranked player in the nation.
Now that his recruiting process is back open, plenty of teams are going to come calling.
Read more: Florida’s Jon Sumrall Hire Met With Brutal Take From Paul Finebaum
Outside of Florida, Baker had received interest from programs like Alabama, Florida State, Clemson, South Carolina, and North Carolina, along with plenty of others. He's going to be a hot commodity in the recruiting world.
It's unfortunate news for Sumrall as he looks to work fast to get the Gators back on track. Baker could have been a big part of that process. Unfortunately, it seems like he's decided to go in a different direction.
For more on the Florida Gators and college football news, head to Newsweek Sports.
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