Billy Napier's Florida Gators flip No. 1 LB from USC in the Class of 2025

Four-star linebacker Ty Jackson flipped his commitment from the USC Trojans to the Florida Gators on Monday. He initially pledged to the Trojans on Sept. 9, but reversed course after an official visit to Gainesville during Billy Napier's program's upset win over Ole Miss last weekend.

The Gators' 27-20 win over the Rebels pushed their record to 6-5, securing bowl eligibility for the second consecutive season under Napier. Jackson also attended Florida’s 41-17 loss against Miami in Week 1.

Florida also secured two more flips on the same day following Jackson's move. Three-star offensive tackle Jahari Medlock flipped from Cincinnati and three-star wide receiver Muizz Tounkara backed off from his pledge to Arizona to join the Gators.

With these additions, the Gators’ 2025 class boasts 19 commitments, ranked No. 19 nationally and No. 11 in the Southeastern Conference.

The Gators aren’t done yet, with top-tier targets like five-star Ohio State cornerback commit Na’eem Offord and four-star Texas wide receiver commit Jaime Ffrench still on their watch list.

Meanwhile, Jackson’s flip leaves a notable void in USC's 2025 recruiting class, where he had been the third-highest-ranked prospect. The Trojans still boast four-star linebackers Matai Tagoa’i and Jadon Perlotte, but drop to 14 commitments overall, ranking No. 14 nationally.

Why did Ty Jackson flip to the Florida Gators?

Ty Jackson had initially planned to commit closer to the Early Signing Period on Dec. 4. However, a strong pitch from USC defensive line coach Eric Henderson led the Seminole Ridge High School standout to pledge to the Trojans early.

However, the Florida native also couldn’t ignore the persistent push from the Florida Gators, ultimately flipping his commitment. Jackson’s father revealed to On3 that proximity to home was a decisive factor in his son’s decision.

“He was going back and forth with distance being an issue," the senior Jackson said. "Having been in that position and playing college ball (at Austin Peay State), I had teammates from Miami there with me and they’d leave and go back."

Jackson's father also addressed potential concerns before committing to a program far from home, saying:

"Being homesick is real. It’s something you want to iron out before you go. Ultimately, it would have been a concern to go there and not like it. You’re stuck where you don’t want to be.”

Florida’s co-defensive coordinators, Ron Roberts and Austin Armstrong, played big roles in Jackson’s recruitment. His decision to stay in-state also means he would continue playing alongside current Florida commit and high school teammate Daniel Pierre-Louis.

Ty Jackson is the No. 1 linebacker in the 2025 class, according to ESPN. He is also the nation's No. 54 overall prospect and No. 8 recruit in Florida.