Jeramiah McCloud from Gadsden County in Havana, Florida, has committed to the Florida Gators, after recently decommitting from Mississippi State. The three-star defensive lineman measures 6-foot-4 and weighs 285 pounds. He is ranked as the 501st overall player on the 247 Sports Composite and the 50th ranked defensive lineman. The On3 Industry Rankings place him as the 459th overall player and the 38th defensive lineman.
Last season, McCloud earned a spot on the Tallahassee Democrat All-Big Bend selection for his defensive play. He showed versatility, working from multiple alignments up front, and amassed 55 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks.
McCloud had been committed to Mississippi State since January. However, when Florida showed interest in February, momentum began to shift. After receiving an offer, McCloud visited Florida three times, more than any other school. He brought his mother and a coach on his last visit. By early April, he hinted at a potential change of commitment. LSU and Florida emerged as primary contenders, but he also mentioned UGA in his top three. Eventually, Florida secured McCloud, largely due to the efforts of defensive line coach Gerald Chatman, with Austin Armstrong and Billy Napier also playing pivotal roles. Other teams such as LSU, Colorado, Georgia, Auburn, and USC expressed interest after his commitment to the Bulldogs.
At the Under Armour camp in Orlando this past February, McCloud clinched the MVP honors for the defensive line. He did not lose a single rep in the OL/DL 1v1s, leading to more offers. At Mississippi St, he received comparisons to Fletcher Cox and Chris Jones. The camp review highlighted McCloud’s love for competition and his tenacity on the field, which earned him the defensive lineman Most Valuable Player award.
Neil Stopczynski from 247 Sports describes McCloud as a “big-bodied and muscled up football player with very good length in his limbs and a sizeable upper body.” He notes McCloud’s ability to line up on both ends of the defensive line at DE and 3T and in both 2pt and 3pt stances.
McCloud could play as a defensive end or, with some additional bulk, could transition inside. He has said that Florida appreciates his ability to move around and play both inside and at the end on the defensive line. His versatility and Power Five level size make him an intriguing prospect.
With McCloud’s commitment, the Gators now have four commitments in their 2025 recruiting class. McCloud joins James Rickards’ four-star edge Jalen Wiggins from Tallahassee, Plant’s four-star running back Waltez Clark from Tampa, and Woodward Academy’s three-star wide receiver Josiah Abdullah from Atlanta.
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