5-Star QB Stuns College Football World with Shocking Decommitment from Mountaineers, Flips to Florida Gators Over Penn State, Tennessee, and More
In a move that sent shockwaves across the college football landscape, five-star quarterback recruit Jaxon Williams has officially decommitted from West Virginia University and announced his commitment to the Florida Gators, stunning fans and programs nationwide. The highly touted signal-caller had been pledged to the Mountaineers for nearly eight months and was widely viewed as the centerpiece of their 2025 recruiting class.
Williams, ranked as the No. 2 quarterback in the 2025 class by multiple recruiting services, made the announcement via a social media post late Friday night, thanking West Virginia for their support while expressing excitement about joining the Gators.
“After much thought and prayer, I’ve decided to decommit from West Virginia University,” Williams wrote. “I have nothing but love and respect for the WVU staff and fans. That said, I’m thrilled to announce my commitment to the University of Florida. Go Gators!”
Florida’s head coach Billy Napier and offensive coordinator Rob Sale have reportedly been pursuing Williams for months, even while his verbal commitment to West Virginia remained intact. Insiders suggest that Florida’s revamped offensive scheme and quarterback development track record played a major role in Williams’ decision. The Gators are coming off a strong recruiting surge and now boast one of the top 2025 classes in the nation.
Williams’ decommitment is a huge blow to the Mountaineers, who had pinned high hopes on his arrival as a potential program-changer. West Virginia, under head coach Neal Brown, had managed to secure a top-25 class with Williams as its centerpiece. Now, the staff will need to scramble to find a new leader for their offensive future.
The flip comes as a major surprise, particularly because Williams had also received significant interest from other major programs including Penn State, Tennessee, LSU, and Oregon. Penn State and Tennessee were long considered frontrunners early in the recruiting cycle, but both were ultimately edged out by Florida’s late push.
Recruiting analysts are calling this one of the most dramatic flips of the 2025 cycle so far. “This is the kind of decision that changes the outlook for entire programs,” said 247Sports’ lead analyst Brian Dohn. “Florida just landed a potential superstar, and West Virginia’s loss is enormous.”
Williams is expected to enroll early in January and compete for a starting role right away. With elite arm strength, mobility, and football IQ, he is widely projected to be an impact player at the college level — and potentially beyond.