FIVE-STAR QB MALIK ANDERSON “SIGNS” WITH FLORIDA GATORS IN SHOCK MOVE—BUT IT WAS ALL A HOAX!

Fans Stunned as Viral Announcement Turns Out to Be Elaborate Prank; Recruiting World Left Reeling After Top Prospect’s Fake Commitment Sparks Online Frenzy and Speculation

 

In one of the most bizarre twists in recent college football recruiting history, five-star quarterback Malik Anderson appeared to commit to the University of Florida in a shocking announcement that sent Gators fans into a frenzy—only for it all to unravel as an elaborate prank within 24 hours.

 

The 17-year-old phenom from Dallas, Texas, widely regarded as the No. 2 quarterback in the 2025 class, posted a professionally edited video to his social media accounts Thursday afternoon. The 90-second clip featured Anderson donning Florida Gators gear, highlights of him tossing touchdown passes, and a dramatic voiceover saying, “It’s time to bring the Swamp back.” The video closed with Anderson signing a document labeled “National Letter of Intent” while surrounded by friends and family in Gators colors.

 

Within minutes, the internet exploded.

 

Florida fans celebrated across social media, major recruiting sites reported the commitment as official, and even several Florida players and coaches reposted Anderson’s video with congratulatory messages. The hashtag #GatorGang shot to trending status nationwide.

 

But the euphoria would be short-lived.

 

Late Thursday night, Anderson went live on Instagram, laughing and shaking his head as he revealed the commitment was never real. “I was just having a little fun,” he told viewers. “Y’all take this recruiting stuff way too serious. I haven’t made any decision yet. Florida’s a great school, but I’m still wide open.”

 

The fallout was immediate and intense.

 

Florida fans were stunned and outraged. Recruiting analysts scrambled to retract earlier reports, and questions emerged over how such a high-profile hoax could have fooled so many. Some began speculating whether this was a calculated publicity stunt or a spontaneous joke that spiraled out of control.

 

Anderson’s prank, while unprecedented in scale, touches on the increasing theatrics surrounding college football recruiting. In the age of social media, top prospects are treated like celebrities, often teasing their choices with cryptic posts and “edits” crafted by graphic designers. But rarely, if ever, has a fake commitment been taken this far—and believed so widely.

 

Rivals.com analyst Josh Simmons called the stunt “a recruiting bombshell.”

 

“Malik Anderson is one of the most talked-about players in this class,” Simmons said. “When he ‘committed’ to Florida, it sent shockwaves. People assumed it was real because of how polished and convincing it was. It fooled even the insiders.”

 

Anderson, a dual-threat quarterback with elite arm strength and mobility, holds offers from over 30 Power Five programs, including Alabama, Georgia, USC, and Ohio State. He’s taken unofficial visits to several campuses but has not named a clear favorite—until Thursday’s stunt had many believing Gainesville had won the sweepstakes.

 

In the wake of the hoax, Florida’s coaching staff has reportedly backed off public comments but is said to remain in communication with Anderson. One source close to the Gators program called the prank “frustrating but not a dealbreaker.”

 

“Recruiting is emotional,” the source said. “You don’t want to be played, but at the same time, we still want the kid. Malik’s a generational talent.”

 

Reaction from around the college football world has been mixed. Some fans and commentators praised Anderson’s sense of humor and his willingness to challenge a system that often profits from teenage athletes without giving them much control. Others criticized the prank as immature and disrespectful to the programs and fans involved.

 

ESPN’s Paul Finebaum didn’t hold back during his Friday morning radio show.

 

“This is a kid playing games with people’s emotions for clout,” Finebaum said. “If I’m a coach, I’d be very wary of how seriously he’s taking the process.”

 

However, others in the sport saw the prank as relatively harmless.

 

“He’s 17,” said former NFL quarterback and current analyst Robert Griffin III. “Let the kid have some fun. It’s a crazy process these guys go through. As long as he handles his business on the field, this won’t matter.”

 

Anderson has since posted a follow-up message, apologizing for misleading fans but defending his actions as “just having fun with the process.”

 

“I get that some people are upset,” he wrote on Twitter. “But at the end of the day, it’s my future. I’ll announce for real when I’m ready. No hard feelings to the Gators—I respect the program a lot.”

 

Whether the prank will ultimately affect Anderson’s recruitment remains to be seen. For now, he remains one of the most sought-after players in the nation—and perhaps the most talked-about, for reasons no one saw coming.

 

As the recruiting circus continues, one thing is clear: Malik Anderson knows how to command attention, both on and off the field.