Billy Napier's Florida Gators offer scholarship to elite OT to the Class of 2026

Three-star prospect Ben Congdon is rapidly emerging as one of the top offensive tackles in the 2026 class. The standout from Tuscarawas Valley High School in Mineral City, Ohio, has gained significant attention in the recruitment world over the past few months.

On Thursday, Congdon secured his eleventh offer from Billy Napier's Florida Gators and shared the news on X, expressing his gratitude to Napier and Florida offensive line coach Jonathan Decoster.

"Excited to have earned my eleventh D1 offer from The University of Florida! Thank you for believing in me @coach_bnapier, & coach Decoster."

Congdon’s rise is remarkable, especially for a player from Tuscarawas County, which is not traditionally known for producing high-profile recruits. He expressed his enthusiasm about his potential via PSN, saying:

“To describe myself as a player, I would say I’m dedicated and have heart for the game and will put the work in when no one else will. If I were to get an offer from Pitt, it means that they care about me and they want to develop me into an educated man in the classroom and also develop me on the field as well.”

Congdon's recruitment began gaining momentum on Aug. 30, when he received his first Division I offer from USF. Since then, the offers have poured in, with schools like Florida State, Miami, Pittsburgh, Penn State and NC State joining the race.

The Florida Gators made a smart move by recognizing Congdon's talent early. Despite just offering him, the Gators are already heavily involved in his recruitment. However, the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine currently favors Kentucky (44.9%), Maryland (39.3%), and Marshall (3.1%) over Florida's modest 2.6% chance of landing Congdon's commitment.

Florida Gators' 2026 class recruitment update

The Florida Gators' 2026 class secured its latest commitment from four-star in-state safety Devin Jackson in July. This cycle also includes two other in-state prospects: four-star quarterback Will Griffin and four-star cornerback Jaelen Waters. With these three committed players, the Gators' class ranks No. 7 in the Southeastern Conference and No. 14 in the nation.

The Gators remain in the mix for multiple in-state prospects, including quarterback Logan Rogers, running back Amari Clemons, wide receivers Naeem Burroughs, Somourian Wingo and Jayden Petit, as well as safety Clifton Hester, defensive lineman James Johnson, edge rusher Alejandro Schmitt, linebacker Malik Morris and cornerback Chauncey Kennon, among others.