In a move that has sent shockwaves through the college football recruiting landscape, five‑star quarterback Jalen “Jet” Hawkins has officially decommitted from Wake Forest University and pledged his future to the University of Florida Gators. Once thought to be solidly in Winston‑Salem, North Carolina, Hawkins’ departure from the Demon Deacons and subsequent flip to Gainesville comes after months of speculation and intense late‑cycle courting by a host of national powerhouses, including Penn State and Tennessee.
Hawkins, ranked as the No. 1 quarterback and No. 3 overall player in the Class of 2025, first offered his verbal pledge to Wake Forest in October of last year. His decision, at the time, was seen as a coup for head coach Dave Clawson and his staff, marking one of the highest‑profile commitments in program history. For months, recruiting insiders applauded Wake Forest’s ability to land Hawkins, citing the school’s strong academics and the promise of early playing time.
However, behind the scenes, Hawkins’ recruitment had never truly cooled off. After the 2024 season ended, University of Florida offensive coordinator Alex Golesh and Gators head coach Billy Napier intensified their overtures, inviting Hawkins and his family to multiple visits to The Swamp. The Gators showcased the newly renovated quarterback facility, offered a direct path to starting in Year 1 under Napier’s fast‑paced offense, and presented Hawkins with a vision of vying for SEC championships and College Football Playoff berths.
Similarly, Penn State—which lost out narrowly in Hawkins’ final top four during his initial decision—made one last bid, leveraging its storied Nittany Lion tradition and recent successes under coach James Franklin. Tennessee, too, joined the fray, pitching Hawkins on playing in front of sell‑out crowds at Neyland Stadium and the opportunity to learn from Heisman Trophy finalist Joe Milton III as a mentor.
Despite the allure of these blue‑blood programs, Hawkins ultimately chose Florida. In a video posted to his social‑media channels on April 23, 2025, Hawkins explained his decision: “I want to be part of something that’s on the rise. The Gators gave me the chance to grow, to compete at the highest level, and to leave a legacy. Coach Napier and Coach Golesh showed me how I fit into their vision, and I believe together we can bring championship football back to Gainesville.”
The decommitment comes just days after Wake Forest’s pro‑style offense—helmed by offensive coordinator George McDonald—posted one of its most prolific seasons ever, complicating the narrative that Hawkins was drawn away by play style alone. Instead, multiple recruiting sources indicate that the deciding factor was Florida’s comprehensive “player development plan,” which included personal mentorship, academic support, and NIL (name, image, likeness) guidance tailored to Hawkins’ aspirations both on and off the field.
Reactions poured in immediately. Florida fans celebrated across social media, flooding the hashtag #JetToGators with congratulatory messages, while alumni boosters lauded the addition as a transformational coup for the program. Conversely, Wake Forest supporters expressed disappointment, with some tempering their frustration by pointing to the Deacons’ strong recent recruiting haul and promising young quarterbacks—such as three‑star prospect Reid Smith—already in the pipeline.
For Penn State and Tennessee, the loss stings but is hardly catastrophic; both programs remain firmly entrenched among the nation’s elite recruiters. Still, losing out on Hawkins will prompt reevaluations of late‑cycle strategy and may accelerate offers to other high‑profile signal callers.
Looking ahead, Hawkins will enroll at the University of Florida this summer, participate in strength‑and‑conditioning programs, and join spring drills with his new teammates. Expectations are sky‑high: many analysts project him to compete immediately for the starting job in the fall, where he will line up behind the venerable orange and blue in a season that Gators faithful hope will herald a return to SEC prominence.
In the cutthroat world of college football recruiting, where momentum can shift in an instant, Jalen Hawkins’ dramatic flip from Wake Forest to Florida serves as a stark reminder: until ink is on paper and classes begin, no commitment is ever truly set in stone.
