Florida football suffered two major setbacks around Valentine’s Day weekend. The departure of assistant coach Will Harris was a tough blow for Gainesville, and now, a top-tier recruit has backed out of his commitment to head coach Billy Napier’s program.
A highly regarded 2026 four-star cornerback, has decided to explore other options. According to Hayes Fawcett of On3.com, He announced his decommitment on Saturday.
Initially choosing Florida over an impressive 53 scholarship offers, He is one of the most physically imposing cornerback prospects in the country at 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds. Programs such as Big Ten champion Oregon, in-state rival Florida State, and SEC contenders LSU and Texas A&M had all been pursuing him.
However, the Armwood High School standout from Seffner, Florida, may now be eyeing another in-state powerhouse—one that recently added the highly regarded defensive backs coach Harris.
Miami has emerged as a serious contender for Waters, with cryptic social media posts hinting that the talented defensive back could be heading to Coral Gables instead.
Waters has earned the distinctive nickname “Seatbelt” from his peers, a moniker he proudly showcases on his X account. The name stems from his ability to lock down opposing wide receivers on the field.
After the news about Harris surfaced, Miami general manager Dennis Smith made a noteworthy post. He issued a “public safety announcement”—not as a warning, but as a signal that Waters is headed to “The U.”
Miami is emerging as the clear frontrunner to flip Waters, with 247Sports’ Gaby Urrutia from Inside the U giving the Hurricanes a high-confidence prediction. Tom Loy of 247Sports also sees Miami as the new favorite for Waters.
The arrival of Harris at “The U” further strengthens the likelihood of Waters making the switch. Harris, meanwhile, addressed Florida fans while expressing gratitude to Napier and the Gators.
“Gator Nation – Love me or hate me, I understand. Either way, it was one cool ass season. Again, business is business,” Harris posted on X, adding a chess piece emoji.
If Miami successfully flips Waters, Harris wouldn’t just be coaching him—he’d also have the opportunity to develop 2026 commit Camden Portis, the son of Hurricanes legend Clinton Portis, in the secondary.