GAINESVILLE — Florida continued to build the Gators’ lines of scrimmage for the future, receiving commitments Monday from four-star offensive lineman Peyton Miller of Texas and Tampa three-star defensive tackle De’Voun Kendrick.
The 6-foot-5, 290-pound Miller will join five-star commitment Maxwell Hiller in the 2027 class and line up inside for offensive line coach Phil Trautwein, whose recruiting impact has been evident since new head coach Jon Sumrall hired him in December.
While at Penn State, Trautwein, a former All-SEC performer for the Gators, recruited Miller out of Anna, Texas, as well as Hiller, who hails from Coatesville, Pennsylvania, and ranks as the nation’s top interior line prospect.
Ranked No. 9 at his position and No. 124 overall by 247Sports composite rankings, Miller chose the Gators over in-state schools Texas, Tech Tech and SMU, along with Arizona State and Clemson.
Trautwein’s success as a player at Florida and ability to develop linemen for the NFL are key selling points. Penn State’s Olaivavega Ioane was the No. 14 pick by the Baltimore Ravens in last week’s NFL draft, the fifth first-rounder coached by Trautwein since 2018.
Meanwhile, the 6-foot-4, 275-pound Kendrick joins the Gators on the heels of the Minnesota Vikings drafting former Gators’ defensive tackle Caleb Banks No. 18.
Like Banks, who transferred from Louisville in 2023, Kendrick will have to develop under respected defensive line coach Gerald Chatman.
Rated the nation’s No. 81 prospect at his position and No. 724 overall, Kendrick has steadily improved at Tampa’s Carrollwood Day. He recorded 28 tackles, 13 for loss (2 1/2 sacks) and forced a fumble last season after failing to tally a TFL in 44 stops as a sophomore in 2024.
Kendrick, the first defensive line commitment in the ’27 class, chose Florida over Louisville and Georgia Tech.
The commitments pushed the Gators’ 2027 class three spots to No. 10 in 247Sports team rankings.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
