Florida football lands commitment from towering DL Cain Van Norden

Florida football sealed another victory on the recruiting trail Friday when it landed three-star defensive lineman Cain Van Norden for its 2027 recruiting class.

Van Norden is a 6-foot-7-inch, 265-pound commit from Bishop McNamara High School in District Heights, Maryland. Heralded by many scouts to possess tremendous upside, he chose Florida over Maryland, Ole Miss, Syracuse and Michigan State. The No. 94-ranked lineman in the 2027 cycle believes that UF offers a strong developmental system under defensive line coach Gerald Chatman.

The Old Line State product is a dual-sport athlete who found success on the hardwood as well as the gridiron. With high-level athleticism for his size, he touts length, agility and the ability to rush the passer.

The Gators continue to ride a wave of momentum that has seen the program rise into the nation's top 10 team recruiting rankings. The arrival of new head coach Jon Sumrall has brought renewed optimism to the program and a shift in Florida's culture and national perception. In fact, following a dismal 4-8 campaign in 2025, the Gators are projected by many experts to finish in the top-25 this upcoming season.

Van Norden will be a valuable addition to Sumrall's class, which secured commitments from several blue-chip prospects in recent weeks, including four-star running back Andrew Beard and four-star offensive tackle Elijah Hutchenson.

Cain Van Norden's recruiting summary

Van Norden is ranked No. 843 overall and No. 94 at his position nationally according to the 247Sports composite, while the Rivals industry ranking has him at Nos. 825 and 79, respectively. He has 19 standing offers, including three other SEC programs. Florida beat out Virginia Tech and Ole Miss who had the highest odds to land the prospect before his commitment.

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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Defensive lineman Cain Van Norden commits to Florida football