While USF fans were getting into serious celebration mode after their team’s 18-16 win over Florida, 3-star offensive tackle Javarii Luckas saw a text message pop into his phone.
It was a message from a USF coach that asked if he enjoyed the game.
Luckas, a senior from Glades Central High School, previously made a verbal commitment to the Gators. He told On3.com that he still plans to join Florida next season.
“I mean, it doesn’t really do nothing, to be honest,” Luckas said when asked if the Bulls’ win gave him second thoughts.
“It really just shows they are a decent team this year. One coach from there texted me after the game asking if I enjoyed the game.”
For each other.#ComeToTheBay | #StayInTheBay pic.twitter.com/Dpsq74q9q0
— USF Football (@USFFootball) September 7, 2025
USF is one of several teams, including West Virginia, vying for Luckas’ services. Even though he says his commitment to the Gators is solid, it pays to keep in touch anyway. Gator Nation is in full meltdown mode after Saturday’s game, and the heat on head coach Billy Napier is approaching surface-of-the-sun temperatures.
He was serenaded off the field after the game to chants of “fire Billy, fire Billy.”
A coaching change could cause Luckas and other Gator commitments to consider other options.
“I honestly thought we were going to win. It came down to a kick, and I did not expect that to happen,” Luckas told On3’s Gators Online site. “I wasn’t upset; I was more shocked. When he made the field goal, I was just shocked.”
He might have been shocked, but the Bulls have clearly changed a lot of opinions around the country about the state of their program.
Even before they beat the Gators, ESPN’s College GameDay crew lavished praise on the program Alex Golesh and his staff are building.
"Without question, the story of the college football season right now is South Florida." pic.twitter.com/4Os63mUaEL
— USF Athletics (@USFAthletics) September 7, 2025
And afterward, an ESPN analyst proclaimed, "Without question, the story of the college football season right now is South Florida."
Even if the win didn’t sway Luckas – yet – the amount of positive publicity the Bulls have generated is bound to have a great impact on recruiting.
USF’s 2026 high school commitment class is already highly regarded. On3 currently rates it tops in the American Conference, and it could get better.
And you can bet that Javarii Luckas wasn’t the only potential recruit who heard from USF on Saturday.
“I honestly thought it was funny. I started laughing,” Luckas said.
Assuming that’s true, Luckas was probably the only Gator supporter who found anything humorous about that football game.