Seven new Gators will join the team for the 2027 season.
Wednesday, November 11, 2026 | Soccer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida soccer head coach Nick Zimmerman announced the addition of seven student-athletes to the Gators' 2027 signing class Wednesday.
The seven signees are expected to enroll at Florida in spring 2027, bringing experience from U.S. Youth National Team programs, national club championships and regional and conference competitions.
The class includes two goalkeepers, two defenders, two midfielders and one forward. The group represents six states: California, Georgia, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.
Florida's incoming class is ranked No. 14 nationally by TopDrawerSoccer.com.
"We know how much each of them has put into getting to this point, and we are so excited to be part of the next chapter in their journey. Each brings a unique personality, set of qualities and style of play that will add something special to our group. Most importantly, we are excited to get to know them, build relationships and help them grow both on and off the field.
"We can't wait to get everyone together, get to work and officially welcome them to the Gator Family."
kharihontz | KhariHontz
molly_.mcbride | mollymcbride09
brennanmoore__ | brennan_moore67
summer.riley28 | SummerR06852471
ashley_scott2438
calismithsoccer | CaliCSmith
lily_venneri | LilyV2027_GK | LilyVenneri2027GK
The seven signees are expected to enroll at Florida in spring 2027, bringing experience from U.S. Youth National Team programs, national club championships and regional and conference competitions.
The class includes two goalkeepers, two defenders, two midfielders and one forward. The group represents six states: California, Georgia, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.
Florida's incoming class is ranked No. 14 nationally by TopDrawerSoccer.com.
Florida Soccer Signees
Enrolling for 2027 season| Name | Hometown | Position | High School | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khari Hontz | Grain Valley, Mo | MF | Blue Springs South H.S. | KC Current II |
| Molly McBride | Folsom, Calif. | GK | Vista Del Lago H.S. | San Juan SC 09 |
| Brennan Moore | Apex, N.C. | D | Holly Springs H.S. | NC Courage 08 |
| Summer Riley | Spring Hill, Tenn. | F | Summit H.S. | Tennessee Soccer Club |
| Ashley Scott | Maysville, Ga. | D | Cherokee Bluff H.S. | TopHat 2027 Gold |
| Cali Smith | Lower Gwynedd, Pa. | MF | Springside Chestnut Hill Academy | PDA ECNL |
| Lily Venneri | Wake Forest, N.C. | GK | Wake Forest H.S. | NC Courage 09 |
Coach Zimmerman Says
"We couldn't be more excited to welcome the 2027 class to Gator Nation! What makes this group even more special is that we get to welcome them all to campus this spring and begin this journey together. Although they come from all over the country, they share something very special — an incredible passion for the game, a desire to get better, and an excitement to learn and grow."We know how much each of them has put into getting to this point, and we are so excited to be part of the next chapter in their journey. Each brings a unique personality, set of qualities and style of play that will add something special to our group. Most importantly, we are excited to get to know them, build relationships and help them grow both on and off the field.
"We can't wait to get everyone together, get to work and officially welcome them to the Gator Family."
Khari Hontz
- Position: Midfielder
- High School: Blue Springs South High School
- Hometown: Grain Valley, Mo.
- Club Team: KC Current 2 (Coaches: Marcus Keltcher-Kansas City Athletics and Vasil Ristov-KC Current II)
U.S.
- Participated in combination of U.S. Under-18/U-19 National Team for Oct. 3-10, 2026 training camp in West Palm Beach, Fla.
- Called into summer 2026 U.S. Under-17 National Team camp in Japan. Appeared in both friendlies versus Japan, including starting July 6 match
- One of 36 invited to participate in 2023 US Soccer U-14 Talent ID National Camp in Chula Vista, Calif.
Club
- #75 in TopDrawerSoccer.com 2027 signing class
- Kansas City Current II won 2026 Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL)
- KC Current 2 won group A and advanced to quarterfinals at 2026 The Soccer Tournament – the world's premier 7v7 soccer festival
- Among Soccer Wire's Players Who Impressed at 2026 ENCL Girls National Playoffs as Kansas City Athletics 08/09 advanced to North American Cup semifinal
- Kansas City Athletics advanced to 2025 U16 ECNL National Final match
- Reached 2024 U15 ECNL U15 Champions League National Final match
- 2023 ECNL Midwest Conference U-15 first team
- Mentioned as a standout by SoccerWire after 2024 ECNL Regional League Finals
- Joined KC Current II for 2026 season after playing with Kansas City Athletics
DYK
Khari maintained a 4.0 grade point average throughout high school.Molly McBride
- Position: Goalkeeper
- High School: Vista Del Lago (Coach: Kennedy Chongo)
- Hometown: Folsom, Calif.
- Club Team: San Juan SC (Iain Fraser, Katie Blough, Ron Shackelford, Zeca Neto)
U.S.
- Called into 2024 U15 Olympic Training Center
- U14 USYNT camp in June 2023
- Received multiple invitations to the U.S. National Team Talent ID events, including January 7, 2026 U.S. at Santa Clara, Calif. and January 22, 2025 U15/U16 U.S. Talent ID in Danville, Calif.
Club
- #36 in TopDrawerSoccer.com 2027 signing class
- San Juan SC 09 competed in top-tier ECNL Champions League U14-U16. Reached 2026 ECNL U17 Final Eight of Champions League and to 2025 ECNL Final 16 Elite Edition (San Diego)
- Part of U17 NorCal Premier PDP team that competed at the Aug. 1-14, 2026 Hakodate Cup in Japan and were finalists at July 2024 Gothia Cup (Puma Division) in Sweden
- 2025-26 ECNL U17 Northern Cal All-Conference second team and 2023-24 U15 All-Conference first team
- 2025 Continental Tire ECNL National Selection game, competing for East roster
- Mentioned among standout goalkeepers at 2025 ECNL National Playoffs in San Diego, Calif. and for making an impact at 2024 ECNL Phoenix
- U14 ID2 National Selection Team (England)
- 2021-24 Olympic Development state pool | 2022 ODP West Regional team
High School
- Vista del Lago won 2026 Sac-Joaquin Section Division III soccer championship
- Named to 2026 NorCal U17 Selection game
- 2026 All-Capital Valley Conference first team
DYK
Also played high school basketball as a junior.Brennan Moore
- Position: Defender
- High School: Holly Springs H.S.
- Hometown: Apex, N.C.
- Club Team: NC Courage Academy (Coach: David Maddren)
U.S.
- Invited to U.S. Youth National Team ID Center in Cary, N.C.
Club
- 2025-26 ECNL Mid-Atlantic U18/19 All-Conference first team
- Named to East roster for 2026 ECNL Selection event
- NC Courage 08 won group F in 2025 ECNL Champions League Playoffs and advanced to Elite 8 of ECNL Champions League National Finals in Richmond, Va.
- Prep Soccer's No. 1 defender for 2027 class in state of North Carolina
- Mentioned by TopDrawerSoccer.com as among star players in 2025 ECNL Playoffs in San Diego, Calif. and named to Champions League 2008 ECNL Playoff Best XI in 2025
- Among the Standout Players at ECNL Florida in January 2025
- NC Courage won 2024 Mid-Atlantic Conference
DYK
Older brother, Maddox, is a sophomore on University of New Hampshire's football team. Both Mom (soccer) & Dad (football) played at the college level.Summer Riley
summer.riley28 | SummerR06852471
- Position: Forward
- High School: Summit High School (Coach: Deni Ismailovic)
- Hometown: Spring Hill, Tenn.
- Club Team: Tennessee SC 08
U.S.
Club
- 2025-26 ECNL U-18/19 All-Ohio Valley Conference first team; 2022-23 U-15 second team
- Tennessee SC advanced to 2025 ECNL Champions League National Playoffs
- Tennessee SC advanced to 2024 ECNL North American Cup in Seattle, Wash.
- Named to the North Atlantic team for the 2024 ECNL Conference Cup at Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center in California
High School
- Scored 140 goals and added 60 assists in 76 high school matches to finish as Summit H.S. all-time goals leader. Three-time Summit H.S. Most Valuable Player
- Middle Tennessee Soccer Player of the Year scoring 43 goals and nine assists in 2025 to lead Summit H.S. to its first state AAA quarterfinal tournament appearance
- 2025 District 10-AAA Player of the Year
- 2026 All-District 10-AAA Offensive Player of the Year 2024 co-Player of the Year in District 10-AAA and a first-team mid-state selection
- First Summit H.S. player to receive soccer WILLCO in 2025 after scoring 28 goals and contributing 10 assists as a sophomore. Also received 2026 soccer WILLCO. The WILLCO honors Williamson County School athletes and coaches.
- 2024 and 2025 The Tennessean's All-Midstate first-team selection
- 2025 The Daily Herald's All-Area Player of the Year
DYK
Summer's father, Matt, was a pitcher with Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Dodgers across four seasons.Ashley Scott
ashley_scott2438
- Position: Defender
- High School: Cherokee Bluff High School (Coach: Heath Padgett
- Hometown: Maysville, Ga.
- Club Team: TopHat 2027 Gold (Coach: Jeff Golston and Troy Garner)
U.S.
- Participated in U.S. Youth National Team ID Center event in Fayetteville in August of 2026. Also part of USYNT ID events in 2022, 2023, 2024
Club
- Top 2027 recruit for state of Georgia by Prep Soccer
- #135 in TopDrawerSoccer.com 2027 signing class
- U17 Most Valuable Player at 2026 Girls Academy National Championship as TopHat won U17 title
- Named to TopDrawerSoccer's Best XI of 2026 GA National Championship
- Part of 2026 Girls Academy 2026 National Talent ID Event
- Identified as a U17 Star by TopDrawerSoccer at 2026 GA Playoffs
- 2025 Generation adidas Cup finalist as part of Blue team's starting lineup
- TopDrawerSoccer GA Champions Cup U16 Superstar as TopHat won U16 title
- 2024 TopDrawerSoccer GA Champions group play standout
High School
- 2025 All-State
- 2025 and 2026 Region 8-3A Defensive Player of the Year
- 2024 All-Regional 8-AAAA
- Cherokee Bluff H.S. advanced to the 2025 GHSA Class AAA semifinal and 2026 quarterfinal. 2024 GHSA Class AAAA semifinalist
DYK
Ashley's always been a Gator fan, so when offered the opportunity to play for UF, it was a dream come true.Cali Smith
calismithsoccer | CaliCSmith
- Position: Midfielder
- High School: Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (Coach: Boomer Steigelman)
- Hometown: Lower Gwynedd, Pa.
- Club Team: PDA Blue 09 (Coach: Mike O'Neill)
Club
- #39 in Prep Soccer 2027 signing class
- #94 in TopDrawerSoccer.com 2027 signing class
- Recognized by PrepSoccer for play in 2026 National Selection Match and 2025 ECNL playoffs
- Named to East roster for March 2026 ECNL Phoenix Selection Game
- The Soccer Wire noted her play at ECNL North Carolina National Event
- 2023-24 U15 ECNL All-Conference second team
- Won 12 nations 2024 Nike U15 Premier Cup
- PDA Blue 09 won 2023 U14 ECNL national championship and runner-up in 2022 U13 national final
- TopDrawerSoccer Top XI in 2023 ECNL playoffs
High School
- Named to west roster for 14th annual High School All-American game, set for Dec. 12, 2026 in Owings Mills, Md.
- 2022 Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association (PAISAA) champions; 2024 State Tournament runner-up; semifinals in 2023, 2025 and 2026 (2026 semifinal scheduled for Nov. 12)
- 2024 Inter-Academy All-League first team; second team in 2025 and 2023
- Springside Chestnut Hill H.S. won Inter-Academy championship in 2024 and 2026
DYK
Grandfather, Steve Smith, played for Mount St. Mary's basketball teamLily Venneri
lily_venneri | LilyV2027_GK | LilyVenneri2027GK
- Position: Goalkeeper
- High School: Wake Forest H.S.
- Hometown: Wake Forest, N.C.
- Club Team: 09 NC Courage Academy (Coach: Caiman Stevens, Stephen Palmer, Akira Fitzgerald)
U.S.
- USYNT U17 player pool
- Invited to January 2026 U.S. Youth National Team ID event in Columbia, S.C., 2025 in Cary, N.C. and January 2025 in South Carolina
- Invited to May 2025 U.S. U16 National Team training camp in Fayetteville, Ga.
Club
- Selected for Team East for 2026 Continental Tire ECNL National Selection Game in Dallas, Texas
- NC Courage advanced to final of 2026 G2009 ECNL Showcase Cup | Advanced to 2025 ECNL Showcase Cup A
DYK
Played exclusively as a left or right winger before moving to goal just before the age of 13.
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