Maxwell Hiller Puts Florida on Alert As 5-Star OL Announces Tennessee Visit

Five-star offensive lineman Maxwell Hiller is one of the most coveted prospects in the 2027 recruiting cycle. He has narrowed his focus to the final four: Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, and Ohio State.

How a Tennessee Visit Raises the Stakes for Florida in Maxwell Hiller’s Recruitment

Hiller is the No. 1 interior offensive lineman in the 2027 class, the No. 1 recruit in Pennsylvania, and the No. 5 prospect in the nation, according to the 247Sports Composite. He plans to take official visits to all of his finalists and revealed two upcoming stops on his X account Sunday.

“I’ll be at Florida and Tennessee this week!” Hiller tweeted.

Florida is seen as the frontrunner in his recruitment, as Hiller told Tyler Harden in February that the Gators sit at No. 1 on his list, and On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine currently gives Jon Sumrall’s program a 54.4% chance to land his commitment. A potential early pledge from Hiller could provide a major boost to Florida’s recruiting efforts, especially after the program failed to secure a top-50 prospect in the 2026 cycle under Billy Napier.

Florida holds three commitments in the 2027 class so far, placing it No. 31 nationally and No. 9 in the SEC. Much of the recent surge in Hiller’s interest is tied to the hiring of offensive line coach Phil Trautwein, as described by On3’s Steve Wiltfong.

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“Florida had him on campus in January, and that’s all spearheaded by Phil Trautwein, Penn State’s former offensive line coach, who I thought Penn State was the very early leader for Maxwell Hiller, and a lot of that had to do with the relationship with Phil Trautwein, but also the track record of player development,” Wiltfong said.

“He’s got guys in the NFL that are well-positioned for second contracts. He’s got guys in the draft this year that are going to hear their name called early. Now he’s a Florida alum back at his alma mater, a former champion, looking to help the Gators win their next national championship.

“Maxwell Hiller loves Trautwein went down there for a visit. Loved the energy and juice around the program that we’ve been talking about this segment… Florida is the program that has made the biggest jump and still has a runway to continue to make a move. There is a lot of confidence… as I have written around Gainesville for Maxwell Hiller.”

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However, Tennessee can disrupt Florida’s momentum, especially with Hiller’s upcoming visit to Knoxville, as recruiting dynamics can shift quickly. Josh Heupel’s staff hosted him on Rocky Top in November, where the atmosphere inside Neyland Stadium left a strong impression.

“Last time I was here is what brought me back,” Hiller told Volquest following the trip. “Everything I experienced last time was so good that I had to come back. The coaching staff, environment, everything, checks all of the boxes here.”

Tennessee has four committed players in the 2027 class, ranking No. 22 in the nation and No. 7 in the SEC.