Should the Gators look to the JUCO route at corner?

The only real drawback to having a cornerback trio as talented as the one Florida will run out onto the field this fall (Loucheiz Purifoy, Marcus Roberson and Jaylen Watkins), is that all three players may very well be in the NFL at this time next year. Both Purifoy and Roberson would forfeit their final year of college eligibility in such a scenario. For a roster that is built to make a real run at a national championship in 2014, this of course is not exactly a best-case scenario.

Sure, all-world freshman Vernon Hargreaves would presumably slide into a starting spot as a sophomore for the Gators as a result. Brian Poole, Cody Riggs and another promising freshman in Nick Washington would likely compete for the starting job opposite Hargreaves. But after those four guys, would be a litter of true freshmen (Duke Dawson, J.C. Jackson, Chris Lammons and Quincy Wilson) backing them up.

So, this begs the question. With so much on the line for 2014, should Will Muschamp consider looking to the JUCO ranks to help replenish the corner position for next year?

And the answer is much more simple. If both Purifoy and Roberson are collecting paychecks at this time next year, it's a resounding “yes.”

Obviously, it's early, and there are a number of talented guys who will emerge over the course of the fall. But a few of the names I'm currently tracking include Josh Keys (6-1, 180, Seminary, Miss./Miss. Gulf Coast C.C.), Quintavious Knight* (6-0, 170, Ellenwood, Ga./Georgia Military College), Paris Ratliff (6-0, 170, Chicago, Ill./ASA College) and Keith Reynolds (6-0, 175, Durant, Miss./Northwest Miss. C.C.), among others.

UGA looked to dip into the JUCO talent pool and as a result, recently picked up a pledge from Georgia native Shattle Fenteng, a big (6-foot-2, 185-pound) corner out of Hutchinson C.C. in Kansas. With his size and cover ability, Fenteng is now being touted in some circles as the top defensive back in the JUCO ranks for the Class of 2014. However, the real prize at the position has yet to suit up at his present college. In fact, question marks regarding his status continue to surround his recruitment.

Tee Shepard was a top-50 recruit for Notre Dame out of Fresno last year. Although he enrolled in classes at South Bend in January of 2012, Shepard didn't even make it through spring practice for the Fighting Irish. He returned home to California just a couple of months later to plot out his next move, a process that is still technically ongoing as Shepard tries to determine his eligibility status with the NCAA.

Enrolled at Holmes Community College in Mississippi since the spring semester, Shepard is hoping to be cleared with the NCAA so that he can transfer to a four-year school in January, presumably with four years to complete three years of eligibility. If the NCAA does not grant his request, he is aiming to complete his AA degree requirements by the end of the 2014 spring semester. Admittedly, that plan seems a bit on the optimistic side (as Florida fans can attest to with the case of aborted JUCO transfer Jarran Reed this year).

In any case, if Shepard can get his eligibility status straightened out over the course of the fall, he could prove an attractive option for Florida if both Purifoy and Roberson are gone. His length – Shepard is now listed at 6-foot-1, and nearly 200 pounds – would be a welcome replacement in the event UF is forced to replace three corners following the 2013 season, all at least six-feet tall.

Of course, Shepard has now been away from the game of football for two years – he was ruled ineligible after switching schools as a high school senior in an effort to be able to graduate from high school early. So his play on the field this fall will be closely watched by a number of top programs. But, assuming the talent that made him such a highly-touted recruit has not simply disappeared, Shepard would appear to be a low-risk, high-reward prospect if he can get himself in a position to enroll at a four-year school before next fall.

Naturally, Shepard will be a hotly-pursued prospect. Oklahoma, long thought to be his original transfer destination after leaving Notre Dame, will be a major player. Other BCS schools will surely make a run at him too. However, it is my belief that he is a name the UF coaching staff should clearly keep an eye on moving forward.

Of course, I'm getting a bit ahead of myself here. As my last post pointed out, there's still an entire year left to go. And if either Purifoy or Roberson return next fall, the need for a JUCO corner declines greatly. So I guess we'll just have to sit back and see how this season plays out before getting too carried away on Florida's need for a JUCO cornerback prospect in the Class of 2014.

* It should be noted that Knight is presently committed to Ole Miss, but as it relates to JUCO prospects, commitment can be wildly volatile. With Florida's recent history of recruiting Georgia Military College, he should be considered as a prospect on the radar if Florida looks to add a transfer.