Keep in mind, this is my take on where things stand for Florida at the moment, and my take only. I do not claim to be speaking for the people inside the football offices at UF with this post.
Quarterback: Will Grier is committed an on track to enroll at UF in January. The Gators may look at taking a second quarterback in this class. Tampa Wharton signal caller Chase Litton (6-5, 195) continues to show up on campus, and was in attendance for the Tennessee game last weekend. If Florida elects to take another signal-caller in 2014, he seems as likely as any. However, as of right now, I predict the Gators will take Grier and call it a day. But this could be a position to watch down the line depending on potential attrition. Especially in January.
Running Back: With Dalvin Cook in the fold, a second back seems unlikely. However, Bo Scarbrough (6-1, 225, Tuscaloosa, Ala./IMG Academy [Fla.]) and Joe Mixon (6-1, 210, Oakley, Calif./Freedom) continue to sit out there as possibilities. A scheduled official visit to Florida for Mixon last weekend was nixed, and does bring up the question of whether or not he'll actually make it in to Gainesville at some point. Again, like the quarterback position, I see UF hanging tight with one signee for the 2014 class, but it is something that bears watching over the coming months.
Wide Receiver: Although Ermon Lane is committed, Florida will have to work to keep him in the fold all the way through National Signing Day. There continue to be mixed signals on Travis Rudolph (6-1, 190, West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman). Florida appears to be sitting pretty there, but his has been a volatile recruitment to date. Alabama, Ohio State and especially Florida State loom as legitimate threats to the Gators for his signature. The Gators also continue to make overtures to a pair of prospects committed elsewhere in Virginia Tech pledge Ja'Von Harrison (6-1, 185, Lakeland Kathleen) and Clemson verbal Artavis Scott (5-11, 180, Tarpon Springs East Lake). The Gators appear to be making the most headway with Harrison, who visited Gainesville for the Tennessee game last weekend. Both Speedy Noil (5-11, 176, New Orleans, La./Edna Karr) and Josh Malone (6-2, 191, Gallatin, Tenn./Station Camp) have expressed a desire to make official visits to Gainesville during the fall. The Gators have significant ground to make up on each player, however. And while he was originally pegged as a defensive prospect, the general consensus on Adoree' Jackson (5-10, 182, Gardena, Calif./Junipero Serra) seems to be trending towards the fact he will likely end up on offense in college, instead. I do not expect Florida to sign less than two receivers in this class. Three would seem to be the preferred number, but don't expect UF to reach too far off this list if they can land a pair of the above listed five.
Tight End: It is hoped that C'yontai Lewis will add another dimension to the passing game at the tight end position. But with Florida's shortcomings at the position, another addition seems likely as well. Deandre Goolsby (6-4, 230, Derby, Kan./Derby) made an official visit over the weekend and Florida appears to be in a good position for his signature with three official visits left to make (Goolsby has already been to Oklahoma as well). However, Florida doesn't appear to be resting with just Goolsby on the board. Garrett Dickerson (6-4, 230, Oradell, N.J./Bergen Catholic) and Bryce Dixon (6-4, 230, Ventura, Calif./St. Bonaventure) have offers from UF as well. Both are major longshots for UF at this time, but remain on the board. I would expect some other names to pop up on the radar as well.
Offensive Line: Really kind of surprising how few names are on the board with at least one offensive line slot remaining up front (if not more). David Sharpe (6-6, 290, Jacksonville Providence) was the primary target remaining, but Florida is clearly moving in the wrong direction for him. The names Damien Mama (6-4, 370, Bellflower, Calif./St. Bosco Prep) and Jordan Sims (6-4, 335, Birmingham, Ala./Homewood) have kept popping up as a possibility, but both prospects look like longshots for Florida at the moment. Expect some names to re-emerge on the radar that were pursued by Florida earlier in the process, including Alabama verbal Montel McBride (6-4, 350, Plant City), Purdue commitment Denzel Ward (6-8, 305, Chicago, Ill./Simeon) and Indiana pledge Delroy Baker (6-6, 270, St. Petersburg Admiral Farragut). If the Gators elect to go the JUCO route, Jordan Prestwood (6-6, 317, Plant City/Arizona Western C.C.) and Avery Gennesy (6-5, 305, Southaven, Miss./East Mississippi C.C.) are a pair of names to watch.
Defensive End: Lorenzo Carter (6-5, 235, Norcross, Ga./Norcross) and Da'Shawn Hand (6-4, 260, Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) lead a host of names at the defensive end position. The Gators also appear to be trending up for Cory Thomas (6-6, 270, McCalla, Ala./McAdory) – who, with his frame, could also end up on the offensive line. Lorenzo Featherston (6-7, 220, Greensboro, N.C./Page), Malik McDowell (6-7, 290, Southfield, Mich./Southfield) and Dewayne Hendrix (6-4, 260, O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) are the other names for whom the Gators still have some level of involvement at the end position. In any case, figure Florida takes at least one more here.
Defensive Tackle: The Gators need at least one more tackle to pair with Khairi Clark in this cycle. Thomas Holley (6-4, 300, Brooklyn, N.Y./Lincoln) and former UF pledge Anthony Moten (6-4, 290, Ft. Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas) remain on the board, along with Gerald Willis (6-3, 275, New Orleans, La./Edna Karr). A name to keep an eye on for Florida is Jeremy Patterson (6-3, 310, Jesup, Ga./Wayne County). I also would not be surprised to see Florida make a move to bring 2013 signee Jarran Reed (6-4, 305, Goldsboro, N.C./East Mississippi C.C.) back into the fold once again.
Linebacker: Your guess is as good as mine. Clifton Garrett (6-2, 228) and Raekwon McMillan (6-2, 240, Hinesville, Ga./Liberty County) remain the top two targets on the board. But Florida clearly trails LSU for Garrett, as well as Clemson/Ohio State and Alabama for McMillan. There's also Nyles Morgan (6-2, 230, Crete, Ill./Crete-Monee) and Dwight Williams (6-1, 205, Gardena, Calif./Junipero Serra). But the Gators have yet to make much of a push for either player. Jakob Johnson (6-4, 240, Jacksonville Ribault) is a player who has emerged in-state, and he's a name we'll be keeping an eye on over the coming weeks. As are Josh Black (6-2, 225, Tampa Sickles), Xavier Preston (6-2, 220, Jensen Beach) and Sharriff Rhaheed (6-3, 205, Ft. Pierce Central).
Defensive Back: As long as Loucheiz Purifoy and Marcus Roberson fail to make much noise this fall, the need for secondary prospects continues to lessen. Keep in mind nearly all the receiver prospects Florida is still recruiting could just as soon get a look on defense if they were to come to UF. However, aside from Jamal Adams (6-0, 205, Carrollton, Tex./Hebron) – about as close as you will find to a Florida lock right now – there really aren't any other major targets on the radar for UF in the back end of the defense. I do expect the Gators to continue recruiting Jalen Tabor (6-1, 185, Washington, D.C./Friendship Academy), but at this point he looks all but headed to Maryland to play his football at the next level.
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I've long held that I expected Florida to sign a full allotment of about 25 players in this class, as UF currently has room to sign 16 in the 2014 cycle, and attrition of nine players to the NFL Draft, injury and transfer doesn't seem totally out of the question. This could still prove to be the case. But as time goes on, and I watch the board shrink for Will Muschamp and his staff, I'm beginning to change my tune. Now I'm projecting 23 as the target number for Florida in this class.
Tight end is still a major need, and I expect the Gators to grab a second prospect there, in addition to C'yontai Lewis. There is still a need for skill prospects, and I would expect Florida to grab three more of those types for 2014. Again, with so much versatility in the prospects remaining on the board, I think the Gators will simply look to sign the three best they can get and let the positions sort themselves out later.
Florida currently has a total of six linemen in the fold, and I expect that number to get to 10 when all is said and done. As much importance as Will Muschamp places on the line-of-scrimmage, more than 10 would not surprise me. However, that is my projection for now, and figures to be a baseline projection for the number of linemen UF will aim for in most recruiting classes.
The numbers don't look bad for UF at linebacker. There is a loss of one scholarship player after this year as Darrin Kitchens exhausts his eligibility. I do ultimately expect Florida to grab a true linebacker in this class, and that is where the ninth signee would come from in my projection.
This, of course, assumes that Florida will hold on to their other 14 commitments in this class to date. That seems like a rather unlikely scenario. But in lieu of the fact there is no really strong evidence to support any of the current pledges are wavering, we'll just go for now on the notion that UF will keep the guys they have for now, moving forward.
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