– The failure of former UF signee Jarran Reed (Roseboro, N.C.) to get on campus this fall really didn't have a major bearing on Florida's defensive line rotation for the 2013 season (assuming the group remains fairly healthy.) Where it did hurt was in looking ahead to 2014. Reed could have gotten his feet wet with the Gators this year, seeing spot duty along the defensive front in a reserve role. When Dominique Easley and Damien Jacobs move on after this season, Reed could have stepped up and provided the Gators with another experienced group heading into next year, alongside Darious Cummings and Leon Orr. However, that plan was scuttled when the 6-foot-4, 305-pound tackle was unable to accumulate the required credits to graduate with his AA degree, and he is now playing for a second season at East Mississippi Community College this fall.
However, the need for a JUCO defensive tackle probably still remains for the Gators in 2014. While Orr and Cummings will provide Brad Lawing with a pair of seniors to roll out next fall, behind them will be a wealth of inexperienced (albeit talented) players in Jay-nard Bostwick, Caleb Brantley, Antonio Riles and current commitment Khairi Clark. Florida has already made a run at a pair of JUCO tackles in Davante Lambert (committed to Tennessee) and Abu Lamin (South Carolina.) With the way the board is shaping up, there aren't a ton of top high school prospects looking at Florida as it stands. Dipping into the JUCO ranks again might be a smart move. And right now, Reed looks to be as good of an option as any. I'll be curious to see if Florida doesn't end up re-signing Reed after all, once December rolls around.
Three other names I'm keeping an eye on at the defensive tackle position from the JUCO ranks in Mississippi: Steven Eddings (6-4, 285, Memphis, Tenn.) of Jones County C.C., Daniel Ross (6-4, 310, Louisville, Ky.) of Northeast Mississippi C.C. and Sherman Boyd (6-2, 315, Forrest, Miss.) out of Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C.
– One defensive lineman I'm surprised Florida hasn't made a move on yet is Fayetteville (N.C.) E.E. Smith star Arthur Williams. The 6-foot-5, 290-pounder could play on either side of the line, but he's really intriguing as a bigger option at the defensive tackle position. Blessed with a great first step and athleticism for his size, Williams is an Army brat who has lived all over the South, so distance probably won't be a major factor for him. 150 tackles and seven sacks over two previous varsity seasons isn't too shabby either.
Auburn, Florida State and Miami are the major factors here right now. Auburn hasn't offered. I have to wonder if academics may be an issue here. Or if Williams has just coasted under-the-radar so long that everyone is simply late to the party. In either case, this is a kid that should be getting more love than he has to this point.
– Florida isn't considered a major threat for Da'Shawn Hand, as Michigan is presumed to be the clear leader over Alabama and UF among his top three schools. However, Hand does plan to take an official visit to Florida. Originally scheduled for Arkansas weekend on Oct. 5, a scheduling conflict has moved that visit to a later date in the fall.
Nothing set in stone but potential visits for Da'Shawn Hand could be Bama vs Tennessee and then Florida vs Vandy, still deciding Nov. 14
— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) September 17, 2013
It is worth noting that Hand would elected to head to Gainesville the weekend of what figures to be a major tilt between Alabama and LSU, very possibly with National Championship implications on the line. Reportedly due to the majors all three schools offer, Alabama is slipping with Hand. Florida is the only school that can really offer the 6-foot-4, 260-pound blue-chipper the combination of academics and athletics he's looking for, aside from Michigan of course. The Gators on going to have to throw up a hail mary with Hand on his visit, since he would be making his final decision just a few days later. But getting a kid on campus is half the battle, so we'll follow this story with considerable interest over the coming weeks.
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