Paul Lucas ... the next Marvin Bracy?

It was a relatively normal day at Showalter Field in Winter Park back in May of 2010 for the FHSAA Class 4A Track & Field finals. Well, until the sun started to go down, and sophomore Marvin Bracy blazed a time of 10.19 seconds in the 100 meters. It would have been a state meet record, had the time been wind-legal. In any case, Bracy's time caught the attention of track followers from coast-to-coast. Despite the fact he had yet to suit up in a varsity football game, Bracy's speed also caught the attention of football coaches all over the country as well that night.

After going through the recruiting process, Bracy committed in July of 2011 to play football and run track at Florida State. He redshirted as a freshman on the gridiron last fall in Tallahassee. But on the track, Bracy lived up to expectations. After just one year at FSU, Bracy elected to go pro in track this spring and forgo his remaining eligibility without playing a down of football. Such is the risk when recruiting a player with that much track speed.

Bracy isn't the only track star to become a highly-recruited football prospect, of course. He followed closely on the heels of Jeff Demps, who ran the fastest prep 100m time in history, before going on to a successful career as a football player and sprinted at the University of Florida (winning a national championship in both sports). Levonte "Kermit" Whitfield, a cousin of Bracy, also decided to attend FSU after a decorated prep track career.

Last night's nationally-televised battle between Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) and Mountain Pointe (Phoenix) might have been the coming-out party for another track star as well. Mountain Pointe junior Paul Lucas rushed for 143 yards and a pair of touchdowns – on only eight carries – in a 28-21 upset win for the Pride on the road over the No. 21 team in the country, according to the USA Today rankings.

Like Bracy, Lucas had very little impact on the varsity squad during his first two seasons. But if last night's contest was any indication, Lucas (5-11, 175) is going to have a huge impact moving forward. In the spring, Lucas won the Arizona Div. I state title in the 100 meters by blazing a time of 10.44 seconds, edging out rival Devon Allen, who signed with Oregon in February, and is expected to make an early impact for the Ducks this fall as a freshman. 

Lucas' time, it should be added, was the fifth fastest in Arizona prep track & field history. Again, he's only a sophomore.

With his impressive debut on the gridiron last night, Lucas has served notice that he's the next big-time track star to take the prep football world by storm. I expect he could set off another wild recruiting battle, as the state of Arizona continues to produce blue-chippers at an increasingly common rate.

Here's a highlight of Lucas' exploits on the track from the spring, where he blazed a time of 10.66 seconds in the 100 meters:

David Sharpe

One of the more intriguing prospects on the recruiting trail in this cycle, offensive tackle David Sharpe (6-6, 290, Jacksonville, Fla./Providence) has been drumming up considerable interest since busting onto the scene this spring. The offers have been flying in ever since. While there has been a general consensus that Sharpe will end up at Florida when he signs his letter-of-intent paperwork, I think his recruitment will prove to be much more interesting then that.

Look no further than this quote from former USC and NFL All-Pro offensive lineman Tony Boselli for proof:

Tony Boselli on David Sharpe's planned visit to #USC: "Why wouldn't he? It's the greatest school in America" #Trojans
— Derek Tyson (@DerekTysonESPN) August 23, 2013

The Trojans will reportedly get an official visit from Sharpe, and I wouldn't discount their chances in this recruitment, especially with the presence of Boselli (now an assistant coach at Providence) in his ear.

Still, I think you need to look a little closer to Jacksonville to find the serious contenders for Sharpe's signature.

Alabama will make a run at Sharpe. We already know this, since the Crimson Tide make a run at pretty much every big-time lineman prospect on a yearly basis. Georgia figures to be in the mix. The 'Dawgs very nearly landed Laremy Tunsil from right down the road in Lake City last year, and assistant coach Will Friend has established himself as a strong presence on the recruiting trail. Sharpe has also visited South Carolina as well. The Gamecocks could be a factor in this race too.

However, the two schools I'd keep an eye on are Clemson and North Carolina. Sharpe's uncle ($), James Coley (no, not the former FSU assistant/current Miami offensive coordinator) played his college ball at Clemson before moving on to the NFL. The Tigers, perhaps more than any other team on Sharpe's short list, can sell the playing time angle. Sharpe also visited Clemson over the summer, and we know that the Tigers have had success recruiting the state of Florida under Dabo Swinney.

The Tar Heels could become a factor because of Sharpe's original love: basketball. Sharpe seems to want to at least give college hoops a shot (even if he's not likely to play for more than a season or two), and UNC clearly has the strongest hardwood tradition of any school on his short list. The Tar Heels can also sell the playing time angle as well, although they do have a commitment from a blue-chip tackle in this class (Bentley Spain).

I expect Florida to remain a serious factor in the race for Sharpe, although the rest of the pack has clearly caught up with the Gators. It will be interesting to see who gets cut from his list when he narrows it down to five, as I see six schools: Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and USC, with a legitimate claim to land the consensus top-100 prospect as of right now.

Just to show how athletic this kid is, here's a short video clip of him dunking a basketball. ATHLETIC:

Ismael Murphy-Richardson

At this point in the process, a lot of the cream has risen to the top as it relates to the recruiting game. Most big-time programs have their prospect boards pretty much solidified. Top 100 and 250 lists have started to become a little more clearer. While names will still rise and fall in the rankings, we have a much better idea of who is legit (and who is not) following the spring/summer camp circuit.

But that doesn't mean names aren't still being overlooked, and those are the stories which interest me the most between now and National Signing Day. Who are the prospects that everyone should be talking about, but aren't?

The first example I'll submit: Goodyear (Ariz.) Desert Edge LB/TE Ismael Murphy-Richardson.

Murphy-Richardson is listed at 6-4, 215 pounds, and looks the part on film. He claims a number of big-time offers (Arizona, Arizona State, Florida, Oklahoma, Tennessee, UCLA, USC and Washington among them.) But has generally been overlooked by the recruiting services (none have him rated more than three-stars at the moment.) This is a mistake.

Looking over his highlight film, Murphy-Richardson has the type of high-upside skill-set that makes a player of his caliber attractive to colleges. He is comfortable and athletic playing in space. At the very least, playing a 3-4 OLB position is in the cards, and I'm not sure he wouldn't be a fit as a 4-3 OLB as well. Growing into a weakside end in a 4-3 also looks to be a possibility, as the pass-rushing ability is there and can be honed and improved in time, although Murphy-Richardson will need to add some weight.

Over on offense, this guy looks like a big outside receiver. His body control is excellent, and he's a very impressive all-around athlete. With the mindset he carries over from defense, obviously blocking is not an issue for him. Growing into more of a flex, receiving-minded tight end would seem to be well within the realm of possibility as well.

After recording over 700 yards and 11 scores a season ago (while averaging more than 23 yards a reception), plus 68 tackles, five sacks and a pair of interceptions on defense, I'm intrigued to see what Murphy-Richardson does for an encore. His size, athleticism and versatility make him a top-250 prospect, in my mind. Now I'm curious to see how long it takes the recruiting services to notice as well.

No YouTube video for highlights, but if you want to see more of Ismael Murphy-Richardson, check here.

Al Golden: Friend ... or foe?

First off, let me say I have a lot of respect for the type of coach and CEO Al Golden is. He revived a moribund program at Temple to phenomenal results. So much so, that you could his tenure in Philadelphia likely spurred two head coaching promotions (himself and Steve Addazio) into the ranks of the ACC.

And, hey ... if Andrew Dice Clay is a fan of your work, what's not to like?

However, I've found his recruiting methods quite curious at Miami. SB Nation team site State Of The U took an interesting look at Golden's first full recruiting class following their first year on campus. The results of that 33-man recruiting class, as many pundits projected in February of 2012, have been predictably mixed.

Golden assembled a group that was headlined by a few South Florida stars (DB Deon Bush, DL Jelani Hamilton, DB Tracy Howard and RB Duke Johnson) along with one from Georgia (Raphael Kirby). Golden's staff also showed some savvy scouting by nabbing several other diamonds in the rough from around the state (notably OL Ereck Flowers, OL Danny Isidora, DB Rayshawn Jenkins and WR Herb Waters).

But then, the Jekell and Hyde nature of Miami's recruiting under Golden rears its ugly head. Already, nine members of the 33-man recruiting class have left the program. In just a year. That's more than a quarter of the guys they signed in February of 2012, gone within 18 months. And there appear to be a handful of other players (at least five, by my count) who probably aren't too far from hitting the door as well.

So, here's my question. What's the future of Miami going to be like if Golden is going to continue bringing in classes like this? If he takes the Nick Saban approach, and signs 30 guys every year, I'd say Miami is probably in good hands, personnel-wise (even if they probably could use a few tweaks on the coaching staff). However, if Miami's largely disappointing showing in the Class of 2013 is any indication (just 19 signees, only 16 of which made it to campus), then Hurricanes fans are going to be in for a roller coaster ride during the tenure of Al Golden.

For those who will counter with the Nevin Shaprio stuff ... yes , I get that Miami has the pall of NCAA sanctions hanging over their heads. Surely, that is not helping matters on the recruiting trail any, I get that. But with the feast-or-famine duality of Al Golden's recruiting methods, I still think the jury is out on whether or not he will be able to really turn the Miami program around. Regardless of what the NCAA decides on the future fate of the 'Canes.

8/24 UPDATE: Not even 48 hours after I posted this, the announcement that WR Jontavious Carter is transferring was made public by the SID. That's now 10 players out of 33 (nearly one-third of the class) who are not a part of the roster just over 18 months after signing with Miami. And, as I wrote on Thursday, there are still a few other guys who very likely will not be a part of this program by the time year three begins next fall. Here's a list of the players, and the reasons they are no longer a part of the 'Canes, listed below:

DT Jacoby Briscoe (transfer)
WR Jontavious Carter (transfer)
DB Vernon Davis (transfer)
RB Danny Dillard (transfer)
DT Dequan Ivery (transfer)
WR Angelo Jean-Louis (failed to qualify)
WR Robert Lockhart (transfer)
DE Gabriel Terry (dismissed from team in April)
QB David Thompson (baseball)
LB Josh Witt (concussions)

The Big 10 is falling even further behind Ohio State

Do you happen to remember that challenge which Urban Meyer issued to the other member institutions of the Big Ten back in February?

It went something like ... "quit making us look bad compared to the SEC, and let's start recruiting better as a conference."

Well, the other coaches around the Midwest don't seem to have gotten the memo, quite yet.

After looking over the roster of prospects who attended Nike's elite prospect camp – "The Opening" – it's clear that Ohio State has lapped the field on the recruiting trail in the Big Ten. They've also put together one of the more impressive classes in the country for 2014.

11 players who headed out to the Nike Campus in Beaverton, Ore. last month can count themselves as pledges to the Buckeyes. That's MORE THAN THE REST OF THE ENTIRE BIG TEN COMBINED. At the time this post goes live, there will be a grand total of eight prospects* from The Opening which are committed to the other 11 schools in the conference. Incredible.

Of course, Ohio State has surged out to a very strong start. They are only in on a handful of other prospects at this point. Other Big Ten programs will very likely close out with strong classes and land a few more top prospects to make those numbers look a little less lopsided. It should also be noted that not every top blue-chip prospect from around the country attends The Opening (five-star Michigan pledge Jabrill Peppers being a prime example). Many elect not to, and more than a few players get bids by impressing on stopwatches at regional Nike SPARQ combines across the country. This is not the end-all, be-all measure of how good a recruiting class (or particular) is.

However, the fact that Ohio State has already landed 11 prospects for 2014 who attended The Opening is impressive, nonetheless. Meyer and his staff are going out and getting big, strong, fast and skilled athletes to fill out their roster, without a doubt. The Buckeyes should be a formidable program under Urban Meyer as long as he stays in Columbus.

And for those wondering, the school with the second-most commitments to at this point to have attended The Opening? That would be Florida, of course, with seven.

*Breaking that down by team: Michigan and Penn State both had two commitments who attended The Opening. Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska and Purdue all had one representative each.

Kelleher proves to be a nice grab for UF

I don't think I'm really going out on a limb here, but I wanted to write about this anyways. Recent Florida commitment Nolan Kelleher, an offensive lineman out of the Charleston, S.C. area,  might prove to be one of the more important pledges of this class for UF as we move closer to National Signing Day.

, 

Touted as a three-star recruit by the many recruiting services when he committed just a couple of weeks ago, Kelleher has already been bumped up to four-star status by both Rivals and Scout in recent days (247Sports now stands as the lone holdout on moving Kelleher up, and I'm willing to bet that changes fairly soon).

Rankings aren't everything, but now that everyone is taking a closer look at Kelleher, they see what made him such a hotly-pursued recruit. The 6-foot-5, 300-pounder claimed offers from Clemson, Florida State and Georgia, among others. He had considerable interest from Stanford, as well. A versatile player who could line up at guard or possibly right tackle on the next level.

Lining up primarily as a left guard for Wando High School, Kelleher shows great mobility, which allows him to pull and get out front as a lead blocker on sweep plays. He's very athletic, and shows the ability to latch onto defenders and block them in space, which shouldn't be overlooked. And obviously, his strength and size allow him to completely overpower defenders at the high school level. That is very much apparent after watching just a few clips of him.

Here's video on Kelleher, who should prove to be one of the real gems for Florida's 2014 recruiting class:

What's up with the linebacker position?

Heading into the fall, Florida had the makings of what should be at least a pretty group at the linebacker position. My interpretation of the depth chart:

WILL

11 – Neiron Ball (6-3, 235, R-Jr.)

49 – Darrin Kitchens (6-2, 235, Sr.)

28 – Jeremi Powell (6-1, 205, R-Fr.)

MIKE

3 – Antonio Morrison (6-1, 230, So.)

51 – Mike Taylor (6-0, 231, R-Jr.)

34 – Alex Anzalone (6-3, 230, Fr.)

40 – Jarrad Davis (6-2, 225, Fr.)

SAM

7 – Ronald Powell (6-4, 240, R-Jr.) (also BUCK)

13 – Daniel McMillian (6-1, 227, Fr.)

9 – Matt Rolin (6-3, 221, Fr.) (Injured)

The Gators stand to lose one senior (Kitchens) after the season, and with anything resembling a good junior campaign, I expect Powell to move on as well, considering all he's been through at UF. While the number requirements of linebacker units have lessened with the move to a wide-open passing game by many schools, there is still a need for 10 or so players on scholarship at the position. Florida would stand at eight, with the potential loss of Kitchens and Powell.

Curiously, Florida has been rather finicky about the linebackers they've chosen to recruit so far. The board essentially stands as follows:

Clifton Garrett (6-1½ , 224, Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South)

Raekwon McMillan (6-1½, 243, Hinesville, Ga./Liberty County)

Nyles Morgan (6-1½, 225, Crete, Ill./Crete-Monee)

Dwight Williams (6-1, 201, Gardena, Calif./Junipero Serra)

And that's really about it. And of those guys, Florida really should only feel confident about their chances of landing Williams, a West Coast native, at the moment. Garrett is high on LSU, McMillan appears to favor Clemson and Ohio State, while Morgan has been relatively quiet – but appears prefer Ole Miss and Vanderbilt right now. The Gators will likely have a shot to host all three players at least once this fall, but there is a lot to ground to make up in each scenario.

The Gators are also being mentioned in connection with a few committed players as well (most notably, FSU pledge Jacob Pugh), but we'll have to see how things play out in connection with Pugh and others.

I do believe that current pledge Justus Reed (6-2, 220, Clearwater, Fla./Central Catholic) – listed as a defensive end by all of the recruiting services – is very likely to get a look at the SAM linebacker spot. He brings a versatile skill-set to the group, not unlike former UF player Lerentee McCray – who also bounced between end and linebacker during his time at Florida.

Aside from that, I'm as curious as anyone as to which prospects Florida will drum up at the linebacker position, and I do expect there will be a few new additions. Three in-state prospects whom intrigue me greatly are Xavier Preston (6-2, 220, Jensen Beach), Randy Ramsey (6-3, 205, Ft. Lauderdale/Dillard) and Sharieff Rhaheed (6-2, 205, Ft. Pierce/Central). Ramsey camped at Friday Night Lights, and would make a transition from safety to outside linebacker at the next level. Rhaheed as been mostly used as a stand-up end coming off the edge at the high school level, but would appear to have the athleticism and explosiveness to play in space at the college level. Preston is a versatile, all-around threat at the high school level, and would figure to be comfortable wherever he's asked to line up on the field.

In any case, I'm really intrigued to see what develops with this unit over the path from now until February. I expect that the group Florida signs to play linebacker on National Signing Day, will likely continue to bolster a unit that finally played up to expectations last year, and now has raised the bar heading into the fall of 2013.

Tweaking Notre Dame

There is a decent little read from Lou Somogyi of the Notre Dame affiliate for 247Sports (Blue & Gold) on their “All-De-Commit Team.” I got a chuckle out of this piece, which listed 22 players who were publicly committed to Notre Dame at one point, but subsequently signed elsewhere on National Signing Day.

Current or former Gators accounted for 5 of the 22 members of the list. No other school landed more than two players to this group (an honor shared by North Carolina, Ohio State and UCLA).

When Urban Meyer was at Florida, I imagined he got a special sense of accomplishment when he could tweak Charlie Weis on the recruiting trail. Justin Trattou (2007) and Omar Hunter (2009) were both consensus top-100 prospects and prep All-Americans on the defensive line, both were huge gets for Florida at the time they committed. Hunter and Trattou were solid players in Gainesville, although neither really lived up to the hype in Gainesville, I suppose.

Criminally under-utilized in Gainesville, wide receiver David Nelson (2005) was another prep All-American who gave a big boost to Florida's first class under Meyer when he switched his commitment just a few weeks before National Signing Day. Of course, his change-of-heart even caused none other than Regis Philbin to have a fit of indigestion on his morning talk show, "Live with Regis and Kelly."

The last steal for Florida was Clay Burton (2011), although he technically signed with Will Muschamp, not Meyer. Burton was also stolen from under the nose of Brian Kelly, and not Weis, who had since been fired by Notre Dame. His switch was not a huge shock, as the chance to play alongside his brother in Gainesville was clearly an overriding factor in his final decision. Linebacker Alex Anzalone (2013) was the last, and most recent prospect to make the flip from Notre Dame to Florida.

In the middle of swiping all of these top-rated recruits from Notre Dame, Meyer suffered just one defeat: Hialeah-Miami Lakes running back Armando Allen (2007). Allen was torn between Florida and Notre Dame, but was in line to enroll for college classes in January of what would have been the second semester of his senior year of high school. Early enrollment was not a practice typically endorsed by Notre Dame at the time, so Allen instead appeared headed to Florida. In the eleventh hour, however, Weis was able to get Allen admitted to Notre Dame, and the speedy back headed to South Bend instead.

In looking over the list, I couldn't help but notice the lack of star power on it. C.J. Leak (1999) was touted as a potential savior as Wake Forest, but never panned out there. He transferred to Tennessee, where he also struggled to get on the field, and is better known today as the older brother of former star Florida quarterback (and current graduate assistant coach) Chris Leak. Offensive lineman Jordan Prestwood (2011) has already bombed out of three schools (FSU, Notre Dame, UCF) and is now trying to re-start his career at a junior college in Arizona. Chris Martin (2010) ended up signing with Cal after dropping his Notre Dame pledge. He also had a stint at Florida before going the JUCO route. He was recently dismissed from Charlie Weis' Kansas squad following aggravated robbery charges in May. Georgia signee Chris Little (2007) is another player who didn't pan out as expected.

In fact, of all the players listed, only former UNC running back Giovani Bernard (2010) really turned into a star player at the college level, and has parlayed that success into a promising future with the Cincinnati Bengals.

While there are some young guys on the list who still have some time to establish themselves yet, the moral of the story for college football fans who freak out over a de-commitment essentially writes itself. The game of recruiting is a crap shoot, and rarely does one player ever make or break a recruiting class for a given school.

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.

There's still a season left to go

A quick glance at the University of Florida's current football roster reveals 80 scholarship players (not counting the recent additions of walk-ons Mark Herndon and Tim Clark) and 11 seniors. That gives UF room at the moment to sign 16 players in the Class of 2014 (and even that number is in flux with the loss of Andre Debose to a season-ending knee injury -- he could appeal for another year of eligibility.) The Gators can presently count 15 commitments to their credit. In essence, Will Muschamp and his staff have filled all the spots that are guaranteed to come open following the 2013 season. Now, it's only a matter of trying to close on the remaining “elite” prospects on the board (Jamal Adams, Lorenzo Carter, Raekwon McMillan, David Sharpe, etc.) and recruiting to close any holes that come as a result of attrition between now and February.

In other words, despite all the teeth-gnashing from Florida fans over the Gators' supposed “slow start” to the 2014 class, the staff is pretty much right where they want to be heading into the season as it relates to the recruiting trail.

At the end of the day, I expect this class will finish somewhere around 25 members. There will probably be around 10-12 more additions. I expect there will be at least a couple of departures among current pledges as well. In projecting the remaining spots to be fill, there are some obvious spots Florida needs to address. At least one more offensive lineman is a must, as is another defensive tackle; another receiver seems likely; grabbing a linebacker or two would appear to be a high priority as well. However, the roster is fluid. We have to consider the fact that there are players who are currently listed at one position right now, who will not be at that spot at this time next year. Take the running back position, for instance.

In the offseason, we saw linebacker Gideon Ajagbe and safety Rhaheim Ledbetter moved over from defense to get a shot at fullback. Ajagbe has adjusted to his new role rather quickly. Former defensive back Valdez Showers, a star running back at the prep ranks in Michigan, has converted to a hybrid back/receiver on offense. He appears to be making a quick impact at his new spot. At the close of fall camp, sophomore walk-on Mark Herndon earned a highly-celebrated scholarship as well. While he's only assured of receiving aid for the next year, With his athletic profile and ability level – it's not a stretch to think Herndon can stick on scholarship for his remaining three years in Gainesville. Where as many observers believed Florida could take two running backs and possibly a fullback in the 2014 cycle, it now would seem to be a luxury for UF to bring in more than highly-touted burner Dalvin Cook next February.

Meanwhile, on the flip side, these movements have create some space on the depth chart at safety. With the signings of Marcell Harris, Keanu Neal and Nick Washington in February, it was thought the safety position would be okay for a while. Now Showers has moved to offense, Washington is working at corner (and reportedly looking good there as well). Just like that, Jamal Adams moves from a luxury item, to more of a need for the Gators.

While there are some specific needs to be addressed, as mentioned earlier in this peace, it's more important for Florida to maximize the talent of the remaining spots left in this class. Think of it as a pro team drafting to take the best available talent, as opposed to tying themselves to a particular position at a certain spot, and landing an inferior talent as a result. Prospects like Alabama commitment Bo Scarbrough* – who could prove to be an elite player at either running back or linebacker – very much fit in line with what Will Muschamp is searching for as he looks to lock down a third consecutive top-five recruiting class.

* Scarbrough, an incredibly athletic 6-foot-2, 220-pounder, is now enrolled at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, as opposed to spending his senior season the Crimson Tide stronghold of Tuscaloosa. Despite his commitment to Nick Saban, Scarbrough is still a top target of the Gators.