I touched on this topic back on Wednesday, but I thought the subject of how many players Florida plans to sign might have gotten buried under the recruiting board that it was posted with. So, let's give this subject its own separate post.
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 present commitment C'yontai Lewis. There is still a need for skill prospects, and I would expect Florida to grab three more of those types. 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 the skill commitments play at the next level simply 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 linemen in this cycle would not surprise me. However, 10 is the 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. Expecting that to happen is always a risky proposition. J.C. Jackson has been a little willy-nilly throughout the entire process. And the Gators will have to continue to recruit Dalvin Cook and Ermon Lane all the way until they sign on the dotted line. But in lieu of the fact there is no really strong evidence to support any of the current pledges are seriously wavering, we'll just go for now on the notion that UF will keep the guys they have for now, moving forward.
Also, for anyone expecting Andre Debose to return on a medical hardship. Maybe it happens, maybe it doesn't. Only a handful of people can say one way or the other. But for now, there are indications to suggest Debose's career at UF is done. So I don't expect the available number of scholarships (presently at 16) to drop. At this point, it's only going to rise between now and Feb. 5. The only question is, by how much?
Keep one other fact in mind. 2014 has proven to be a somewhat weak cycle for the state of Florida as it relates to recruiting. Next year, on the other hand, is shaping up to be very strong on paper. The Gators are right in the thick of it for many of the state of Florida's best for 2015 as well. UF needs to be wise about filling its needs for this class while leaving as much room as possible for what could be a lights-out class for the Gators next year if things play out according to plan.
Friday, September 27, 2013
Five names to keep an eye on
A quick look at five prospects who were off-the-radar (or perhaps more on the fringe of it) heading into the season. All five players have had a strong start to the season and will force many BCS programs to take a closer look at their highlight tape (and perhaps in some cases, their transcripts as well) over the coming months.
1. LB Jakob Johnson (6-4, 240, Jacksonville Ribault) – We've already covered the German transplant in-depth over the past few days (both here and here). Nine tackles, an interception and a forced fumble in a win against Baker County last week proved to be a statement game for the versatile and athletically gifted prospect who has the ability to play as a linebacker in space, but the type of frame that suggests he could end up on the defensive line in time. Idaho, Tennessee and Tulane have already offered. A whole bunch of other schools are starting to sniff around now too.
2. LB Josh Black (6-2, 225, Tampa Sickles) – Off to a hot start with 34 tackles, 9.0 sacks, 10 QB hurries and a forced fumble through four games on a 4-0 squad. Black currently claims tenders from the likes of Arizona, Iowa State, Minnesota and South Florida among his current FBS options. But if he keeps up this performance throughout the rest of the season, bigger schools could come calling in time. Another defensive end who will likely have to make the transition to LB (whether it be in a 3-4 or 4-3 alignment) at the next level.
3. DT Freddie Booth-Lloyd (6-1, 305, Cocoa) – The big man is a space eater on the interior of the defensive line. Could also project as an offensive guard at the next level, although his lack of height may hinder him on offense. But he's got plenty of size for the defensive line. His numbers to date (20 tackles, three sacks and a blocked field goal through three games) suggest he has more than enough ability to play on that side of the ball in college. And, don't forget he's already done this over the course of the season as well:
His pick-six is the first highlight on this tape. Talk about a dancing bear.
Booth-Lloyd will need to continue to re-shape his body as he moves on to college, however. Georgia Tech, Iowa State and Michigan State have all reportedly offered. Miami has shown considerable interest in Booth-Lloyd as well.
4. FB Jeremiah Jackson (6-0, 210, Brooksville Hernando) – An extremely versatile player for Hernando, Jackson has been his usual, productive self on defense with 49 tackles (5.0 for loss), two hurries and a forced fumble through the first month of the season. He also has four career interceptions, and while Jackson only has two carries for three yards through the first three games, he's recorded 210 carries for 1,233 yards and 13 scores in three-plus seasons on offense for the Leopards. Jackson claims no offers at the moment. If the Gators elect to take a fullback this year, other options could include Kellen Snider (6-1, 215, Ft. White), Kyle Forde (6-0, 225, Bradenton IMG Academy), Greg Gooch (6-1, 235, Longwood Lyman) and Kevin Bronson (6-3, 250 Delray Beach Village Academy).
5. WR Anthony Rhynes (6-0, 200, Tampa Middleton) – Although Middleton is off to an 0-3 start, Rhynes is having an awfully productive season in limited opportunities from the receiver position. 11 receptions for 467 yards and five touchdowns through three games for Rhynes. That's 42.3 yards PER RECEPTION. Incredible numbers for a prospect suddenly emerging on the radar for a struggling team. Rhynes doesn't even appear to be on the radar for college yet. That will surely change in short order.
1. LB Jakob Johnson (6-4, 240, Jacksonville Ribault) – We've already covered the German transplant in-depth over the past few days (both here and here). Nine tackles, an interception and a forced fumble in a win against Baker County last week proved to be a statement game for the versatile and athletically gifted prospect who has the ability to play as a linebacker in space, but the type of frame that suggests he could end up on the defensive line in time. Idaho, Tennessee and Tulane have already offered. A whole bunch of other schools are starting to sniff around now too.
2. LB Josh Black (6-2, 225, Tampa Sickles) – Off to a hot start with 34 tackles, 9.0 sacks, 10 QB hurries and a forced fumble through four games on a 4-0 squad. Black currently claims tenders from the likes of Arizona, Iowa State, Minnesota and South Florida among his current FBS options. But if he keeps up this performance throughout the rest of the season, bigger schools could come calling in time. Another defensive end who will likely have to make the transition to LB (whether it be in a 3-4 or 4-3 alignment) at the next level.
3. DT Freddie Booth-Lloyd (6-1, 305, Cocoa) – The big man is a space eater on the interior of the defensive line. Could also project as an offensive guard at the next level, although his lack of height may hinder him on offense. But he's got plenty of size for the defensive line. His numbers to date (20 tackles, three sacks and a blocked field goal through three games) suggest he has more than enough ability to play on that side of the ball in college. And, don't forget he's already done this over the course of the season as well:
@justinlwells don't forget the 80 yard pick 6 Booth Lloyd has too!
— J Worden (@coachjpworden) September 27, 2013
His pick-six is the first highlight on this tape. Talk about a dancing bear.
Booth-Lloyd will need to continue to re-shape his body as he moves on to college, however. Georgia Tech, Iowa State and Michigan State have all reportedly offered. Miami has shown considerable interest in Booth-Lloyd as well.
4. FB Jeremiah Jackson (6-0, 210, Brooksville Hernando) – An extremely versatile player for Hernando, Jackson has been his usual, productive self on defense with 49 tackles (5.0 for loss), two hurries and a forced fumble through the first month of the season. He also has four career interceptions, and while Jackson only has two carries for three yards through the first three games, he's recorded 210 carries for 1,233 yards and 13 scores in three-plus seasons on offense for the Leopards. Jackson claims no offers at the moment. If the Gators elect to take a fullback this year, other options could include Kellen Snider (6-1, 215, Ft. White), Kyle Forde (6-0, 225, Bradenton IMG Academy), Greg Gooch (6-1, 235, Longwood Lyman) and Kevin Bronson (6-3, 250 Delray Beach Village Academy).
5. WR Anthony Rhynes (6-0, 200, Tampa Middleton) – Although Middleton is off to an 0-3 start, Rhynes is having an awfully productive season in limited opportunities from the receiver position. 11 receptions for 467 yards and five touchdowns through three games for Rhynes. That's 42.3 yards PER RECEPTION. Incredible numbers for a prospect suddenly emerging on the radar for a struggling team. Rhynes doesn't even appear to be on the radar for college yet. That will surely change in short order.
@justinlwells Jeremiah had 26 tackles in ONE game this year. And I think Shug Rhynes has two 90+yd TD catches. Crazy stats.
— John C. Cotey (@JohnnyHomeTeam) September 27, 2013
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Featherston targets UF official visit
The Gators received some more good news on Thursday afternoon with the revelation that Greensboro (N.C.) Page defensive end Lorenzo Featherston is eyeing an official visit to Gainesville for the weekend of the Arkansas game.
Clemson is currently in the driver's seat for Featherston, but Florida has slowly been making some progress ever since they got the national top-100 recruit on campus for an unofficial visit over the summer. The in-state programs (UNC and N.C. State) also will factor heavily into the recruitment of Featherston as well.
Featherston is an intriguing prospect at 6-foot-7, 220 pounds with an incredible wingspan that's reported to be in the neighborhood of 87 inches. Although raw, his length and athleticism are undoubtedly intriguing, although he will obviously need to add a bunch of weight when he gets to the next level.
I can't envision a scenario where Florida would be able to take both Lorenzo Carter and Featherston. Carter is still the clear number-one option on the board for UF, while the Gators will continue to recruit Featherston quite heavily as well. With Brad Lawing's resume and traditional preference for taller defensive ends on the roster, I find it hard to believe the Gators won't be able to eventually reel in one of the two highly-prized pass-rushers before National Signing Day.
#ESPN300 DE Lorenzo Featherston official visit "tentatively" set to #Florida Oct. 4. Top 5: #NCState #TarHeels #Clemson #Georgia #Gators
— Gerry Hamilton (@HamiltonESPN) September 26, 2013
Clemson is currently in the driver's seat for Featherston, but Florida has slowly been making some progress ever since they got the national top-100 recruit on campus for an unofficial visit over the summer. The in-state programs (UNC and N.C. State) also will factor heavily into the recruitment of Featherston as well.
Featherston is an intriguing prospect at 6-foot-7, 220 pounds with an incredible wingspan that's reported to be in the neighborhood of 87 inches. Although raw, his length and athleticism are undoubtedly intriguing, although he will obviously need to add a bunch of weight when he gets to the next level.
I can't envision a scenario where Florida would be able to take both Lorenzo Carter and Featherston. Carter is still the clear number-one option on the board for UF, while the Gators will continue to recruit Featherston quite heavily as well. With Brad Lawing's resume and traditional preference for taller defensive ends on the roster, I find it hard to believe the Gators won't be able to eventually reel in one of the two highly-prized pass-rushers before National Signing Day.
UF Recruiting News & Notes, 9/26
A quick rundown on the most pressing news items from the recruiting trail for the Gators this week:
– The Gators' most critical official visitor last weekend for the Tennessee game just happened to be 6-foot-5, 235-pound rush end Lorenzo Carter, considered a consensus five-star recruit. Florida continues to make a real push for the highly-touted athlete out of the metro-Atlanta area:
– For a guy who isn't even committed to Florida, Jamal Adams has done an awfully good job singing the praises of UF to other recruits. The 6-foot, 205-pound safety out of Carrollton, Tex. made his official visit to Gainesville a weekend after going to Texas A&M for the Aggies' showdown with Alabama. It appears the Gators are still on track with the national top-100 player:
Adams even spent some time trying to get highly-touted linebacker Clifton Garrett to picture the possibility of the two playing in the Swamp together one day:
Adams is still expected to take visits to Ohio State, Ole Miss and Texas before making a projected November decision. But this one appears all but done for the time being.
– The Gators have tried to gain traction for the aforementioned Garrett. In fact, Garrett is one of only two linebackers (Peach State five-star Raekwon McMillan being the other), for whom the Gators are making a major push for in the Class of 2014. By all accounts, Garrett had an enjoyable time in Gainesville last weekend. However, LSU is still the runaway favorite for the 6-foot-2, 228-pound prospect out of Plainfield, Ill. Barring a major change, expect Garrett to play out his college days in Baton Rouge.
– Tight end Deandre Goolsby (6-4, 230, Derby, Kan.) was the fourth official visitor for Florida over the weekend. As this blog has previously noted, tight end is becoming a major position of need for the Gators in the Class of 2014. Goolsby hasn't done many interviews, so it's hard to tell exactly what he's thinking. Goolsby has already made an official visit to Oklahoma, and will head to Columbus this coming weekend. His other two official visits will likely be Kansas State (Goolsby is a KSU legacy) and Arkansas, although neither has been scheduled for the time being.
With Goolsby having family ties to the Wildcats, Kansas State figures to be a major factor. I also suspect Oklahoma is a very real threat as well. In the end, Florida seems to have positioned itself well. What it will come down to the for the Gators is very simple. Will distance play a major role in Goolsby's decision? If so, then Florida will likely have to look elsewhere for a second tight end in the 2014 cycle.
– Not that any recruitnik-types were pegging Dwyer WR Johnnie Dixon to Florida at this point. But in case anyone was holding out hope that the 5-foot-11, 190-pound athlete could still ultimately end up in Gainesville, it's time to move on.
Miami is considered the favorite here, but Alabama and Ohio State are making a push as well. And don't rule out N.C. State, where Dixon's former teammate Jacoby Brissett is in line to push for the starting quarterback job next fall.
– The Gators' most critical official visitor last weekend for the Tennessee game just happened to be 6-foot-5, 235-pound rush end Lorenzo Carter, considered a consensus five-star recruit. Florida continues to make a real push for the highly-touted athlete out of the metro-Atlanta area:
"It went beyond my expectations," Carter told Rivals.com of the visit he and his parents made for the Florida-Tennessee game. "I love the way they do their defensive scheme. Their defense is just so energized. I loved it. They have some young players, so they'll be there when I'm there. I think that would just be great to add on and get a chance to play for a dominating defense in college."Florida has had the momentum with Carter since he made an unofficial visit to Gainesville in the summer, but they will have to find a way to keep that going over the coming months, as the staff burned their official visit on the blue-chipper quite early. Getting at least one more return visit (if not more) will be a major key for UF moving forward in the pursuit of Carter.
– For a guy who isn't even committed to Florida, Jamal Adams has done an awfully good job singing the praises of UF to other recruits. The 6-foot, 205-pound safety out of Carrollton, Tex. made his official visit to Gainesville a weekend after going to Texas A&M for the Aggies' showdown with Alabama. It appears the Gators are still on track with the national top-100 player:
So much great food this weekend 😍
— Jamal Adams (@ThaJudgeKO) September 23, 2013
Adams even spent some time trying to get highly-touted linebacker Clifton Garrett to picture the possibility of the two playing in the Swamp together one day:
pic.twitter.com/Sg1JnvTDMV
— Clifton Garrett CG3 (@CG340) September 22, 2013
Adams is still expected to take visits to Ohio State, Ole Miss and Texas before making a projected November decision. But this one appears all but done for the time being.
– The Gators have tried to gain traction for the aforementioned Garrett. In fact, Garrett is one of only two linebackers (Peach State five-star Raekwon McMillan being the other), for whom the Gators are making a major push for in the Class of 2014. By all accounts, Garrett had an enjoyable time in Gainesville last weekend. However, LSU is still the runaway favorite for the 6-foot-2, 228-pound prospect out of Plainfield, Ill. Barring a major change, expect Garrett to play out his college days in Baton Rouge.
– Tight end Deandre Goolsby (6-4, 230, Derby, Kan.) was the fourth official visitor for Florida over the weekend. As this blog has previously noted, tight end is becoming a major position of need for the Gators in the Class of 2014. Goolsby hasn't done many interviews, so it's hard to tell exactly what he's thinking. Goolsby has already made an official visit to Oklahoma, and will head to Columbus this coming weekend. His other two official visits will likely be Kansas State (Goolsby is a KSU legacy) and Arkansas, although neither has been scheduled for the time being.
With Goolsby having family ties to the Wildcats, Kansas State figures to be a major factor. I also suspect Oklahoma is a very real threat as well. In the end, Florida seems to have positioned itself well. What it will come down to the for the Gators is very simple. Will distance play a major role in Goolsby's decision? If so, then Florida will likely have to look elsewhere for a second tight end in the 2014 cycle.
– Not that any recruitnik-types were pegging Dwyer WR Johnnie Dixon to Florida at this point. But in case anyone was holding out hope that the 5-foot-11, 190-pound athlete could still ultimately end up in Gainesville, it's time to move on.
Asked good Dwyer source if #Canes are obvious for Johnnie Dixon: "I don't know. #Bama #NCState and #OhioState are for real."
— Jeff Greer (@jeffgreer) September 26, 2013
Miami is considered the favorite here, but Alabama and Ohio State are making a push as well. And don't rule out N.C. State, where Dixon's former teammate Jacoby Brissett is in line to push for the starting quarterback job next fall.
A note on 2015 OL Jake Fruhmorgen
Not that this really means much, but I came across an interesting blurb last night that may only interest me. It's from a recruiting column by Jack Hariston, two days after National Signing Day, on page 1D of the Feb. 10, 1984 edition of the Gainesville Sun:
It should also be noted that Hariston didn't directly quote John Fruhmorgen in the piece. The information came second-hand. So this could prove to be a somewhat apocryphal story regarding Fruhmorgen's decision to attend Alabama over Nebraska. Only one man knows for sure.
This piece is worth nothing, however, just as a little something to keep in mind for the future. The younger Fruhmorgen appears to be on his way to being a top target of both Florida and Alabama (and possibly Nebraska as well) just a few short months from now. Thankfully for Jake Fruhmorgen, it's highly unlikely that any NCAA sanctions will play a role in his decision as to where he will ultimately decide to attend college.
But Florida gets a high grade for getting the percentage it did, particularly when Nebraska said the mere story that Mike Rozier was paid by Husker alumni hurt its recruiting.
Coach Tom Osborne said of the Rozier story, which the All-America running back has since denied: "It's been very devastating to our recruiting."
One of the players Nebraska lost was Tampa Jesuit offensive lineman John Fruhmorgen (6-5, 298 pounds). Fruhmorgen had earlier dropped Florida because of the impending NCAA charges, and after the Rozier story came out, he switched from the Huskers and signed with Alabama.Jake Fruhmorgen, now a junior at Plant High School in Tampa, is one of the top 2015 offensive line prospects in the Sunshine State and very much on the radar of Florida, along with many other schools early on. He's an Alabama legacy prospect, as the above selection notes. However, a different set of circumstances – those that didn't conclude with Florida being hammered by NCAA sanctions under Charley Pell, for instance – might have led his father to Gainesville instead of Tuscaloosa.
It should also be noted that Hariston didn't directly quote John Fruhmorgen in the piece. The information came second-hand. So this could prove to be a somewhat apocryphal story regarding Fruhmorgen's decision to attend Alabama over Nebraska. Only one man knows for sure.
This piece is worth nothing, however, just as a little something to keep in mind for the future. The younger Fruhmorgen appears to be on his way to being a top target of both Florida and Alabama (and possibly Nebraska as well) just a few short months from now. Thankfully for Jake Fruhmorgen, it's highly unlikely that any NCAA sanctions will play a role in his decision as to where he will ultimately decide to attend college.
ACL Injuries: They're a fact of life in football, people
Shortly after Florida announced the loss of Dominique Easley for the season to a torn ACL, I made a prediction as to what the response of UF fans would be.
Re: Florida's rash of ACL injuries -- really just a case of bad luck for #UF, although I'm SURE someone will try to read deeper into it.
— Justin Wells (@justinlwells) September 25, 2013
Remember when Florida had a rash of knee injuries -- especially at the safety position -- in the summer of '08? Sometimes it happens.
— Justin Wells (@justinlwells) September 25, 2013
I wanted to expand on this matter a bit more in-depth. That 2008 team, which experienced a rash of ACL injuries, still went on to win a national championship. I'm not predicting the same fate for Florida this year, but the Gators can overcome their injury issues to have some semblance of a "succesful" season, depending on your definition of "success." The knee injuries the 2008 team encountered included the following:
– Safeties Dorian Munroe and John Curtis suffered ACL injuries during offseason conditioning drills in July. Combined with the loss of Jamar Hornsby (for some very notable off-the-field transgressions), UF went into the season with a razor-thin depth chart at safety.
– Expected to be a major factor on offense in 2008, Cornelius Ingram tore an ACL just two days into preseason camp for the Gators that August.
– Not even a week later, reserve offensive lineman Jim Barrie and backup linebacker Brendan Beal would incur ACL injuries just two days apart, adding to the misery for UF fans heading into the season.
This fall for Florida, the Gators have seen an assortment of season-ending injuries. A torn labrum for Chaz Green, a surgically repaired shoulder for Nick Washington as well, a broken leg for Jeff Driskel, and ACL injuries for Andre Debose, Matt Rolin, and now Easley. It's been a rough two months in terms of health for Florida. If the Gators can avoid the injury bug from here on out, they still have a shot at a pretty good season. But if not, well, things could get ugly in a hurry.
For the fans that want to blame this on the Strength & Conditioning coaches: please stop. Everyone was singing their praises last fall. Did they suddenly just forget how to do their job? This is simply a freakish streak of bad luck that no one could prevent. There was nothing different for which Jeff Dillman and his staff could have done to prevent any of these injuries from happening. In fact, two of the ailments (Rolin and Washington) were simply re-injuries of previous issues both players had dating back to last season, when they were still in high school. Hopefully, both freshmen have received proper treatment and won't have any issues moving forward as they rehab during their redshirt seasons.
As for the notion that an indoor practice facility (or "IPF," for the football facility diehards) could have prevented Easley's injury, I'll just agree to disagree. Easley could have torn his ACL walking down the street and stepping off (or onto) a curb in the wrong fashion. It's just one of those things. Unless he was pushed around in a wheelchair all day, in a protective bubble, and didn't play football, there was no way to prevent this from happening. It was a non-contact injury. One of those freak things. Hopefully Easley's surgery goes well, and he rehabs quickly enough to put himself in a position to sneak into the bottom of the first round of next May's NFL Draft. That's really about all we can hope for at this point.
This is a bitter pill to swallow. I get it. Until Easley's injury, there was still a sense that this team could accomplish anything on its list of goals heading into a season. Despite the injuries. This one is different. It happened to a guy who came back for all the right reasons, and who was playing himself into a potential All-American. In many ways, Easley was the guy who stirred the drink of this 2013 squad. He'll still be there in spirit. The question is, can the other guys on this vaunted Florida defense step up in his absence? We'll get the first indications from Lexington just two days from now.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Breaking down the UF recruiting board
With the Tennessee game now in the books – one of what figures to be two major recruiting weekends for the Gators this fall (Florida State being the other, although Arkansas could see some big names roll in as well) – here's a look at where the recruiting board stands for the Florida Gators with about 130 days remaining until National Signing Day.
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.
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.
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.
************
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.
Perspective on Easley's injury
Yeesh. The bad luck continues for the Florida Gators on the injury front. Dominique Easley has a "tweaked" right knee, according to head coach Will Muschamp. But the smoke on Twitter is starting to point at something much more serious.
And if that's not enough, former UF offensive lineman Shannon Snell threw in his two cents as well.
Assuming the news is true, and Easley is done for the year, it would seem that Jay-nard Bostwick is next in line to move into the rotation. Muschamp has already expressed that the staff has come close to playing Bostwick on multiple occasions this year, but it appears there was still some hope that the 6-foot-3, 305-pound freshman out of Port St. Lucie would redshirt. That scenario would seem unlikely now.
In terms of losing a defensive lineman the caliber of Easley, you would have to go all the way back to 2006. Marcus Thomas, in the midst of a dominant, All-American level senior campaign, was suspended from the team before a trip to Vanderbilt in November and ultimately dismissed. The Gators had already lost back-up tackle Javier Estopinan to a knee injury against Alabama earlier in the season. After shortening the rotation up front to just six men (Jarvis Moss, Derrick Harvey, Ray McDonald, Steven Harris, Joe Cohen and Clint McMillan), Florida was able to hang on for the final six games while only giving up 15.1 points per game on the way to a National Championship.
To find a similar injury in terms of impact, you have to go back a little farther, to 1998. Ed Chester, a projected first-round pick (like Easley), went down with a gruesome knee injury in an October home game against LSU (whose offensive linemen decided to aim for Chester's legs all night long, a classy gesture on their part). His football career ended in the Swamp that night. The Gators were deeper up front that particular year, and were able to continue with a nine-man rotation the remainder of the season. Derrick Chambers took Chester's spot in the starting lineup, and joined a group that included Tim Beauchamp, Willie Cohens and Reggie McGrew. The back-ups included Thaddeus Bullard (you know him now as Titus O'Neil), Jayme Campbell, Anthony Mitchell and Gerard Warren. Florida gave up just 11.7 points per game in the final six games down the stretch. But a team that had a national-title caliber defense (easily the best in Spurrier's 12 seasons as HBC) ultimately would have to settle for a 10-2 record and finish as the 1999 Orange Bowl Champions.
So can the Gators overcome this loss? History says yes, although I'm not sure there's a defensive tackle on the roster with the talent of a Reggie McGrew, Gerard Warren or Ray McDonald right now. The young guys are going to have to step up a little sooner than hoped, now that the unquestioned leader of the Florida defense appears to be gone for the year. Send some thoughts the way of Dominique Easley this afternoon, as the big man prepares for what could be season-ending surgery in the coming days.
MT @MR_ChUcKiE_2: Gatornation thank you for all of 4 yrs of sticking wi th me but god has something else planned for and have no worries
— Alligator Army (@AlligatorArmy) September 25, 2013
And if that's not enough, former UF offensive lineman Shannon Snell threw in his two cents as well.
If it's true what I was told about him, I'm going to need something a little heavier than koolaide to drink tonight.
— Shannon Snell (@theebigbossSS) September 25, 2013
Yea, I can confirm Easley tore his ACL. Yikes. @onlygators
— Shannon Snell (@theebigbossSS) September 25, 2013
Assuming the news is true, and Easley is done for the year, it would seem that Jay-nard Bostwick is next in line to move into the rotation. Muschamp has already expressed that the staff has come close to playing Bostwick on multiple occasions this year, but it appears there was still some hope that the 6-foot-3, 305-pound freshman out of Port St. Lucie would redshirt. That scenario would seem unlikely now.
In terms of losing a defensive lineman the caliber of Easley, you would have to go all the way back to 2006. Marcus Thomas, in the midst of a dominant, All-American level senior campaign, was suspended from the team before a trip to Vanderbilt in November and ultimately dismissed. The Gators had already lost back-up tackle Javier Estopinan to a knee injury against Alabama earlier in the season. After shortening the rotation up front to just six men (Jarvis Moss, Derrick Harvey, Ray McDonald, Steven Harris, Joe Cohen and Clint McMillan), Florida was able to hang on for the final six games while only giving up 15.1 points per game on the way to a National Championship.
To find a similar injury in terms of impact, you have to go back a little farther, to 1998. Ed Chester, a projected first-round pick (like Easley), went down with a gruesome knee injury in an October home game against LSU (whose offensive linemen decided to aim for Chester's legs all night long, a classy gesture on their part). His football career ended in the Swamp that night. The Gators were deeper up front that particular year, and were able to continue with a nine-man rotation the remainder of the season. Derrick Chambers took Chester's spot in the starting lineup, and joined a group that included Tim Beauchamp, Willie Cohens and Reggie McGrew. The back-ups included Thaddeus Bullard (you know him now as Titus O'Neil), Jayme Campbell, Anthony Mitchell and Gerard Warren. Florida gave up just 11.7 points per game in the final six games down the stretch. But a team that had a national-title caliber defense (easily the best in Spurrier's 12 seasons as HBC) ultimately would have to settle for a 10-2 record and finish as the 1999 Orange Bowl Champions.
So can the Gators overcome this loss? History says yes, although I'm not sure there's a defensive tackle on the roster with the talent of a Reggie McGrew, Gerard Warren or Ray McDonald right now. The young guys are going to have to step up a little sooner than hoped, now that the unquestioned leader of the Florida defense appears to be gone for the year. Send some thoughts the way of Dominique Easley this afternoon, as the big man prepares for what could be season-ending surgery in the coming days.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Power Forward to Tight End: A Brief History
For so many years, the tight end position proved to be a sort of redheaded step-child of the NFL. There was truly a hodgepodge of different players, playing the spot, none of whom encompassed all the tools to take the position to another level. Some were great receivers (Ozzie Newsome, Shannon Sharpe, Jackie Smith, John Mackey and Todd Christensen come to mind), but lacked the size some of their counterparts possessed. Others were big, burly types who were excellent blockers but wouldn't prove to be as much of a threat in the passing game as some of the other "stars" of their time.
This trend continued until the late 1970's. The emergence of Kellen Winslow ultimately wouldn't revolutionize the position at the time. But he was the prototype that so many tight ends would be compared to for another generation. At 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, Winslow was the first to combine the size so many franchises hoped for out of the tight end position, with elite athleticism and receiving skills. Winslow's skill-set didn't sacrifice in any of the categories scouts looked at when evaluating prospects at the position. In essence, Winslow was a window into the future.
Fast forward about 15 years from the peak of Winslow's career as a player, which took place in the early 80's, and Tony Gonzalez emerges as the torchbearer at the position. Like Winslow, Gonzalez was the 13th overall pick of the NFL Draft, and with a similar stature and tools to build on, Gonzalez would ring in what has proven to be the golden era of the tight end in the NFL. Of course, he's still playing for the Falcons in 2013, and just turned in an All-Pro campaign a year ago. But there are now a host of great tight ends in the NFL, and many of them have very strong backgrounds in basketball, much like Gonzalez did coming out of Cal-Berkeley 16 years ago.
In college, Gonzalez helped lead Cal to the Sweet 16 in 1996. But while Gonzalez is often credited with the practice of turning undersized power forwards who lack the height to excel at the NBA level into top-flight tight ends, that simply isn't the case. Gonzalez was an All-American tight end for the Golden Bears as well. His football prowess was already well-known coming out of the college ranks. It was actually a little-known power forward out of Bradley who would get NFL personnel types to start thinking outside-the-box. And he entered the league a year earlier than Gonzalez.
Standing 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, Marcus Pollard obviously didn't have the type of frame that would convince NBA types to blaze a path to Peroia, Ill. as his eligibility came to an end at Bradley in 1995. The Braves didn't even have a varsity football team (and still don't to this day). However, Pollard's frame and mindset were enough to convince the Colts to take a flyer on the gifted athlete. Signed as an undrafted free agent by Indianapolis in 1995, Pollard had a quiet start for the Colts, making little impact in his first three seasons. Then, the arrival of Peyton Manning would prove to be the boon that allowed Pollard's ability to emerge.
During Manning's rookie season (Pollard's fourth), the athletic tight end would grab 24 receptions for 309 yards and five touchdowns. Totals that exceeded what he had done in 40 career games heading into the 1998 campaign. Their connection ignited a six-year by Pollard as one of the better receiving tight ends in the game, and Pollard would be the first of multiple undersized, yet athletic tight ends to emerge under the direction of a Peyton Manning offense (and he wouldn't be the first converted basketball player, but we'll get back to that later).
But of course, the guy to really break the floodgates open was Antonio Gates in 2003. Gates had been a significant contributor to the Cinderella run by Kent St. to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Basketball Tournament a year earlier. But despite averaging nearly 21 points and eight rebounds as a senior for the Golden Flashes, again, there wasn't a huge market for a 6-foot-4, 260-pound power forward. As a result, Gates looked to pro football as the next step, and there was a huge interest in his services as he made it be known he would pursue a pro football career. Signed as an undrafted free agent by San Diego, Gates broke into the starting line-up by the middle of his rookie season in 2003, and has proven to be one of the top tight ends in the NFL ever since, as his resume includes eight Pro Bowl selections and being honored as a consensus first team All-Pro three times as well.
Now, it should be noted that it's not as if Gates didn't have a football background. He was a highly-recruited two-sport prep athlete out of Detroit, and originally matriculated to East Lansing where he hoped to play both football and basketball for the Spartans. But when Nick Saban put the nix on any hopes Gates had of playing for Tom Izzo's squad, Gates began a journey that would see several stops before he wound up at Kent State. Gates very possibly was in line to be Michigan State's version of Tony Gonzalez, but it simply wasn't to be.
In the wake of Gates' emergence, NFL teams quickly moved to start signing any power forward they thought could make the transition to football. Names like Ed Nelson (UConn), Jai Lucas (George Mason) and Wesley Duke (Mercer) began being tossed around as possibilities to play pro football even before their college basketball seasons were over. While all three got opportunities in the NFL, Nelson with the Rams, Lucas (ultimately as a 290-pound offensive tackle) and Duke with the Broncos, all three quickly fizzled out. UNC small forward David Noel, a highly-recruited football player at the prep level who originally committed to the Tar Heels as a wide receiver, was also mentioned at the time as a candidate to make the jump to the NFL following the completion of his college eligibility. He ultimately elected to play pro basketball, and has pursued a career in Europe for several years now.
But while the failures of the post-Gates craze for NFL teams to uncover tight end talent in the college basketball ranks threw a little bit of cold water on the process, sometimes it's the process of taking one step back that allows a collective giant step forward to take place.
Just a couple of years after Lucas and Nelson bombed out of the pro football ranks, Jimmy Graham made an interesting decision following the completion of his college basketball eligibility at Miami. With his professional basketball prospects looking bleak as a 6-foot-7, 260-pound post player, Graham made the decision to enroll in graduate-level courses at Miami and go out for the football team, since he still had a year of eligibility remaining on the gridiron. Graham was not the first player to ever do this, of course. Former UF forward Major Parker joined the 2001 Orange Bowl Champion squad as a 6-foot-4, 240-pound reserve defensive lineman after lettering for the Gators in basketball for four years.
But Graham was the first to make this switch from basketball to football in college and achieve a real level of success. Although raw, Graham grabbed 17 receptions for 213 yards and five touchdowns for the 'Canes in 2009. This was enough to convince pro scouts that Graham possessed some special tools, and the New Orleans Saints were rewarded when they drafted Graham in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Graham is now one of the most prolific tight ends in the NFL (along with Rob Gronkowski), and his performance through three games so far this season has him on pace to put together perhaps the most impressive season by a tight end in NFL history.
The successful of transition by Graham would foreshadow the transition of two other tight ends emerging in the NFL today who decided to make the move from forward to tight end while still in college. Jordan Cameron (USC) and Julius Thomas (Portland St.) were both fourth-round picks of the 2011 NFL Draft by Cleveland and Denver, respectively. Cameron was a basketball player at BYU for one year in 2006-07 before transferring to USC where he played from 2008-10. Cameron was a lightly used receiver in Troy for two seasons before moving to tight end as a senior, where he grabbed 16 receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown. After four years with the basketball team (including a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances in 2008 and 2009), Thomas traded in his high-tops for cleats in 2010, and made an immediate impact for the Portland State football team, grabbing 29 receptions for 453 yards and a pair of touchdowns, good enough for All-Big Sky honors at the tight end position.
Of course, the transition for Cameron and Thomas hasn't been quite as smooth as it has been for Graham. Both player made mimimal contributions in their first two season, but now both appear to be headed towards breakout seasons in 2013, just three games in.
It should also be noted that the Seattle Seahawks signed 6-foot-7, 260-pound former UC-Irvine basketball player Darren Fells in the offseason. After making his way through a number of foreign pro basketball circuits, the 27-year old decided to give football a try in the spring. Pete Carroll was all-too-happy to give the brother of New England Patriots tight end Daniel Fells an opportunity to make the Seahawks' roster. Alas, the younger Fells was cut by Seattle in August, and has not re-emerged on a practice squad since.
The reasons for why former basketball players with little or no football background can excel in football has already been examined extensively. The same traits that make a good power forward – good hands, good footwork, body positioning, the ability to track rebounds, being physical – also come in handy at the tight end position. But many observers forget to note that many of these basketball refugees are also incredible athletes. Cameron, Graham and Thomas all put up incredible numbers at the NFL Combine. All thee players ran under 4.65 seconds in the 40-yard dash, and all three had vertical jumps of at least 35 inches. Their numbers would have been more than adequate if they were just receivers looking for a shot at the next level. That all three were in the 6-foot-5, 250-plus pound range just added another dimension to their value as potential draft picks. Gates and Gonzalez were very much in the same class as athletes when they came out of the college ranks as well.
In many ways, the best tight ends today are being utilized as the best receivers has been. Graham, Gronkowski, Jason Witten, so and so forth. An elite pass-catching tight end today many times is just a "tight end" in name only.
As we look to the future, I'm curious to see if the trend of basketball players moving over to play football continues as it has. Perhaps those guys in that 6-foot-5, 6-foot-6 range, who know their chances of making it in the NBA are slim, will continue to see the emergence and success of players like Gronkowski, Graham, Cameron, Thomas and others. Maybe the future is that we'll see more NFL-ready tight ends flood the college game, get better at a younger age, and only continue to improve a position that is currently flourishing at the professional level.
This trend continued until the late 1970's. The emergence of Kellen Winslow ultimately wouldn't revolutionize the position at the time. But he was the prototype that so many tight ends would be compared to for another generation. At 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, Winslow was the first to combine the size so many franchises hoped for out of the tight end position, with elite athleticism and receiving skills. Winslow's skill-set didn't sacrifice in any of the categories scouts looked at when evaluating prospects at the position. In essence, Winslow was a window into the future.
Fast forward about 15 years from the peak of Winslow's career as a player, which took place in the early 80's, and Tony Gonzalez emerges as the torchbearer at the position. Like Winslow, Gonzalez was the 13th overall pick of the NFL Draft, and with a similar stature and tools to build on, Gonzalez would ring in what has proven to be the golden era of the tight end in the NFL. Of course, he's still playing for the Falcons in 2013, and just turned in an All-Pro campaign a year ago. But there are now a host of great tight ends in the NFL, and many of them have very strong backgrounds in basketball, much like Gonzalez did coming out of Cal-Berkeley 16 years ago.
In college, Gonzalez helped lead Cal to the Sweet 16 in 1996. But while Gonzalez is often credited with the practice of turning undersized power forwards who lack the height to excel at the NBA level into top-flight tight ends, that simply isn't the case. Gonzalez was an All-American tight end for the Golden Bears as well. His football prowess was already well-known coming out of the college ranks. It was actually a little-known power forward out of Bradley who would get NFL personnel types to start thinking outside-the-box. And he entered the league a year earlier than Gonzalez.
Standing 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, Marcus Pollard obviously didn't have the type of frame that would convince NBA types to blaze a path to Peroia, Ill. as his eligibility came to an end at Bradley in 1995. The Braves didn't even have a varsity football team (and still don't to this day). However, Pollard's frame and mindset were enough to convince the Colts to take a flyer on the gifted athlete. Signed as an undrafted free agent by Indianapolis in 1995, Pollard had a quiet start for the Colts, making little impact in his first three seasons. Then, the arrival of Peyton Manning would prove to be the boon that allowed Pollard's ability to emerge.
During Manning's rookie season (Pollard's fourth), the athletic tight end would grab 24 receptions for 309 yards and five touchdowns. Totals that exceeded what he had done in 40 career games heading into the 1998 campaign. Their connection ignited a six-year by Pollard as one of the better receiving tight ends in the game, and Pollard would be the first of multiple undersized, yet athletic tight ends to emerge under the direction of a Peyton Manning offense (and he wouldn't be the first converted basketball player, but we'll get back to that later).
But of course, the guy to really break the floodgates open was Antonio Gates in 2003. Gates had been a significant contributor to the Cinderella run by Kent St. to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Basketball Tournament a year earlier. But despite averaging nearly 21 points and eight rebounds as a senior for the Golden Flashes, again, there wasn't a huge market for a 6-foot-4, 260-pound power forward. As a result, Gates looked to pro football as the next step, and there was a huge interest in his services as he made it be known he would pursue a pro football career. Signed as an undrafted free agent by San Diego, Gates broke into the starting line-up by the middle of his rookie season in 2003, and has proven to be one of the top tight ends in the NFL ever since, as his resume includes eight Pro Bowl selections and being honored as a consensus first team All-Pro three times as well.
Now, it should be noted that it's not as if Gates didn't have a football background. He was a highly-recruited two-sport prep athlete out of Detroit, and originally matriculated to East Lansing where he hoped to play both football and basketball for the Spartans. But when Nick Saban put the nix on any hopes Gates had of playing for Tom Izzo's squad, Gates began a journey that would see several stops before he wound up at Kent State. Gates very possibly was in line to be Michigan State's version of Tony Gonzalez, but it simply wasn't to be.
In the wake of Gates' emergence, NFL teams quickly moved to start signing any power forward they thought could make the transition to football. Names like Ed Nelson (UConn), Jai Lucas (George Mason) and Wesley Duke (Mercer) began being tossed around as possibilities to play pro football even before their college basketball seasons were over. While all three got opportunities in the NFL, Nelson with the Rams, Lucas (ultimately as a 290-pound offensive tackle) and Duke with the Broncos, all three quickly fizzled out. UNC small forward David Noel, a highly-recruited football player at the prep level who originally committed to the Tar Heels as a wide receiver, was also mentioned at the time as a candidate to make the jump to the NFL following the completion of his college eligibility. He ultimately elected to play pro basketball, and has pursued a career in Europe for several years now.
But while the failures of the post-Gates craze for NFL teams to uncover tight end talent in the college basketball ranks threw a little bit of cold water on the process, sometimes it's the process of taking one step back that allows a collective giant step forward to take place.
Just a couple of years after Lucas and Nelson bombed out of the pro football ranks, Jimmy Graham made an interesting decision following the completion of his college basketball eligibility at Miami. With his professional basketball prospects looking bleak as a 6-foot-7, 260-pound post player, Graham made the decision to enroll in graduate-level courses at Miami and go out for the football team, since he still had a year of eligibility remaining on the gridiron. Graham was not the first player to ever do this, of course. Former UF forward Major Parker joined the 2001 Orange Bowl Champion squad as a 6-foot-4, 240-pound reserve defensive lineman after lettering for the Gators in basketball for four years.
But Graham was the first to make this switch from basketball to football in college and achieve a real level of success. Although raw, Graham grabbed 17 receptions for 213 yards and five touchdowns for the 'Canes in 2009. This was enough to convince pro scouts that Graham possessed some special tools, and the New Orleans Saints were rewarded when they drafted Graham in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Graham is now one of the most prolific tight ends in the NFL (along with Rob Gronkowski), and his performance through three games so far this season has him on pace to put together perhaps the most impressive season by a tight end in NFL history.
The successful of transition by Graham would foreshadow the transition of two other tight ends emerging in the NFL today who decided to make the move from forward to tight end while still in college. Jordan Cameron (USC) and Julius Thomas (Portland St.) were both fourth-round picks of the 2011 NFL Draft by Cleveland and Denver, respectively. Cameron was a basketball player at BYU for one year in 2006-07 before transferring to USC where he played from 2008-10. Cameron was a lightly used receiver in Troy for two seasons before moving to tight end as a senior, where he grabbed 16 receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown. After four years with the basketball team (including a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances in 2008 and 2009), Thomas traded in his high-tops for cleats in 2010, and made an immediate impact for the Portland State football team, grabbing 29 receptions for 453 yards and a pair of touchdowns, good enough for All-Big Sky honors at the tight end position.
Of course, the transition for Cameron and Thomas hasn't been quite as smooth as it has been for Graham. Both player made mimimal contributions in their first two season, but now both appear to be headed towards breakout seasons in 2013, just three games in.
It should also be noted that the Seattle Seahawks signed 6-foot-7, 260-pound former UC-Irvine basketball player Darren Fells in the offseason. After making his way through a number of foreign pro basketball circuits, the 27-year old decided to give football a try in the spring. Pete Carroll was all-too-happy to give the brother of New England Patriots tight end Daniel Fells an opportunity to make the Seahawks' roster. Alas, the younger Fells was cut by Seattle in August, and has not re-emerged on a practice squad since.
The reasons for why former basketball players with little or no football background can excel in football has already been examined extensively. The same traits that make a good power forward – good hands, good footwork, body positioning, the ability to track rebounds, being physical – also come in handy at the tight end position. But many observers forget to note that many of these basketball refugees are also incredible athletes. Cameron, Graham and Thomas all put up incredible numbers at the NFL Combine. All thee players ran under 4.65 seconds in the 40-yard dash, and all three had vertical jumps of at least 35 inches. Their numbers would have been more than adequate if they were just receivers looking for a shot at the next level. That all three were in the 6-foot-5, 250-plus pound range just added another dimension to their value as potential draft picks. Gates and Gonzalez were very much in the same class as athletes when they came out of the college ranks as well.
In many ways, the best tight ends today are being utilized as the best receivers has been. Graham, Gronkowski, Jason Witten, so and so forth. An elite pass-catching tight end today many times is just a "tight end" in name only.
Right now Jimmy Graham has spent 58.7% of his snap split out wide or in the slot. #franchisetagleverage
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) September 23, 2013
As we look to the future, I'm curious to see if the trend of basketball players moving over to play football continues as it has. Perhaps those guys in that 6-foot-5, 6-foot-6 range, who know their chances of making it in the NBA are slim, will continue to see the emergence and success of players like Gronkowski, Graham, Cameron, Thomas and others. Maybe the future is that we'll see more NFL-ready tight ends flood the college game, get better at a younger age, and only continue to improve a position that is currently flourishing at the professional level.
Monday, September 23, 2013
The Big Board, 9/23 Edition
I still don't know exactly what to call this feature. So for now, we'll just call label it "The Big Board."
As for what this list entails, it's really a combination of multiple factors: 1.) The likelihood of the prospect coming to UF. 2.) How high the prospect is on Florida's board. 3. The need for Florida at the given position each prospect plays. AND 4.) What my gut instincts tell me. But in the end, it's a sort of ranking system for the remaining prospects on the board for the Gators.
I've dropped this in a few updates over the last couple of weeks, but this is the first time the big board has earned solo treatment. The biggest movers have been David Sharpe (who started out at No. 2, but has slid all the way down to No. 9 after he failed to make it in for the Tennessee game over the weekend), as well as Javon Harrison (who makes a big leap onto the list at No. 10). Harrison appears to be trending up for UF after the Gators were able to get him on campus for the Florida-Tennessee game. Now, the key is if they can keep him coming back to Gainesville to keep the momentum going.
1. DB Jamal Adams
As for what this list entails, it's really a combination of multiple factors: 1.) The likelihood of the prospect coming to UF. 2.) How high the prospect is on Florida's board. 3. The need for Florida at the given position each prospect plays. AND 4.) What my gut instincts tell me. But in the end, it's a sort of ranking system for the remaining prospects on the board for the Gators.
I've dropped this in a few updates over the last couple of weeks, but this is the first time the big board has earned solo treatment. The biggest movers have been David Sharpe (who started out at No. 2, but has slid all the way down to No. 9 after he failed to make it in for the Tennessee game over the weekend), as well as Javon Harrison (who makes a big leap onto the list at No. 10). Harrison appears to be trending up for UF after the Gators were able to get him on campus for the Florida-Tennessee game. Now, the key is if they can keep him coming back to Gainesville to keep the momentum going.
1. DB Jamal Adams
2. DE Lorenzo Carter
3. DB Adoree' Jackson
4. WR Travis Rudolph
5. TE Deandre Goolsby
4. WR Travis Rudolph
5. TE Deandre Goolsby
6. DE Cory Thomas
7. DE Lorenzo Featherston
7. DE Lorenzo Featherston
8. OL David Sharpe
9. RB Bo Scarbrough (Alabama)
9. RB Bo Scarbrough (Alabama)
10. WR Javon Harrison (Virginia Tech)
11. LB Dwight Williams
11. LB Dwight Williams
12. DB Jalen Tabor
13. RB Joe Mixon
14. OL Jordan Sims
15. WR Artavis Scott (Clemson)
16. DT Thomas Holley
13. RB Joe Mixon
14. OL Jordan Sims
15. WR Artavis Scott (Clemson)
16. DT Thomas Holley
17. OL Damien Mama
18. LB: Raekwon McMillan
18. LB: Raekwon McMillan
19. DE Da'Shawn Hand
20. LB Clifton Garrett
21 WR Josh Malone
22. DE Dewayne Hendrix
23. DT Gerald Willis
24. WR Speedy Noil
25. DE Richard Yeargin (Notre Dame)
21 WR Josh Malone
22. DE Dewayne Hendrix
23. DT Gerald Willis
24. WR Speedy Noil
25. DE Richard Yeargin (Notre Dame)
26. DE Jacob Pugh (Florida State)
27. OL Trevor Darling (Miami)
28. DT Davon Godchaux
29. LB Nyles Morgan
30. DE Malik McDowell
28. DT Davon Godchaux
29. LB Nyles Morgan
30. DE Malik McDowell
31. RB Leonard Fournette
32. DT Anthony Moten
33. LB Kenny Young
34. DT Zaycoven Henderson
35. WR Johnnie Dixon
34. DT Zaycoven Henderson
35. WR Johnnie Dixon
36. DB Marlon Humphrey
37. OL Denzel Ward (Purdue)
38. DT Jarran Reed
39. QB Chase Litton
37. OL Denzel Ward (Purdue)
38. DT Jarran Reed
39. QB Chase Litton
40. RB Tony James
41. DE Rohan Blackwood (Wisconsin)
42. TE Ravian Pierce
43. RB Cortavious Givens
44. DT Jeremy Patterson
45. TE Montez Sweat
Trending up: Javon Harrison, Cory Thomas
Trending down: David Sharpe
Trending up: Javon Harrison, Cory Thomas
Trending down: David Sharpe
An update on Ribault LB Jakob Johnson
Last Friday, I posted about Jacksonville Ribault linebacker Jakob Johnson and whether not he was a player to watch. I think we all have our answer now.
From the Florida Times-Union:
Johnson has given Ribault a boost on the defensive side of the football, as the Trojans are 2-1 through three games and appear to be in control of their district after a critical 17-9 victory over Baker County (and top 2015 D-Line prospect C.C. Jefferson) on Friday night.
Ribault linebacker Jakob Johnson made nine tackles and forced two turnovers, and hard-rushing ends Gary Alexander and De’Andra Pinckney kept Baker County quarterback Jacob Carter under pressure throughout the game.
Johnson has given Ribault a boost on the defensive side of the football, as the Trojans are 2-1 through three games and appear to be in control of their district after a critical 17-9 victory over Baker County (and top 2015 D-Line prospect C.C. Jefferson) on Friday night.
Highlights of Ribault LB Jakob Johnson from his days across the pond.
While his highlights from Germany were intriguing, the lack of competition was very much apparent on film. Now that XOS Digital has posted a three-game cut of Johnson for the beginning of this year, it's clear that he was very much up to the test of what Florida high school football would provide him with.
(Let me add that Jeff Martin of XOS was clearly ahead of the pack in pegging Johnson as a big-time prospect, spotting him nearly the moment he got off the plane from Germany, it appears).
Sleeper OLB, @JohnsonJakob, transferred from Stuttgart Germany. Check out his highlights https://t.co/SDIWMW44ER
— Jeff Martin (@Jeff_XOS) July 28, 2013
Listed at 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, Johnson appears to be very fluid and comfortable playing in space. Frankly, he is a strikingly similar to Florida State LB commit Kain Daub, both in appearance and stature. One big difference that jumps out at me, however, is Johnson's ability to play in space. Daub, in past years, has shown he is a better player moving straight-ahead, but struggles playing side-to-side a bit. He's a little stiff in the hips, but otherwise an excellent prospect and superb pass-rusher. Johnson, however, does not have this issue. His movements on film are very fluid. And while he isn't the fastest guy in the world on tape, I could still see him being a very effective linebacker at the next level because of the ease of his lateral movement (think Brandon Spikes, if you will).
Now, there will likely be a period of adjustment for Johnson. I don't see him as a guy to step right in and star at the next level. But his upside is through the roof. And if the 6-4, 240 figures check out, he may bring a lot of positional versatility to the table as well, with the potential to possibly grow into a defensive lineman down the road.
Guess who got an offer from Tennessee....#GoVols
— JakobJohnson (@JohnsonJakob) September 20, 2013
Idaho and Tennessee have now offered in recent days, the latter doing so after assistant coach Tommy Thigpen evaluated Johnson in person at the Baker County-Ribault game last week. I find it hard to believe there won't be about 50 other schools blazing a trail to Jacksonville over the coming days to get in on the recruitment of Johnson, who now figures to be one of the rising stars of the fall.
For more highlights on Johnson, also give his Hudl page a look-see.
For more highlights on Johnson, also give his Hudl page a look-see.
Lynden Trail and the 2010 Defensive Line Class
Looking back on Florida's 2010 defensive line class, it's hard not to think that's not one of the better units signed at that position in UF history. Urban Meyer and his staff should get a lot of credit for this group. Let me illustrate this point. The Gators signed six players to play up front for the Class of 2010:
Neiron Ball (6-3, 196, Jackson, Ga.)
Dominique Easley (6-3, 270, Staten Island, N.Y./Curtis)
Sharrif Floyd (6-3, 311, Philadelphia, Pa./George Washington)
Leon Orr (6-5, 344 New Port Richey/Gulf)
Ronald Powell (6-4, 250, Moreno Valley, Calif/Rancho Verde)
Lynden Trail (6-7, 220, Miami/Booker T. Washington)
Ball was technically listed as a DE-OLB, and has played both positions at Florida (as Ronald Powell has done as well).
Overall, let's consider what this group has accomplished.
– Floyd, of course, picked up All-SEC and All-American honors as a junior on his way to being selected 23rd overall by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2013 NFL Draft.
– We're only three games into the season, but Easley appears well on his way to earning at least All-SEC honors as a senior in 2013. His draft stock is steadily climbing as well, and he could very well be a first-round draft pick when next April rolls around.
Neiron Ball (6-3, 196, Jackson, Ga.)
Dominique Easley (6-3, 270, Staten Island, N.Y./Curtis)
Sharrif Floyd (6-3, 311, Philadelphia, Pa./George Washington)
Leon Orr (6-5, 344 New Port Richey/Gulf)
Ronald Powell (6-4, 250, Moreno Valley, Calif/Rancho Verde)
Lynden Trail (6-7, 220, Miami/Booker T. Washington)
Ball was technically listed as a DE-OLB, and has played both positions at Florida (as Ronald Powell has done as well).
Overall, let's consider what this group has accomplished.
– Floyd, of course, picked up All-SEC and All-American honors as a junior on his way to being selected 23rd overall by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2013 NFL Draft.
– With a year of eligibility remaining for both Orr and Powell, there could be a few chapters left to write on both of their careers in Gainesville. Nonetheless, both are extremely talented physically, and figure to at least here their names called at some point during one of the next two NFL Drafts.
– After overcoming a condition known as arteriovenous malformation (AVM), that Neiron Ball is even still playing for the Gators is a miracle. The fact he's become a solid contributor with plenty of still untapped potential is even more incredible.
– Finally, that brings us to Trail. The one "bust" you could label in this class for the Gators. In that sense, Trail certainly didn't live up to the lofty expectations placed on him entering Florida. A tall, lanky and extremely athletic defensive end, many (including myself) thought Trail would come to UF, hang around on the bench for a year or two as he gained weight, then provide a pass-rushing presence similar to that of former Florida star Jarvis Moss. Things never worked out in Gainesville, as Trail quickly added the weight, but was unable to make any sort of impact for the Gators. After redshirting in 2010, he only dressed for one game in 2011 (the season-opener against Florida Atlantic) before opting to pursue a transfer after the season.
************
But the story doesn't end there. Trail's journey would take him to 1-AA Norfolk State, a member of the MEAC based in Norfolk, Va. There he has excelled in 15 games with the Spartans. Playing as a outside linebacker in Norfolk's 3-4 defensive scheme, Trail led the team with 70 tackles, 17.0 TFL and eight quarterback pressures, and tied for the team lead in sacks (6.0) and fumble recoveries (2) in 2012, despite the fact he only started three of 11 games during the season.
Trail is off to a solid start this fall as well. Now a full-time starter, Trail is second on the team in tackles with 22, and has added 1.5 sacks through the first three contests of the season. While things may not have worked out for the big man in Gainesville, the now 260-pound Trail appears well on his way to playing at the pro level, just like his defensive line comrades in the 2010 recruiting class for UF who have seen their success take place in The Swamp, as expected.
************
What's most interesting to me about the 2010 class, is the success Florida had recruiting on the defensive line, considering the mixed bag of evaluations for the Gators at that position from 2006-09.
– In 2006, the Gators had a need for numbers, and reeled in a group that included Brandon Antwine, Jermaine Cunningham, Corey Hobbs, Lawrence Marsh, and Terron Sanders. Cunningham would excel for the Gators, while Marsh and Sanders were more than serviceable. Antwine showed flashes when he got on the field, but injuries ultimately derailed his career. Hobbs was a bust in every sense of the word, as he would eventually move to offense before disappearing from the squad altogether. The Gators made a run at a trio of linemen who would eventually sign with Penn State – Aaron Maybin, Jared Odrick and Phil Taylor – but obviously missed on all three. However, the glaring miss for Florida in 2006 would be a guy right under their noses: Geno Atkins at St. Thomas Aquinas. Atkins would go on to have a productive career at Georgia and is now considered one of the two or three best interior defensive linemen in the NFL today.
– In 2007, Florida again signed a large and highly-touted contingent of defensive linemen that included John Brown, Torrey Davis, Carlos Dunlap, Jaye Howard, Duke Lemmens and Justin Trattou. Dunlap and Howard had fine careers in Gainesville, while Trattou proved to be an extremely versatile piece of the defensive line rotation for four years. Brown and Davis, of course, were unable to stick around at Florida for too long, although Davis holds a place in most Gators fans hearts for his big fourth-down stop at the goal line against Oklahoma in the 2009 BCS Championship Game. Looking back now, the defensive tackles that UF turned away in the 2007 cycle have to make some fans sick. Local product Linval Joseph was committed to the Gators at one point, but then dropped (ultimately to free up a slot for James Wilson). Joseph went on to become a dominant force at East Carolina and was a second-round pick of the New York Giants. Ian Williams had a solid career at Notre Dame after the Gators elected to move on from his recruitment. He's now a key contributor in San Francisco (or was until he was placed on IR a week ago). There was also Cameron Heyward, who reportedly had a high level of interest in the Gators before UF elected to move on from his recruitment as well. Heyward starred at Ohio State before becoming a first-round pick of the Steelers in 2011.
– 2008 was a mess. William Green and Omar Hunter were a pair of All-Americans who never quite lived on to their billing. Earl Okine was a local project who never could really carve out a major role at Florida, despite his immense physical talent. Troy Epps was an undersized JUCO transfer who had no business ever playing for the Gators. That UF elected to pursue Epps, instead of Swanson Miller, a local product from Alachua always sort of baffled me. Miller played for Oklahoma State before moving on to spend two years with the Broncos.
– The following year, 2009, again proved to be problematic on the defensive line. Gary Brown was talented, but troubled, and lasted less than a year at Florida. The Gators then elected to reach on a pair of projects – Kedric Johnson and JUCO transfer Edwin Herbert – as they missed on many of their top targets (Ryne Giddens, Demonte McAllister and Curtis Porter, among others). That Florida couldn't close the deal on Pernell McPhee, a Pahokee product who ended up at Mississippi State and is now with the Baltimore Ravens, had to sting a bit.
************
How this class even came about was a bit of a minor miracle. Of course, this group was held together in the Urban Meyer "he's going, he's staying, he's going" drama that played out in three acts over the course of 12 months from December of 2009 until December of 2010. But when Meyer first decided to stick around for what would ultimately prove to be his final season at Florida, Steve Addazio essentially ran most of the operations, although Meyer was still involved in terms of interacting with and contacting recruits.
Interestingly enough, Dominique Easley had recruited Florida harder than Florida had recruited Easley throughout most of the process. He visited Gainesville twice on his own dime – once, in the spring of 2009 for a Florida practice. His second trip was to Friday Night Lights in July. It was there that Meyer reportedly nixed Easley's inclusion in the class after eyeing him in person. One person in the Swamp that night later relayed to me that Easley had issues with a warm-up routine led by strength coach Mickey Marotti that included push-ups (this witness claimed that Easley struggled to do even 10 on that particular day, whether or not that's true I can't say for certain). In any case, Easley had come to Gainesville expecting to give his commitment to UF. Instead, as he left Florida that weekend, he and the Gators appeared to have parted ways. So Easley's recruitment carried on, and he figured to be head elsewhere for college. All the way until the morning of the 2010 Under Armour All-America Game, that is.
Oregon and Penn State had moved in as the leaders of Easley's recruitment after UF backed off. Easley made official visits to both programs, and Oregon appeared to be in the driver's seat. In covering practices the week of the Under Armour All-America Game, I hadn't even bothered to do a story with Easley, as he did not appear to be on the radar for the Gators. Then as I showed up to Tropicana Field a couple of hours before game time, an excited JC Shurburtt (then with ESPN, now the top national analyst at 247Sports) stopped me as I set down my stuff.
"Easley's going to Florida," he told me.
I was dumbfounded. The Gators hadn't even appeared to be a factor just 24 hours before, now they were going to sign a guy whose performance that week rocketed him up the charts from a borderline national top-100 caliber player to a consensus five-star stud. What had happened?
The answer was very simple: Steve Addazio. Now given the authority to make some of the personnel decisions, he authorized a late offer to Easley which the big man quickly jumped on. Addazio had been the point man on the Easley recruitment and was in his corner from the outset. He had privately relayed to people that he felt Easley was the "second coming of Dwight Freeney." While his game didn't ultimately translate to the college level the same way in which Freeney's did, the impact both can have on a game is very much similar. Addazio's projection was off, but his evaluation was right on. He saw a high-quality blue-chip prospect long before many others did.
For Floyd and Powell, it was more of a matter of building the right relationships with the right people around them. Then, it was just a matter of holding on those last few days as Meyer went back-and-forth on his future in Gainesville. Once he decided to stick around (albeit, for less than a year), all the pieces fell into place on a recruiting class that was proclaimed to be perhaps the best in school history. While some positions didn't live up to their billing, it's hard to say that Florida didn't knock it right out of the park along the defensive line back on February 3, 2010.
Will Grier's Madden-like numbers
It was just another ho-hum game for Florida QB commit Will Grier (Davidson, N.C.) over the weekend. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound quarterback completed 18-of-22 passes for 370 yards with six touchdowns against one interception in a 45-0 win for Davidson Day over the Community School of Davidson on Friday night. It was the Patriots' lowest scoring output on the season to date through five games.
Grier and Davidson Day appear to be coming up on the real meat of their schedule, with arguably the three toughest games on their schedule on tap within the next four games, beginning with a trip to Marvin Ridge of Waxhaw, N.C. (the general area in which former President Andrew Jackson was birthed, just in case you didn't know) on Friday.
With the regular season now half-over for Grier, it's interesting to note what he's done so far this season. It really is like something out of a video game. In some respects, he's taken a step back on the passing side of things from his junior year, although it was going to be nearly impossible to top the numbers he put up in 2012. He's completing 71.1% of his passes this fall (down from 78.3% a year ago). Although, it should be noted that his completion percentage is improving as the season moves along, and he's connected on 48-of-62 passes in his last two games (77.4%).
Grier has also tossed six interceptions in 149 passing attempts this season. That number doesn't sound too bad, until you consider he threw six picks in 414 attempts for the entire season a year ago. Grier's interception rate in 2013 (4.0%) is up considerably from both his sophomore (2.5%) and junior (1.4%) campaigns.
However, Grier has also been tossing touchdowns at a ridiculous rate. He's thrown for 31 scores through five games, and is currently on pace to wind up with as many as 79 on the season (assuming Davidson Day plays a full total of 13 games, as they likely will). That would even usurp his incredible run in 2012, when he connected on 61 touchdown strikes, but would still fall short of the national single-season record of 91, held by Corey Robinson of Lone Oak (Ky.) from 2007.
Of course, this goes back to the issue of Grier's numbers not being recognized in the national record books. Grier's Davidson Day squad is under the governing body of the NCISAA (North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association), as opposed to the standard NCHSAA (North Carolina High School Athletic Association, the equivalent of Florida's FHSAA). Since the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) only recognizes the official records of the NCHSAA, and the NCHSAA doesn't officially recognize Grier's numbers, as his school isn't a part of the NCHSAA, Grier's name will never grace the "official" high school record books.
I hope you got all of that. But Grier's place in the national pantheon of great prep signal-callers should be unquestioned at this point, even if his numbers aren't officially recognized.
He's currently on pace to pass Chris Leak's state record of 185 touchdown passes (accomplished at Charlotte Independence High School between 1999-02, good for second all-time nationally). However, the national record of 219 (credited to current Missouri backup Maty Mauk, who attended Kenton High School in Ohio from 2008-11) will be tough for Grier to match (he would need 70 touchdown passes in a maximum of eight games). Likewise, Chris Leak's state record of 15,593 yards will be tough to top as well (Grier would have to average 525 yards per game the rest of the way to beat that mark). Ultimately, Grier should "unofficially" finish up as one of the top-five most prolific passers in national prep history. Behind the Mauk brothers, Leak and West Virginia native J.R. House, but ahead of such luminaries as Brock Berlin, Garrett Gilbert, Tim Couch and Josh Booty, among others.
It should also be noted that Grier is running the ball even better this year, piling up 519 yards and six scores on just 31 carries. His 16.7 average per carry is nearly double his output from a year ago (8.8).
Barring injury, Will Grier will go down as one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the history of high school football. Even if he doesn't play another down at the prep level, his legend is already quite secure. But considering how many names litter the top of those all-time high school passing lists (the aforementioned Mauk brothers, Leak, Berlin, Gilbert, Couch and Booty, along with Greg Paulus, Drew Tate and Jamarcus Russell), Grier's prep accomplishments do not guarantee even a high degree of success at the college level. How Grier fares at Florida will be determined by a completely different set of circumstances than the ones that have allowed him to reach such heights in Davidson, N.C. over the past two-plus seasons (and counting).
Highlights from UF commit Will Grier's junior season at Davidson Day (Davidson, N.C.)
Grier and Davidson Day appear to be coming up on the real meat of their schedule, with arguably the three toughest games on their schedule on tap within the next four games, beginning with a trip to Marvin Ridge of Waxhaw, N.C. (the general area in which former President Andrew Jackson was birthed, just in case you didn't know) on Friday.
With the regular season now half-over for Grier, it's interesting to note what he's done so far this season. It really is like something out of a video game. In some respects, he's taken a step back on the passing side of things from his junior year, although it was going to be nearly impossible to top the numbers he put up in 2012. He's completing 71.1% of his passes this fall (down from 78.3% a year ago). Although, it should be noted that his completion percentage is improving as the season moves along, and he's connected on 48-of-62 passes in his last two games (77.4%).
Grier has also tossed six interceptions in 149 passing attempts this season. That number doesn't sound too bad, until you consider he threw six picks in 414 attempts for the entire season a year ago. Grier's interception rate in 2013 (4.0%) is up considerably from both his sophomore (2.5%) and junior (1.4%) campaigns.
However, Grier has also been tossing touchdowns at a ridiculous rate. He's thrown for 31 scores through five games, and is currently on pace to wind up with as many as 79 on the season (assuming Davidson Day plays a full total of 13 games, as they likely will). That would even usurp his incredible run in 2012, when he connected on 61 touchdown strikes, but would still fall short of the national single-season record of 91, held by Corey Robinson of Lone Oak (Ky.) from 2007.
Of course, this goes back to the issue of Grier's numbers not being recognized in the national record books. Grier's Davidson Day squad is under the governing body of the NCISAA (North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association), as opposed to the standard NCHSAA (North Carolina High School Athletic Association, the equivalent of Florida's FHSAA). Since the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) only recognizes the official records of the NCHSAA, and the NCHSAA doesn't officially recognize Grier's numbers, as his school isn't a part of the NCHSAA, Grier's name will never grace the "official" high school record books.
I hope you got all of that. But Grier's place in the national pantheon of great prep signal-callers should be unquestioned at this point, even if his numbers aren't officially recognized.
He's currently on pace to pass Chris Leak's state record of 185 touchdown passes (accomplished at Charlotte Independence High School between 1999-02, good for second all-time nationally). However, the national record of 219 (credited to current Missouri backup Maty Mauk, who attended Kenton High School in Ohio from 2008-11) will be tough for Grier to match (he would need 70 touchdown passes in a maximum of eight games). Likewise, Chris Leak's state record of 15,593 yards will be tough to top as well (Grier would have to average 525 yards per game the rest of the way to beat that mark). Ultimately, Grier should "unofficially" finish up as one of the top-five most prolific passers in national prep history. Behind the Mauk brothers, Leak and West Virginia native J.R. House, but ahead of such luminaries as Brock Berlin, Garrett Gilbert, Tim Couch and Josh Booty, among others.
It should also be noted that Grier is running the ball even better this year, piling up 519 yards and six scores on just 31 carries. His 16.7 average per carry is nearly double his output from a year ago (8.8).
Barring injury, Will Grier will go down as one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the history of high school football. Even if he doesn't play another down at the prep level, his legend is already quite secure. But considering how many names litter the top of those all-time high school passing lists (the aforementioned Mauk brothers, Leak, Berlin, Gilbert, Couch and Booty, along with Greg Paulus, Drew Tate and Jamarcus Russell), Grier's prep accomplishments do not guarantee even a high degree of success at the college level. How Grier fares at Florida will be determined by a completely different set of circumstances than the ones that have allowed him to reach such heights in Davidson, N.C. over the past two-plus seasons (and counting).
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Post-UT recruiting thoughts
A few things that have popped into my head since Florida's 31-17 win over Tennessee on Saturday, as it relates to the recruiting side of things:
– This is the last time I'm going to write about this, since I've already covered it twice (here and here), but Florida has got to make some serious personnel adjustments at the tight end position. Right now there are four guys with scholarships on the roster, and none has proven themselves to be any more than a No. 3 or No. 4 option for this squad. All four of those guys have eligibility remaining after this season, but there is no doubt in my mind there will be some level of attrition at the position between now and National Signing Day.
Yes, the Gators have a commitment from C'yontai Lewis already in hand. But it has to go further than that. Florida continues to recruit Deandre Goolsby out of Kansas, but if they don't get him, they're going to have to look elsewhere. Another high school prospect is a possibility. Looking to the JUCO ranks is a possibility. Heck, I'd seriously think about inviting Will Yeguete out for a look next spring if he's willing. The point is, while going out and finding the next Aaron Hernandez or even Jordan Reed might be a stretch, finding a player who can at least contribute in the passing game as a receiver is not much to ask. Right now, none of the tight ends on the Florida roster can claim to give the offense even that much.
Yes, the Gators have a commitment from C'yontai Lewis already in hand. But it has to go further than that. Florida continues to recruit Deandre Goolsby out of Kansas, but if they don't get him, they're going to have to look elsewhere. Another high school prospect is a possibility. Looking to the JUCO ranks is a possibility. Heck, I'd seriously think about inviting Will Yeguete out for a look next spring if he's willing. The point is, while going out and finding the next Aaron Hernandez or even Jordan Reed might be a stretch, finding a player who can at least contribute in the passing game as a receiver is not much to ask. Right now, none of the tight ends on the Florida roster can claim to give the offense even that much.
– I'm not going to totally crap on the offensive line for UF. There has been no continuity with that unit since the beginning of the season. Chaz Green was lost for the year. D.J. Humphries, Tyler Moore, Jon Halapio and even Jonotthan Harrison have all been in-and-out of the lineup with injuries. That said, among the players who are on the roster, only Humphries has shown signs of being a consistently upper-echelon SEC player. The rest of the bunch are just adequate right now (Max Garcia and Kyle Koehne have had their moments, still would like to see a little more out of those two.) Over the next few weeks, we'll see if this group can start getting healthy and building some chemistry as a unit. While the Gators have actually pass-protected fairly well through three games, they simply aren't getting any push inside, which has severely hampered the running game (the Gators are averaging 4.0 yards per carry through three games. Not good enough.)
In terms of how this impacts recruiting, it's very simple. The Gators need to recruit more offensive linemen. The numbers really aren't bad here. The Gators are in line to return 12 scholarship linemen for next year, and have a lot of older guys in that group. Trenton Brown (who needs to drop some more weight), Max Garcia and Ian Silberman would presumably return as seniors. The juniors would include a group of Chaz Green (assuming he gets a medical exemption), Humphries, Tyler Moore and Trip Thurman. Throw in a young guy or two already on the roster in with this group, and Florida would presumably have a fairly experienced offensive line to work with next year.
But outside of Humphries and Garcia, who of the returners should really have offensive line coach Tim Davis excited at this point? Right now, I'm not sure it's anybody. And that's why UF needs to start looking to the JUCO ranks for at least one guy who can come in and compete for a spot right away. That may be all Florida needs to make the jump from a middling offensive line unit to a good (or even great) group. Just one player (or maybe two) who can step in and compete right away. It might be a little late for Florida to move in on some of the top JUCO talent out there (Jermaine Eluemunor, Dominick Jackson and Chad Mavety, for instance), but there are plenty of other options out there ripe for the picking. We've already mentioned Jordan Prestwood and Avery Gennesy as options with ties to UF. There are others out there as well. Again, I'm not saying Florida needs to go to the JUCO ranks to find their savior along the offensive line. Just a player or two who can come in and compete for a position is all they need at this point.
– It really amazes me how quickly Florida has seemingly fallen out of favor with OL David Sharpe. But after the big lineman out of Jacksonville Providence did not show up for the Florida-Tennessee game, it is now becoming clear that Florida could be running third (at best) behind Clemson and Georgia (now widely presumed as the favorite for his services.) It's hard to fault UF too much here. They did all they could in the spring, Georgia never gave up, and have seemingly connected better with the Sharpe family in the months since then. These things happen. UF would be foolish not to continue making a run at the top tackle prospect in the state, but they've got to consider their other options on the board now. Contingency plans need to be put in place as the chances of Sharpe ending up in Gainesville seem to be getting slimmer with each passing day. While looking to the JUCO ranks for a player or two is a worthwhile option for the Gators to consider this point, building for the future is still the key. Finding more targets from the high school ranks to add to the three prep prospects UF already has committed is the only way to do that.
– Defensive tackle is still a very critical position for my vantage point. Florida should have five returning guys along with a commitment from Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna prospect Khairi Clark. But finding another tackle or two to continue building depth up front is important for UF. Right now, the Gators have official visits lined up from Gerald Willis (who was scheduled to visit this weekend along with prep teammate Speedy Noil, but both have pushed back their trips to Gainesville for later in the season) and Davon Godchaux, both of whom project down the line as three-technique tackles on the next level. Both prospects should be considered strong LSU leans at this point, however. Again, like the offensive line, Brad Lawing seriously has to consider the possibility of dipping down into the JUCO ranks for at least one guy who can offer immediate relief for next season in the defensive line rotation.
– Before the season, it seemed entirely likely that Will Muschamp would have to begin preparations for a future without Loucheiz Purifoy and Marcus Roberson after this season. Both looked primed for huge junior campaigns and then would presumably head off to the NFL in 2014. But three games into the fall, neither player has been overly productive to date. Roberson was solid against Toledo and Miami before going down with an injury against the 'Canes and sitting out the Tennessee game. Purifoy missed the Toledo contest and has played uneven in the two contests since then. Both have been usurped by true freshman phenomenon Vernon Hargraves III, who right now is looking and playing like the Gators' top cover corner. It's still early in the season, but it's worth noting that perhaps the need for Florida at corner in the Class of 2014 may not be quite as dire as originally anticipated? And that's a good thing, of course, since the Class of 2015 is loaded in the state of Florida at the cornerback position.
– Before the season, it seemed entirely likely that Will Muschamp would have to begin preparations for a future without Loucheiz Purifoy and Marcus Roberson after this season. Both looked primed for huge junior campaigns and then would presumably head off to the NFL in 2014. But three games into the fall, neither player has been overly productive to date. Roberson was solid against Toledo and Miami before going down with an injury against the 'Canes and sitting out the Tennessee game. Purifoy missed the Toledo contest and has played uneven in the two contests since then. Both have been usurped by true freshman phenomenon Vernon Hargraves III, who right now is looking and playing like the Gators' top cover corner. It's still early in the season, but it's worth noting that perhaps the need for Florida at corner in the Class of 2014 may not be quite as dire as originally anticipated? And that's a good thing, of course, since the Class of 2015 is loaded in the state of Florida at the cornerback position.
A remarkable run of health at the QB position ends for Florida
29 years. That's how long it's been since the Gators suffered a major injury at the QB position. An incredible run of good fortune that ended on Saturday with the post-game revelation that Jeff Driskel suffered a fracture of the right tibia during the first quarter of Florida's 31-17 win against Tennessee. Driskel's season comes to a close after just three games.
Not since fifth-year senior Dale Dorminey suffered a torn ACL four days before the season-opener in 1984 (when a player ran into him on the sidelines in pratice, no less), has a Florida quarterback been lost in a similar fashion. Sure, there have been injuries at the position. Kerwin Bell (who fortuitously earned the starting job as a redshirt freshman after Dorminey's injury) struggled with a balky left knee in 1986 which was injured in a loss to LSU, but only missed two games. Danny Wuerffel suffered what ultimately proved to be a season-ending knee injury in 1993, but missed only the final two games (the 1993 SEC Championship and the 1994 Sugar Bowl). John Brantley missed two games after a severe sprain of his ankle in 2011, but returned to action against Georgia (although his effectiveness was severely limited the remainder of the season as a result of that injury). Of course, we can't forget Tim Tebow's broken right hand against FSU in 2007 as well as a concussion suffered at Kentucky in 2009. But he didn't miss any time as a result of those maladies. While all of the above-mentioned quarterbacks suffered fairly significant injuries (or, at least, what was thought at the time to be serious injuries), none of them missed more than two games as a result.
The only comparable situation for Florida in fairly recent history as to the predicament they now face is 1989, when starter Kyle Morris was lost for the season after six contests. But that was due to an investigation into the gambling practices of four team members (including Morris and his eventual successor at quarterback, Shane Matthews), as opposed to injury. The Gators, who began the 1989 season 5-1, would lose four of their last six games, as the turmoil in that particular fall included the firing of head coach Galen Hall under the veil of NCAA improprieties. In all, the mess of that season would lead to the hiring of Steve Spurrier, who as we all know, got things turned around in a hurry.
So, the Gators must now navigate the final three-quarters of their season knowing their starter is gone for the season. Facebook and Twitter have ably demonstrated how many fans are happy with this development, seeing as how Driskel had struggled considerably in his first three games of the year. But, as has been pointed out many times before, the back-up quarterback can often times be the most popular man on campus. Tyler Murphy accorded himself well on Saturday against the Vols, after being thrown into a tough situation. Despite some struggles getting on the same page with his offensive line in the first half, he guided the Gators to a season-high 31 points, and showed an ability to make plays with both his feet (79 yards rushing and a TD) and his arm (8-of-14 passing, 134 yards and one score). Now the question is very simply this: can he continue to produce like he did against Tennessee for the rest of the season?
Murphy was a completely unknown quantity before Saturday. With each passing week, defenses will be able to gameplan to exploit Murphy's weaknesses – whatever those may prove to be – as more film on him becomes available. That will be his biggest test moving forward, as the element of surprise will no longer be a factor.
In any case, while injuries are a regular part of football, injuries for the Florida Gators at the quarterback position have been surprisingly few and far between for UF over the past three decades. Now Will Muschamp and Brent Pease get to learn how the other side lives as they prepare for the rest of the season with Tyler Murphy as their starting signal-caller.
Not since fifth-year senior Dale Dorminey suffered a torn ACL four days before the season-opener in 1984 (when a player ran into him on the sidelines in pratice, no less), has a Florida quarterback been lost in a similar fashion. Sure, there have been injuries at the position. Kerwin Bell (who fortuitously earned the starting job as a redshirt freshman after Dorminey's injury) struggled with a balky left knee in 1986 which was injured in a loss to LSU, but only missed two games. Danny Wuerffel suffered what ultimately proved to be a season-ending knee injury in 1993, but missed only the final two games (the 1993 SEC Championship and the 1994 Sugar Bowl). John Brantley missed two games after a severe sprain of his ankle in 2011, but returned to action against Georgia (although his effectiveness was severely limited the remainder of the season as a result of that injury). Of course, we can't forget Tim Tebow's broken right hand against FSU in 2007 as well as a concussion suffered at Kentucky in 2009. But he didn't miss any time as a result of those maladies. While all of the above-mentioned quarterbacks suffered fairly significant injuries (or, at least, what was thought at the time to be serious injuries), none of them missed more than two games as a result.
The only comparable situation for Florida in fairly recent history as to the predicament they now face is 1989, when starter Kyle Morris was lost for the season after six contests. But that was due to an investigation into the gambling practices of four team members (including Morris and his eventual successor at quarterback, Shane Matthews), as opposed to injury. The Gators, who began the 1989 season 5-1, would lose four of their last six games, as the turmoil in that particular fall included the firing of head coach Galen Hall under the veil of NCAA improprieties. In all, the mess of that season would lead to the hiring of Steve Spurrier, who as we all know, got things turned around in a hurry.
So, the Gators must now navigate the final three-quarters of their season knowing their starter is gone for the season. Facebook and Twitter have ably demonstrated how many fans are happy with this development, seeing as how Driskel had struggled considerably in his first three games of the year. But, as has been pointed out many times before, the back-up quarterback can often times be the most popular man on campus. Tyler Murphy accorded himself well on Saturday against the Vols, after being thrown into a tough situation. Despite some struggles getting on the same page with his offensive line in the first half, he guided the Gators to a season-high 31 points, and showed an ability to make plays with both his feet (79 yards rushing and a TD) and his arm (8-of-14 passing, 134 yards and one score). Now the question is very simply this: can he continue to produce like he did against Tennessee for the rest of the season?
Murphy was a completely unknown quantity before Saturday. With each passing week, defenses will be able to gameplan to exploit Murphy's weaknesses – whatever those may prove to be – as more film on him becomes available. That will be his biggest test moving forward, as the element of surprise will no longer be a factor.
In any case, while injuries are a regular part of football, injuries for the Florida Gators at the quarterback position have been surprisingly few and far between for UF over the past three decades. Now Will Muschamp and Brent Pease get to learn how the other side lives as they prepare for the rest of the season with Tyler Murphy as their starting signal-caller.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)