Post-LSU recruiting thoughts

To start, a recap of the week that was. Some of the posts you might have missed:

– Eight prep receivers from the state of Florida who have shined so far this fall.

– Where is Delray Beach Village Academy defensive lineman Kevin Bronson on the radar for the Gators?

– The Gators have had a strong run of success at the tight end position since 2000. Where does it stack up against other programs in college football?

– Jacksonville Ribault linebacker Jakob Johnson, a German transplant, is now sitting on four offers after Wisconsin extended a tender to him last week.

– Which positions could Florida look to for immediate relief after this season from the JUCO ranks?

– Some late-week Gators-related news and notes.

And now, on to the new stuff ...

– Chewing on Florida's 17-6 loss in Baton Rouge for a couple of days can leave one with the sensation of a mouthful of gristle. This explains why the typical day-after recruiting post comes on Monday instead of Sunday. It's hard to discern at this point whether the offensive struggles are an issue of coaching or an issue of personnel. And that's obviously a dangerous place to be in if you're the coach of the Florida Gators. We'll have to see where the rest of this season goes, but I'm hard-pressed not to think there won't be some coaching turnover on the offensive side of the ball after this season. But that's really not the point of this post, so that topic will have to be saved for another day.

Going into the season, if you asked me to concede one game for Florida this season, the LSU contest in Baton Rouge was the very obvious pick. I'm sure some are disappointed by the manner in which Florida lost on Saturday. Yes, there's some things that have to be corrected on offense (especially up front on the line). We'll see how Florida rebounds from this one, and it will only take a few days to get their response. No rest for the weary (now down another starter in RB Matt Jones) as a tougher-than-originally-expected trip to Missouri looms on the schedule this weekend.

– Florida was originally able to sell Immokalee receiver J.C. Jackson on the idea of dropping his pledge to FSU in favor of a commitment to UF by focusing on the defensive angle, as he preferred playing cornerback to receiver, which is the position Florida State recruited him for. He may want to re-think that stance.

Immokalee defeated Naples 33-27. Immokalee WR JC Jackson had 5 catches for 231 yards and 3 TDs. #npfnf
— David Dorsey (@DavidADorsey) October 12, 2013

On the season, Jackson now has 621 yards receiving and nine scores on just 18 receptions. He's averaging 34.5 yards per catch. These numbers are obviously pretty good.

I always liked the idea of taking J.C. Jackson to go along with Adoree' Jackson and Chris Lammons, because it seemed natural that one of those guys would probably end up on offense as a slot guy. But Florida still has a lot of work to do to make that happen. Lammons is committed, but hasn't completely shut the door. Jackson visited LSU this past weekend and came away singing the praises of the Bayou Bengals after their win over Florida. Now, Jackson is flirting pretty heavily with Miami, and it will certainly be interesting to see what comes of that. The Gators don't need to sign all three of those guys, certainly. But getting at least two would be nice.

The number of skill players (RB, WR and DB types) in this class likely needs to be right around 10 to offset the losses UF will experience after this season, especially in the secondary. The Jacksons, as well as guys like Lammons and some of the other top targets on the board are keys to making sure the Gators restock
with the proper amount of speed and athleticism.

Florida could also use a guy who can take the top off the defense and give them a vertical threat down the field in the passing game. J.C. Jackson may turn out to be exactly that guy.

– At this point, a total overhaul at the tight end position needs to be considered. All four of the scholarship players at that position currently for Florida, have eligibility remaining after this season. That number needs to be cut in half. Deandre Goolsby, who visited Arkansas this past weekend, has to be considered a major priority at this point. If he decides to stick closer to home for college, then the Gators will need to go back to the drawing board and consider other options. With the type of season Jordan Franks is putting together at Crawfordville Wakulla, a scholarship offer for his services no longer seems like such a far-fetched option.

– Danielle Hunter showed on Saturday why Florida needs to add some height to the defensive line. Two batted balls on screen passes, one of which was set up to go for a long way to Valdez Showers if it's completed. Hunter is listed at 6-6 by the LSU sports information department. Florida has one 6-6 end in Alex McAllister on the roster, but he's not currently a factor in the defensive line rotation. This is why "the Lorenzos" (6-5 Carter and 6-7 Featherston) are such a priority for the Gators on the recruiting trail in the Class of 2014. Expect Brad Lawing to continue trying to add length and size to the defensive line moving forward, as well.

– I know Florida has an upperclassmen-laden depth chart along the offensive line, with most of those guys returning for next season. But if the LSU game is an example of the best effort this group can muster, Florida has got to consider looking to the JUCO ranks for talent (once again) in order to find a player or two who can come in and compete for playing time right off the bat. There is simply no excuse for the lack of production in the running game for a team built to win by being physical and pounding opposing defenses with a physical ground attack.

Winning now: Looking to the JUCO ranks

If you spend a few minutes looking over the Florida football roster, it's abundantly clear they are built to win, and possibly win big in 2014. A large junior class (currently at 22, but likely to lose a couple of guys to the NFL after this season) supports this notion. The Gators are deep and talented at a number of positions: UF will likely return two quarterbacks with at least 10 games of starting experience in Jeff Driskel and Tyler Murphy next year, several talented and proven running backs including Matt Jones and Mack Brown, a large number of offensive and defensive linemen are slated to return, proven linebackers in Antonio Morrison and Michael Taylo will be back, along with a host of gifted young players at both wide receiver and in the secondary.

However, there are shaping up to be some holes on the depth chart as well. The Gators could realistically dip into the JUCO ranks at a number of positions in an effort to shore up some spots on the roster. Let me be clear, I'm not advocating for a widespread addition of talent from the junior college ranks. However, there are five spots where Florida could bring in a transfer and it would make a lot of sense from the perspective that those players would come in handy since UF has a chance to potentially win it all next season.

1. Cornerback: If both Loucheiz Purifoy and Marcus Roberson head off to the NFL next year, there will be a major hole on the depth chart at cornerback. Florida is targeting a wide range of corners from the high school ranks, and will likely end up signing 4-5 players from the prep ranks that end up on the back end for the Class of 2014. But in this scenario, there would be just two true cornerbacks on the roster returning in sophomore Vernon Hargreaves and redshirt freshman Nick Washington. Sure, senior Cody Riggs (playing safety this year) and junior Brian Poole (who has mostly been used as a nickelback) have experience at the position as well. I'm not sure either guy can be relied on to hold down a corner position for the entire season, however. The right guy from the JUCO ranks (former five-star recruit Tee Shepard, now at Holmes C.C. in Mississippi, perhaps?) could make a lot of sense for the Gators in 2015.

2. Wide Receiver: The Gators have seen a rejuvenation in the wide receiving corps this fall. A lot of this success is likely owed to new wide receivers coach Joker Phillips, who has his unit playing beautifully. Of the top three receivers on the team, two of them (Trey Burton and Solomon Patton) will be gone after the season. While the Gators have a couple of talented young players waiting in the wings (Ahmad Fulwood and Demarcus Robinson), it wouldn't be a bad idea to add a talented JUCO player to the mix as well, just to give a little additional depth

3. Defensive Line: Considering the huge, gaping hole at defensive tackle between Darious Cummings and Leon Orr and the three highly-touted freshmen tackles signed this past February (Bostwick, Brantley and Riles), signing a junior college defensive lineman would make a lot of sense. Even if, say, Jonathan Bullard made the transition to more of a defensive tackle next fall, then grabbing a JUCO end would make a lot of sense. It appears to be a strong year for prospects on the defensive front. Florida has already made a run at DaVonte Lambert (Tennessee) and Abu Lamin (South Carolina). It's clear that it's an idea both Will Muschamp and Brad Lawing are open to – if they can the right guy, that is.

4. Offensive Line: The numbers really shouldn't figure to be an issue looking ahead to next year. The left side of the line (Humphries at tackle, Garcia at guard) is strong and should remain intact heading into 2014. There are a number of options who should be able to fill the other three positions (Brown, Green, Moore and Silberman jump to the forefront) and a couple of young guys should make the next step and jump into the mix for a starting job and/or considerable playing time (namely Octavious Jackson and Trip Thurman). However, throwing another transfer lineman into the mix who could push the others are the roster for a starting spot wouldn't be the worst outcome in the world.

5. Tight End: If you consider the complete lack of production at this spot, it makes a lot of sense. However, the fact of the matter is there just aren't a lot of realistic options out there for the 2014 class. Jean Sifrin (6-7, 255, El Camino College) is a native of Miami and claims some major offers (Oklahoma being the biggest). Braedon Bowman (6-4, 225, Scottsdale C.C.) is putting together a big-time campaign this fall, but I'm not sure he's exactly an SEC-caliber player. There's also Ricky Parks, the former highly-touted recruit from Auburn, who is at Northeast Mississippi C.C., but it's not clear yet when he will have the credits in order to transfer to a four-year school. All things considered, Florida appears to be focused primarily towards going the high school route in signing two tight ends for 2014, and that's appears to be the right idea as of now.

Again, the point isn't that Florida needs to take JUCO players at all of these spots. But it would make sense for UF to take a junior college transfer at any one of these positions. My hunch is that UF will eventually land 2-3 in this class, and it's hard to believe they won't come from the above-listed spots on the roster.

Replacing Dominique Easley no easy task

The Gators have been trying to prepare for a future without Dominique Easley since last year. It has proven to be a difficult process, to date.

It was Will Muschamp, who spoke after the Kentucky game about how much more difficult it is to double-team an interior lineman, as opposed to someone out on the edge. So while Dominique Easley may give up some girth and brute strength playing on the interior at 285, his first step and explosiveness more than make up for that. Muschamp and his staff have clearly been in the market for a player who can potentially provide that same spark from the middle. They've struck out so far.

Florida made a spirited run at one-time Alabama commit DeMarcus Walker out of Jacksonville late last year. The Gators appeared poised to land the big defensive lineman before he made the late switch to follow Crimson Tide assistant Jeremy Pruitt to Tallahassee, where Pruitt took over as defensive coordinator for Florida State following the BCS National Championship Game.

This year, the Gators landed an early commitment from St. Thomas Aquinas defensive tackle Anthony Moten, another player who fit in the Easley mold in terms of bringing quickness from the interior, and the positional versatility to potentially play either end or tackle at Florida. But he bailed on his pledge to UF after the summer and currently appears to be favoring Miami.

There have been some others, as well. JUCO prospect Davonte Lambert was hotly pursued by Florida but would go on to commit to Tennessee. Louisiana native Davon Godchaux was another UF target who went elsewhere, giving a pledge to LSU this week. Gerald Willis, another prospect from the Pelican State, also appears headed to LSU. Most analysts have Illinois lineman Dewayne Hendrix pegged to Tennessee, where he will visit this weekend for the Georgia game. Needless to say, the search has been somewhat futile to date.

From looking at the prospects defensive line coach Brad Lawing continues to pursue, it seems clear Florida is in the market for two things: a long, angular, athletic pass-rusher in the mold of a Lorenzo Carter or Lorenzo Featherston, and then the best candidate the UF staff can find in the mold of Easley. Expect the Gators to continue evaluating other prospects in that mold (possibly looking to the JUCO ranks), and don't be surprised if they try to turn things around with one of the above-listed prospects (with the exception of Walker, of course) before they sign on the dotted line.

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.

#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.

Recruiting News & Thoughts, D-Line edition

Today, a major focus on the direction Brad Lawing may consider going in the coming weeks, as Florida looks to headline their defensive line class with five-star Lorenzo Carter out of Norcross, Ga. But the real question is, even if UF can land the highly-prized recruit, who will they surround him with? Read on for some possibilities ...

– The failure of former UF signee Jarran Reed (Roseboro, N.C.) to get on campus this fall really didn't have a major bearing on Florida's defensive line rotation for the 2013 season (assuming the group remains fairly healthy.) Where it did hurt was in looking ahead to 2014. Reed could have gotten his feet wet with the Gators this year, seeing spot duty along the defensive front in a reserve role. When Dominique Easley and Damien Jacobs move on after this season, Reed could have stepped up and provided the Gators with another experienced group heading into next year, alongside Darious Cummings and Leon Orr. However, that plan was scuttled when the 6-foot-4, 305-pound tackle was unable to accumulate the required credits to graduate with his AA degree, and he is now playing for a second season at East Mississippi Community College this fall.

However, the need for a JUCO defensive tackle probably still remains for the Gators in 2014. While Orr and Cummings will provide Brad Lawing with a pair of seniors to roll out next fall, behind them will be a wealth of inexperienced (albeit talented) players in Jay-nard Bostwick, Caleb Brantley, Antonio Riles and current commitment Khairi Clark. Florida has already made a run at a pair of JUCO tackles in Davante Lambert (committed to Tennessee) and Abu Lamin (South Carolina.) With the way the board is shaping up, there aren't a ton of top high school prospects looking at Florida as it stands. Dipping into the JUCO ranks again might be a smart move. And right now, Reed looks to be as good of an option as any. I'll be curious to see if Florida doesn't end up re-signing Reed after all, once December rolls around.

Three other names I'm keeping an eye on at the defensive tackle position from the JUCO ranks in Mississippi: Steven Eddings (6-4, 285, Memphis, Tenn.) of Jones County C.C., Daniel Ross (6-4, 310, Louisville, Ky.) of Northeast Mississippi C.C. and Sherman Boyd (6-2, 315, Forrest, Miss.) out of Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C.

– One defensive lineman I'm surprised Florida hasn't made a move on yet is Fayetteville (N.C.) E.E. Smith star Arthur Williams. The 6-foot-5, 290-pounder could play on either side of the line, but he's really intriguing as a bigger option at the defensive tackle position. Blessed with a great first step and athleticism for his size, Williams is an Army brat who has lived all over the South, so distance probably won't be a major factor for him. 150 tackles and seven sacks over two previous varsity seasons isn't too shabby either.

Auburn, Florida State and Miami are the major factors here right now. Auburn hasn't offered. I have to wonder if academics may be an issue here. Or if Williams has just coasted under-the-radar so long that everyone is simply late to the party. In either case, this is a kid that should be getting more love than he has to this point.

– Florida isn't considered a major threat for Da'Shawn Hand, as Michigan is presumed to be the clear leader over Alabama and UF among his top three schools. However, Hand does plan to take an official visit to Florida. Originally scheduled for Arkansas weekend on Oct. 5, a scheduling conflict has moved that visit to a later date in the fall.

Nothing set in stone but potential visits for Da'Shawn Hand could be Bama vs Tennessee and then Florida vs Vandy, still deciding Nov. 14
— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) September 17, 2013

It is worth noting that Hand would elected to head to Gainesville the weekend of what figures to be a major tilt between Alabama and LSU, very possibly with National Championship implications on the line. Reportedly due to the majors all three schools offer, Alabama is slipping with Hand. Florida is the only school that can really offer the 6-foot-4, 260-pound blue-chipper the combination of academics and athletics he's looking for, aside from Michigan of course. The Gators on going to have to throw up a hail mary with Hand on his visit, since he would be making his final decision just a few days later. But getting a kid on campus is half the battle, so we'll follow this story with considerable interest over the coming weeks.

Breaking down the Class of 2015 (Defense)

This is the conclusion to our first look at the Class of 2015 for the Gators. Yesterday was the offense, today is the defense. The talent for next year is shaping up – on paper, at least – to be a very impressive group overall. Keep in mind, it's very early, so the "needs" could change considerably from position-to-position over the next year. This is just an early projection of what Florida might be looking for, numbers-wise, at each position grouping on the roster.

Defensive End

Needs: 2-3

CeCe Jefferson (6-2, 245, Glen St. Mary Baker County) – Primarily plays defensive tackle at the high school level, but his size suggests that defensive end will be his likely position in college. Phenomenal pass-rusher. Has excelled since his freshman year, when he first emerged on the radar for the Gators. One of the top prospects in the country. Recorded 25 sacks through his first two seasons of varsity football, with two more to go.

Byron Cowart (6-3, 250, Seffner Armwood) – Currently plays nose guard for Armwood. More of a physical freak than a polished product at the moment. Needs some refinement as a player, but possesses all the tools to be a great one. Likely a strong-side end at the next level, but might have the frame to expand into a three-technique or hybrid player. Notched over 40 tackles (11 for loss), four sacks and an interception as a sophomore.

Jashon Cornell (6-3, 245, St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Durham Hall) – Considered the top pass-rushing prospect in the country. Florida on his short list early. Plays at a program that has been Notre Dame-friendly in the past. Would be an ideal fit at the "BUCK" position for Florida. 52 tackles, 16 sacks and three forced fumbles as a sophomore.

George Brown (6-6, 260, Cincinnati, Ohio/Winton Woods) – Two-way lineman that could also excel at offensive tackle. Seems to prefer defense at this point. It should be noted that Brown hails from the same program that produced former UF star defensive back Tony George.

Michael Barnett (6-4, 250, Dorchester, S.C./Woodland) – With Florida's ties to the Palmetto State, the Gators will make a serious run at Barnett, who could project at multiple slots along the defensive line. As a sophomore, he made 63 total tackles (17 for loss), nine sacks and two forced fumbles.

Shameik Blackshear (6-5, 235, Bluffton, S.C./Bluffton) – South Carolina commitment was credited with 97 tackles and five sacks as a sophomore. Widely considered one of the top defensive ends in the country for 2015. Will be hard to flip from the Gamecocks, but Brad Lawing and D.J. Durkin will likely get that opportunity as Blackshear has expressed a desire to take some visits.

Others to watch: Austin Bryant (Thomasville, Ga./Thomas County Central), Jalen Dalton (Clemmons, N.C./West Forsyth), Natrez Patrick (Atlanta, Ga./Mays), Russell Ude (Atlanta, Ga./Westminster), D'Andre Walker (Fairburn, Ga./Langston Hughes)

Analysis: Really quality group for whom Florida should be able to grab two or three good ones. A couple of these guys could very well project as defensive tackles at the next level. In any case, the Gators should be able to upgrade their pass rush in the 2015 cycle.

Defensive Tackle

Needs: 2-3

Kendrick Norton (6-2, 290, Jacksonville Trinity Christian) – Two-way player could really project on either side of the ball for the Gators. Has primarily played on offense at the prep level. Strong, powerfully-built lineman who has already picked up a ton of offers from schools across the South.

Trent Thompson (6-4, 290, Albany, Ga./Westover) – One of the top defensive tackle prospects in the country. UGA in good shape here, but Florida is working an "in" they have through Thompson in junior offensive lineman Trenton Brown. Excellent player who could plug in at either defensive tackle position. Over 60 tackles and five sacks for Thompson as a sophomore at Westover.

Albert Huggins (6-2, 280, Orangeburg, S.C./Orangeburg-Wilkinson) – Georgia is in a strong position here early, as they are for Thompson, but Florida is poised to make a run at both players. Huggins was credited with 70 tackles and seven sacks in 2012.

Rasheem Green (6-5, 270, Gardena, Calif./Junipero Serra) – One of the top prospects in the country for 2015. Could really project at either offensive tackle or defensive tackle. Through three games, Green already has 21 tackles and 5.5 sacks for Serra. The Gators' recruitment of senior linebacker Dwight Williams could very much have an impact on Green, and fellow junior prospect John Houston.

Tim Settle (6-3, 310, Manassas, Va./Stonewall Jackson) – Widely considered the top defensive tackle in the country for 2015. Very early, and the Gators aren't in a great position early on, but they should get at least an opportunity (or two) to sway this massive building block. Credited with over 70 tackles and three sacks as a sophomore.

Others to watch: Terry Beckner, Jr. (East St. Louis, Ill./East. St. Louis), Darian Roseboro (Lincolnton, N.C./Linconton), Shy Tuttle (Lexington, N.C./North Davidson), Christian Wilkins (Suffield, Conn./Suffield Academy)

Analysis: It's early, but Florida's two best bets at the defensive tackle position appear to be Norton and Thompson, followed by Green and Huggins. Sort of a strange position from a national perspective for 2015. Plenty of prospects out there, but not a lot with in-state or UF ties. Brad Lawing and the rest of the Florida staff will have to do some work to get these guys in the fold, although there will be plenty of other names who emerge over the coming months.

Linebacker

Needs: 3

Jeffery Holland (6-2, 225, Jacksonville Trinity Christian) – Quite simply, an all-around playmaker. Excellent pass-rusher, and could really fit at three or four positions on defense. May even grow into a part-time (or even full-time) BUCK on the next level. He's one of the top three to five prospects in the state for 2015. Holland already has four sacks through two games for the Conquerors.

Jaye Miner (6-3, 195, Wesley Chapel Wiregrass Ranch) – A player who has really emerged over the last year, Miner plays all over the back end of the defense for Wiregrass Ranch, but projects as an ideal outside linebacker in college. Miner has stuffed the stat sheet through three games – an incredible 50 tackles, two forced fumbles and 1.5 sacks for a 2-1 squad.

Ricky DeBerry (6-2, 230, Richmond, Va./St. Christopher's) – Already has an offer from the Gators, and there is some interest by the Gators in giving him a look at tight end. Notched 55 tackles, 7.5 sacks and an interception in 2012. Presumably, DeBerry would be a better fit at linebacker, but it is interesting to note Florida's expressed interest in trying DeBerry at tight end as well.

John Houston (6-3, 210, Gardena, Calif./Junipero Serra) – Talented, versatile linebacker could play inside or out at the college level. Has recorded 34 tackles through three games in 2013. Of note, Florida is heavily recruiting his linebacker running mate (Dwight Williams) as a part of the Class of 2014.

Others to watch: Montavious Atkinson (Fairburn, Ga./Langston Hughes), De'Amontae Jackson (Citra North Marion), Sherrod Pittman (Jacksonville First Coast), Dominic Sheppard (Miami Gulliver Prep), Roquan Smith (Montezuma, Ga./Macon County), Danny Thomas (Weston Cypress Bay)

Analysis: There is some good talent at the top, but this is one position that doesn't appear to have a lot of depth early on – one of the few in the Class of 2015. The Gators will likely have a much stronger need at the linebacker position next year after being relatively selective about extending offers to linebackers in the present recruiting cycle.

Cornerback

Needs: 2-3

Kevin Toliver (6-2, 185, Jacksonville Trinity Christian) – Big corner has earned comparisons to former Pompano Beach Ely cornerback Patrick Peterson (nee Johnson) with his combination of size and athleticism. Considered one of the top overall prospects in the country for the Class of 2015. LSU commitment, but will have attended each of Florida's first three games if he makes it to Gainesville for the Tennessee contest, as expected.

Tyrek Cole (5-11, 170, Miramar) – Highly-skilled and developed cornerback prospect. Considered one of the best in the country for 2015. Will Muschamp has already checked in with the talented prospect this season. Recorded nearly 30 tackles and a pair of interceptions as a sophomore.

Mike Hughes (5-10, 170, New Bern, N.C./New Bern) – The top out-of-state option for Florida, early on. Visited Gainesville for Friday Night Lights. Accounted for over 500 yards of offense and four touchdowns through his team's first two games. Also averages over 36 yards a punt. Very skilled, versatile athlete who could add a strong dose of speed to the secondary of his choice.

Jamel Dean (6-1, 175, Cocoa) – Another long, fast corner, although not as technically sound as Toliver. One of the fastest sprinters in the state among the junior class. Ohio State is high on his list, although Dean is from a UF-friendly area of Florida. Recorded 29 tackles and three interceptions as a sophomore.

Others to watch: Rashard Causey (Ft. Lauderdale University School), Von Davis (Mt. Dora), Minkah Fitzpatrick (Jersey City, N.J./St. Peter's Prep), Devin Munnerlyn (Citra North Marion), Kendall Sheffield (Missouri City, Tex./Fort Bend Marshall), Marcus Walker (Lake Wales)

Analysis: Certainly shaping up to be a strong year in Florida for corners in 2015. In fact, it's a shame UF doesn't have this group available to them in 2014, the year they really need to load up on numbers at the position. In any case, despite signing a big group in this recruiting cycle, I'd still be surprised if Travaris Robinson takes less than three corners next year, considering the quality available to them in the 2015 class.

Safety

Needs: 1

Shawn Burgess-Becker (6-2, 185, Coconut Creek Monarch) – Long, lean defensive back who could play all over the secondary at the next level, and possibly on offense as well. Recorded over 60 tackles and five interceptions during his sophomore campaign at Monarch. Projected as one of the top players in the state for 2015, regardless of position.

Kendrell McFadden (6-3, 175, Hollywood McArthur) – Highly-regarded defensive back. Really hasn't shown a ton of interest in Florida to date, but has to be considered one of the top players on the board at the position.

Jordan Cronkite (5-11, 195, Miami Westminster Christian) – Gifted two-way athlete that is averaging nearly 13 yards a carry on 36 rushing attempts, three games into the 2013 season. Could also certainly project to either side of the football at the next level.

Others to watch: Calvin Brewton (Miami Central), Jonathan Crawford (Largo), Hunter Dale (New Orleans, La./John Curtis), Ben Edwards (Jacksonville Trinity Christian), Jaquan Johnson (Miami Killian), Tavares McFadden (American Heritage-Plantation), Vernon Walker (Orlando Dr. Phillips)

Analysis: For the second year in a row, safety is not shaping up to be a major need area, especially if Florida locks down Jamal Adams in the Class of 2014. However, with the talent available at this position, it would be surprising if the Gators didn't grab at least one player. Among the "others to watch," Edwards could also get a look at linebacker, and would be a part of a strong contingent from Trinity Christian that UF may choose to pursue en masse. McFadden could get a look at corner as well.

Cory Thomas

One of the top defensive ends in the Southeast this year is McCalla (Ala.) McAdory jumbo pass-rusher Cory Thomas. The 6-foot-6, 270-pound prospect is intriguing, in that his frame allows for multiple possible outcomes in terms of the position he could play at the next level. 3-4 end, 4-3 tackle ... perhaps a move to offensive tackle?

 Florida defensive line coach Brad Lawing is known, in particular, for his fondness of length on the edge (think Clowney, Clifton Geathers, Devin Taylor, etc.) Thomas will be one of the top targets at end for the Gators from here on out.

On Tuesday, Thomas announced his top three schools. Sort of.

Top 3
— *~#34 From Mcadory~* (@bigcory34) August 27, 2013

#HailState
— *~#34 From Mcadory~* (@bigcory34) August 27, 2013

#VolNation
— *~#34 From Mcadory~* (@bigcory34) August 27, 2013

#Gators #gatorbait
— *~#34 From Mcadory~* (@bigcory34) August 27, 2013

However, the big defensive lineman went on to add this ...

The other 2 will be comin soon
— *~#34 From Mcadory~* (@bigcory34) August 27, 2013

Long thought to be a lean to Mississippi State, at one point Thomas intended to make an announcement at the beginning of August that would have resulted in his commitment to the Bulldogs. However, Thomas ultimately decided to hold off on making a pledge. The longer this recruitment goes on, the more it favors the other finalists. However, expect Mississippi State to have some staying power. They did, after all, sign linebacker Dezmond Harris out of McAdory High School in February.

Auburn recently jumped in with an offer, and I have to think the Tigers can slide their way into the top group as well.

What's interesting about this list, is the fact that Thomas has visited Starkville several times since the beginning of the year. He's been to the Plains and Knoxville as well. Thomas has yet to visit the Sunshine State, and yet here the Gators sit, still apparently a major player.

Getting Thomas on campus will be a priority for all four schools (and others) over the course of the fall. As always, it's smart to "follow the visits." Mississippi State still clearly looks to be in a prime position here. But we'll see if that position continues to hold strong on the road to National Signing Day.



Thomas recorded over 70 tackles and eight sacks as a junior for McAdory.