Looking back on today, it will be easy to lament the losses.
Yes, the Gators were set and primed for -- at worst -- a top-five class when we looked into the future at the conclusion of National Signing Day 2014.
But, as the saying goes, "shit happens."
The end of the Will Muschamp "error" brought the Gators a new coach in Jim McElwain. And while "merely" a top-25 signing class will have to do, the Gators still met most of their needs and now have a roster stocked with enough talent to take a step forward in 2015.
The highlights of Wednesday:
Replenishing the Line-of-Scrimmage: Some unexpected losses on the offensive line left the Gators in a bit of a pinch there looking ahead to next year. With only eight returning scholarship offensive linemen. this was an area that needed to be addressed. McElwain and staff responded by picking up six signatures up front, highlighted by Apopka five-star Martez Ivey, generally considered to be the #1 offensive line prospect in the country. Overall, the Gators signed 11 linemen in total, which was just one of the mark I set as the goal they needed to hit. Both lines are in fairly good shape moving forward for the Gators.
Home is where the heart is: Of the 21 players to sign with the Gators, 15 were from Florida and 5 were from Georgia (ATH Kylan Johnson, of Texas, being the lone newbie to hail from elsewhere). Obviously, not every year is going to be like this, and the circumstances of a new coaching staff helped to dictate where the Gators were going to focus their efforts heading up to National Signing Day. However, this is a good model for where Florida should get the majority of their recruits moving forward. Fans will be happy about these numbers.
Getting a game-breaker: Antonio Callaway was a surprise get for Florida on National Signing Day. While most had him pegged for Miami, there was some growing buzz in regards to Callaway and the Gators in the final 48 hours before he signed. It would not surprise me to see Callaway make a push to get on the field early in his career in Gainesville. His decision made up for the loss of Ryan Davis to Auburn. And given the choice of one or the other, I think Florida got the better player.
Hitting a home run in the backfield: The Gators picked up quite the running back trio in Jordan Scarlett, Jordan Cronkrite and D'Anfernee McGriff. Scarlett is a tremendous all-around back, who will likely push to get on the field early, despite the presence of both Kelvin Taylor and Adam Lane on the roster. McGriff is a match-up nightmare who could contribute in a number of ways, including as a bit of a FB/H-Back hybrid. Cronkrite is a great all-around athlete, and I ultimately wouldn't be surprised if he ends up on defense as a safety down the line.
Getting to 21: That McElwain was able to sign 21 on Wednesday was pretty impressive in itself. Florida's last two "transition classes" had 18 (Meyer, 2005) and 19 (Muschamp, 2011), respectively. In Ann Arbor, Jim Harbaugh managed to sign just 14 on Wednesday (although it should be noted that he got the job several weeks after McElwain took the reins in Gainesville).
CeCe: Ole Miss had been trending with five-star DE CeCe Jefferson for a while now. But the home-grown star spurned the Rebels to stick with his childhood favorite. A huge get for the Gators, no doubt.
We would be remiss if we didn't look at some of the misses as well:
Where are the quarterbacks? Although Jim McElwain and offensive coordinator kicked the tires on several other names, Florida concentrated most of their recruiting efforts on a pair of in-state signal callers: Deondre Francois and Lamar Jackson. Both ultimately stuck with their commitments -- Francois to Florida State and Jackson to Louisville -- despite some drama from both in the days leading up to National Signing Day. McElwain will now presumably head into next year with just three scholarship quarterbacks: Skyler Mornhinweg, Will Grier and Treon Harris, despite the fact that McElwain seemed to leave the door open for another addition at the position during his National Signing Day press conference.
A lack of skill: One miss on Wednesday for Florida that I thought was somewhat overlooked was Javarius Davis out of Jacksonville. Although a bit lacking in size at around 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, Davis was one of the fastest prospects in the state, a potential contributor on either side of the ball, and extremely physical for his size. Seven was the target number I had pegged for the skill positions, and the Gators ultimately landed six. Another defensive back in this class would have been nice, however.
The linebacker quandry: One of the storylines heading into Wednesday was the possibility of a late flip by Adonis Thomas to Florida off of an Alabama commitment. It made sense. Alabama isn't lacking in players at the position, while at UF there appeared to be an opportunity for Thomas to get on the field early. The switch didn't happen, however as Thomas stuck with the Crimson Tide. Florida landed just two players -- Rayshad Jackson and Kalen Johnson -- at a position where taking four wouldn't have been a bad idea. Both will need a couple of years of development to make an impact as well.
Byron: All things considered, it's hard to be down on this class too much. But Byron Cowart to Auburn ... sign. What could have been.
Showing posts with label Ivey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ivey. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Line-of-scrimmage a priority late for Gators on the recruiting trail
With a flurry of commitments coming out of Florida's biggest recruiting weekend of the year, Florida now stands at 13 pledges for the 2015 recruiting cycle, with the potential to add upwards of about 10 more between now and Wednesday, when those commitments can be put to paper. Potentially a great finish for Jim McElwain and his staff, to be sure.
That said, what is really impressive about this group, is the work being down down the home stretch on both sides of the line-of-scrimmage. All three of the commitments made to Florida this weekend have come from linemen and with less than three days to go until National Signing Day, 8 of the Gators' 13 pledges are from linemen.
There's still work to be done, however. The target number I assigned for this group a couple of weeks ago was 12. That's 12 total linemen in this class, since some of these targets and commitments -- Luc Bequette, G.G. Robinson, and possibly even Andrew Ivie and Luke Ancrum -- could ultimately project on either side of the ball in college.
A weekend visit to Auburn by Florida pledge Mike Horton potentially has his status with UF on shaky ground. So the target number for McElwain and staff to land over the next couple of days is 4-5 linemen -- a number very much attainable considering the number of prospects still on the board for Florida.
TE/OL/DT G.G. Robinson
OT Martez Ivey
OT Tyree St. Louis
OG Nick Buchanan
OG/OC Quarvez Boulware
OC/DT Luc Bequette
DE Byron Cowart
DE Keivonnis Davis
DE/DT CeCe Jefferson
Ultimately Florida may not land four (or five) of the nine prospects listed above, but it's not out of the realm of possibility, especially considering Florida seems to be trending very heavily for several of these prospects.
And the board may be bigger than this. Florida has seemingly been a bit cloak-and-dagger about some of the visits being taken. Is it possible that a player or two snuck in under-the-radar? Is a player like DT Kahlil Welsh, a Wake Forest commitment out of Jacksonville Sandalwood who was scheduled to visit UF this weekend but went to Illinois instead, still a possibility? Could there be others in that vein on the board?
In any case, the late push on both sides of the line of scrimmage has been mighty impressive by McElwain & Co. Even if Florida doesn't get to 12 as I have suggested they aim for, they're going to get awfully close. As much as Muschamp stressed that the SEC was a "line-of-scrimmage league" during his time in Gainesville, the numbers on both sides of the ball were often leaving a bit to be desired during his tenure. While McElwain hasn't stressed those words quite as much when addressing the media, his actions sure are backing that notion up.
That said, what is really impressive about this group, is the work being down down the home stretch on both sides of the line-of-scrimmage. All three of the commitments made to Florida this weekend have come from linemen and with less than three days to go until National Signing Day, 8 of the Gators' 13 pledges are from linemen.
There's still work to be done, however. The target number I assigned for this group a couple of weeks ago was 12. That's 12 total linemen in this class, since some of these targets and commitments -- Luc Bequette, G.G. Robinson, and possibly even Andrew Ivie and Luke Ancrum -- could ultimately project on either side of the ball in college.
A weekend visit to Auburn by Florida pledge Mike Horton potentially has his status with UF on shaky ground. So the target number for McElwain and staff to land over the next couple of days is 4-5 linemen -- a number very much attainable considering the number of prospects still on the board for Florida.
TE/OL/DT G.G. Robinson
OT Martez Ivey
OT Tyree St. Louis
OG Nick Buchanan
OG/OC Quarvez Boulware
OC/DT Luc Bequette
DE Byron Cowart
DE Keivonnis Davis
DE/DT CeCe Jefferson
Ultimately Florida may not land four (or five) of the nine prospects listed above, but it's not out of the realm of possibility, especially considering Florida seems to be trending very heavily for several of these prospects.
And the board may be bigger than this. Florida has seemingly been a bit cloak-and-dagger about some of the visits being taken. Is it possible that a player or two snuck in under-the-radar? Is a player like DT Kahlil Welsh, a Wake Forest commitment out of Jacksonville Sandalwood who was scheduled to visit UF this weekend but went to Illinois instead, still a possibility? Could there be others in that vein on the board?
In any case, the late push on both sides of the line of scrimmage has been mighty impressive by McElwain & Co. Even if Florida doesn't get to 12 as I have suggested they aim for, they're going to get awfully close. As much as Muschamp stressed that the SEC was a "line-of-scrimmage league" during his time in Gainesville, the numbers on both sides of the ball were often leaving a bit to be desired during his tenure. While McElwain hasn't stressed those words quite as much when addressing the media, his actions sure are backing that notion up.
Monday, September 16, 2013
Breaking down the Class of 2015 (Offense)
A quick position-by-position look at the top prospects on the board for the Florida Gators at this early juncture for the recruiting class of 2015.
Quarterback
Needs: 1
Christian Alexander (6-3, 210, Lakeland Christian) – Plays for former UF quarterback Wayne Peace at Lakeland Christian. Big-bodied, strong-armed thrower with solid athleticism. Bit of an elongated delivery. Good production at the prep level (55.8% completion percentage, around 4,000 career yards passing, 49 touchdowns against just 16 interceptions.)
James Pensyl (6-5, 210, Land O'Lakes) – Tall, lanky lefty with a big arm. Athletic, good feet in the pocket, but not a huge threat as a runner. Fantastic start to his junior season (61.3% completion percentage, 813 yards, eight touchdowns against one interception on 93 passing attempts.)
Others to watch: Dwayne Lawson (Tampa Hillsborough), Torrance Gibson (American Heritage-Plantation)
Notes: Kind of wide-open at this spot right now, which is interesting considering quarterbacks are typically among the first prospects to give their commitments. 2015 is shaping up as a strong year for signal-callers in California, and I'm interested if the coaches with West Coast connections (Brian White and Brent Pease) tap into their contacts out there to make a run at a kid. As it stands, I expect the race to come down to Alexander and Pensyl. Gibson, like De'Andre Johnson and Deondre Francois, would seemingly be a better fit in more of a spread offense. Lawson is a player who impresses as an athlete – might even be a good fit at tight end – but I'm not sure he's a Florida-caliber player at quarterback for the moment.
Running Back
Needs: 1-2
Jacques Patrick (6-1, 220, Orlando Timber Creek) – Rushed for 2,032 yards (8.8 ypc) and 29 touchdowns as a sophomore. Great size, excellent speed. Could also project at linebacker, although he certainly seems to prefer offense. Is a Florida legacy through his grandmother, who ran track at UF.
Jordan Scarlett (5-11, 200, Ft. Lauderdale University School) – Already built like a college freshman, Scarlett is a thick, powerful, explosive runner. Excellent speed for his size. Teammate of UF pledge Quincy Wilson. Rushed for over 1,300 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2012 on a state championship team.
T.J. Simmons (5-11, 195, Lakeland Christian) – Like Alexander, plays for former UF quarterback Wayne Peace at Lakeland Christian. Sophomore campaign ended early due to a torn ACL. Off to a strong start in 2013. Very highly-regarded high school track athlete as well.
Others to watch: James Allen (Citra North Marion), Michael Ford (Tarpon Springs), Taj Griffin (Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern), Karan Higdon (Sarasota Riverview), Tim Irvin (Miami Westminster Christian), Ray Ray McCloud (Tampa Sickles)
Analysis: Plenty of names here. Florida should be able to meet their needs at the position moving into 2015, where they will have to replace at least Mack Brown. Patrick, Scarlett and Simmons make up what appears to be the top of the board, and UF will figure to eventually zero in on one of those guys. All three are extremely talented. There is enough depth shaping up at this spot that Florida should have no problems finding a quality second back in the class should they need to go that route.
Fullback
Needs: 1-2
Chandler Cox (6-1, 215, Apopka) – All-purpose threat plays QB and RB for Apopka. Great blocker. Could prove to be a multi-purpose threat in the mold of a Trey Burton.
Riley Nicholson (6-0, 220, Kissimmee/Osceola) – Primarily an outside linebacker at the high school level, Nicholson has the frame and size to make a move to fullback at the next level. Very talented defensive playmaker for a top program at Osceola. Has notched 28 tackles, one sack and a forced fumble through three games for the Kowboys. Could be a fit on either side of the ball at the next level.
Analysis: This is such a specialized position in football these days, that the process of uncovering fullback prospects will likely take a while for Florida. A player who might play fullback at UF could potentially play just about any position on the field at the high school level. Even offensive or defensive line. It would stand to reason that Florida might exercise some considerable patience as they look over their options to replace Hunter Joyer and Gideon Ajagbe down the line.
Wide Receiver
Needs: 2-3
De'Vante Phillips (6-1, 190, Miami Central) – Presently the only commitment for Florida in the 2015 class. Good physical tools and comes from a program known for producing excellent talent. Teammate of UF commit Dalvin Cook. Nearly 500 yards receiving and five touchdowns as a sophomore on a state championship squad.
George Campbell (6-3, 185, Tarpon Springs East Lake) – Michigan commitment. Incredible physical specimen, but still lacks consistent hands. Could also project as a safety on defense. Florida will continue to recruit Campbell, although I tend to think he will be a difficult target to flip from the Wolverines. Recorded 30 receptions for 766 yards and five touchdowns as a junior. Also notched 56 tackles and an interception on defense.
John Burt (6-3, 180, Tallahassee/Lincoln) – Long, lanky big-play threat. Emerged last year as a top receiver prospect on a team that sent two receivers to BCS schools in Reggie Davis (Georgia) and Taj Williams (Indiana.) Excellent start to the season with eight receptions for 264 yards (32.6 avg.) and four touchdowns.
Deon Cain (6-2, 185, Tampa Bay Tech) – As posted last week, Cain has been off to an excellent start at the quarterback position for Tech. A standout at Florida's Friday Night Lights camp, Cain figures to make the transition to receiver on the next level.
Devante Peete (6-5, 200, Ft. Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas) – Another big-bodied receiver who is already drawing plenty of interest at Aquinas. Has earned early comparisons to Plaxico Burress with his big frame and athleticism.
Others to watch: Almonzo Brown (Suwanee, Ga./North Gwinnett), Austin Brown (Vernon), Ryan Davis (St. Petersburg Lakewood), Kaleel Gaines (Frostproof), Nyheim Hines (Garner, N.C./Garner), Kalif Jackson (Neptune Beach Fletcher), Tavares Martin (Greenacres John I. Leonard)
Analysis: Like the RB position, it's a strong year in-state. Numbers shouldn't be a huge need here. Florida can certainly get away with two receivers in 2015 – assuming it's two good ones. Plenty of size available at this spot. Would be interesting to see if UF targets some slot options, and who those players might be who will emerge on the board down the road.
Tight End
Needs: 1
Devonaire Clarington (6-5, 220, Miami Westminster Christian) – Big receiving threat who is more receiver than tight end at the moment. Raw, but possesses top-flight tools as a prospect. Has grabbed 12 receptions for 181 yards and four touchdowns through three games this season.
Garrett Williams (6-4, 225, Orlando First Academy) – Talented two-way player has excelled on both sides of the ball as the prep level. Already claims numerous offers from programs around the South.
Others to watch: Jaason Lewis (Ocean Lakes, Va./Ocean Lakes), Jalen Wilkerson (Douglas, Ga./Coffee County)
Analysis: It's early, but the top two prospects in the state appear to be leaning elsewhere at the moment with Clarington favoring Miami and FSU legacy Williams appearing to be a strong candidate to end up in Tallahassee. The Gators will have to drum up some other names at the position over the next several months, although I do expect Clarington to continue being a major target of South Florida recruiting ace Travaris Robinson.
Offensive Line
Needs: 4-5
Martez Ivey (6-5, 275, Apopka) – Possibly the top prospect in the state of Florida for 2015, and considered a strong lean to UF early on. This is a guy the Gators need to lock down.
Mitch Hyatt (6-6, 270, Suwanee, Ga./North Gwinnett) – Considered the nation's top offensive line prospect for 2015. Florida coaches were in attendance for his game against Lorenzo Carter and Norcross last week. Considered a Clemson lean, but Florida will try and make a run at possibly the nation's top prospect for next year.
Jake Fruhmorgen (6-5, 280, Tampa Plant) – Despite the fact Fruhmorgen is an Alabama legacy, he's expressed an interest in staying in-state for college. The Gators have positioned themselves quite well early on for the Tampa-area product.
Tristen Hoge (6-5, 290, Pocatello, Idaho/Highland) – Hoge recently made it to Gainesville for a multi-day visit. With Brent Pease's Idaho connections, the Gators figure to have a shot they might not normally have with a prospect from that particular region of the country.
Matthew Burrell (6-5, 290, Woodbridge, Va./C.Y. Hylton) – No offer, but he's a top-100 caliber national prospect who claims early interest in the Gators. He's coached by former UF and Denver Broncos safety Tony Lilly, also a native of Woodbridge.
Christian Pellage (6-7, 250, Brooksville Nature Coast) – Also projected as a defensive end, those close to his recruitment believe Pellage is primed to play offensive tackle at the next level with his frame and growth ability. Definitely a name that is primed to be on the rise over the next several months.
Luke Hiers (6-3, 295, Lake Wales) – Tim Davis has expressed a desire to go out and get a center in each recruiting class. Hiers would seem to be the most likely prospect to receive such consideration in the 2015 class from the Gators early on.
Others to watch: Zack Bailey (Summerville, S.C.), Chuma Edoga (Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern), Ryan Fines (Bradenton Manatee), Isaiah Prince (Greenbelt, Md./Roosevelt), Drew Richmond (Memphis, Tenn./University), Brandon Sandifer (Warner Robins, Ga./Northside), Alec Shriner (Oviedo), Tyree St. Louis (Bradenton IMG Academy), Nick Wilson (Alpharetta, Ga./Milton)
Analysis: The pieces are there for Florida to put together a really stellar group up front. If numbers are an issue in 2015, UF can address that as well. But the key is quality, and there are plenty of quality prospects out there – with serious interest in the Gators – in looking ahead to next year.
Quarterback
Needs: 1
Christian Alexander (6-3, 210, Lakeland Christian) – Plays for former UF quarterback Wayne Peace at Lakeland Christian. Big-bodied, strong-armed thrower with solid athleticism. Bit of an elongated delivery. Good production at the prep level (55.8% completion percentage, around 4,000 career yards passing, 49 touchdowns against just 16 interceptions.)
James Pensyl (6-5, 210, Land O'Lakes) – Tall, lanky lefty with a big arm. Athletic, good feet in the pocket, but not a huge threat as a runner. Fantastic start to his junior season (61.3% completion percentage, 813 yards, eight touchdowns against one interception on 93 passing attempts.)
Others to watch: Dwayne Lawson (Tampa Hillsborough), Torrance Gibson (American Heritage-Plantation)
Notes: Kind of wide-open at this spot right now, which is interesting considering quarterbacks are typically among the first prospects to give their commitments. 2015 is shaping up as a strong year for signal-callers in California, and I'm interested if the coaches with West Coast connections (Brian White and Brent Pease) tap into their contacts out there to make a run at a kid. As it stands, I expect the race to come down to Alexander and Pensyl. Gibson, like De'Andre Johnson and Deondre Francois, would seemingly be a better fit in more of a spread offense. Lawson is a player who impresses as an athlete – might even be a good fit at tight end – but I'm not sure he's a Florida-caliber player at quarterback for the moment.
Running Back
Needs: 1-2
Jacques Patrick (6-1, 220, Orlando Timber Creek) – Rushed for 2,032 yards (8.8 ypc) and 29 touchdowns as a sophomore. Great size, excellent speed. Could also project at linebacker, although he certainly seems to prefer offense. Is a Florida legacy through his grandmother, who ran track at UF.
Jordan Scarlett (5-11, 200, Ft. Lauderdale University School) – Already built like a college freshman, Scarlett is a thick, powerful, explosive runner. Excellent speed for his size. Teammate of UF pledge Quincy Wilson. Rushed for over 1,300 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2012 on a state championship team.
T.J. Simmons (5-11, 195, Lakeland Christian) – Like Alexander, plays for former UF quarterback Wayne Peace at Lakeland Christian. Sophomore campaign ended early due to a torn ACL. Off to a strong start in 2013. Very highly-regarded high school track athlete as well.
Others to watch: James Allen (Citra North Marion), Michael Ford (Tarpon Springs), Taj Griffin (Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern), Karan Higdon (Sarasota Riverview), Tim Irvin (Miami Westminster Christian), Ray Ray McCloud (Tampa Sickles)
Analysis: Plenty of names here. Florida should be able to meet their needs at the position moving into 2015, where they will have to replace at least Mack Brown. Patrick, Scarlett and Simmons make up what appears to be the top of the board, and UF will figure to eventually zero in on one of those guys. All three are extremely talented. There is enough depth shaping up at this spot that Florida should have no problems finding a quality second back in the class should they need to go that route.
Fullback
Needs: 1-2
Chandler Cox (6-1, 215, Apopka) – All-purpose threat plays QB and RB for Apopka. Great blocker. Could prove to be a multi-purpose threat in the mold of a Trey Burton.
Riley Nicholson (6-0, 220, Kissimmee/Osceola) – Primarily an outside linebacker at the high school level, Nicholson has the frame and size to make a move to fullback at the next level. Very talented defensive playmaker for a top program at Osceola. Has notched 28 tackles, one sack and a forced fumble through three games for the Kowboys. Could be a fit on either side of the ball at the next level.
Analysis: This is such a specialized position in football these days, that the process of uncovering fullback prospects will likely take a while for Florida. A player who might play fullback at UF could potentially play just about any position on the field at the high school level. Even offensive or defensive line. It would stand to reason that Florida might exercise some considerable patience as they look over their options to replace Hunter Joyer and Gideon Ajagbe down the line.
Wide Receiver
Needs: 2-3
De'Vante Phillips (6-1, 190, Miami Central) – Presently the only commitment for Florida in the 2015 class. Good physical tools and comes from a program known for producing excellent talent. Teammate of UF commit Dalvin Cook. Nearly 500 yards receiving and five touchdowns as a sophomore on a state championship squad.
George Campbell (6-3, 185, Tarpon Springs East Lake) – Michigan commitment. Incredible physical specimen, but still lacks consistent hands. Could also project as a safety on defense. Florida will continue to recruit Campbell, although I tend to think he will be a difficult target to flip from the Wolverines. Recorded 30 receptions for 766 yards and five touchdowns as a junior. Also notched 56 tackles and an interception on defense.
John Burt (6-3, 180, Tallahassee/Lincoln) – Long, lanky big-play threat. Emerged last year as a top receiver prospect on a team that sent two receivers to BCS schools in Reggie Davis (Georgia) and Taj Williams (Indiana.) Excellent start to the season with eight receptions for 264 yards (32.6 avg.) and four touchdowns.
Deon Cain (6-2, 185, Tampa Bay Tech) – As posted last week, Cain has been off to an excellent start at the quarterback position for Tech. A standout at Florida's Friday Night Lights camp, Cain figures to make the transition to receiver on the next level.
Devante Peete (6-5, 200, Ft. Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas) – Another big-bodied receiver who is already drawing plenty of interest at Aquinas. Has earned early comparisons to Plaxico Burress with his big frame and athleticism.
Others to watch: Almonzo Brown (Suwanee, Ga./North Gwinnett), Austin Brown (Vernon), Ryan Davis (St. Petersburg Lakewood), Kaleel Gaines (Frostproof), Nyheim Hines (Garner, N.C./Garner), Kalif Jackson (Neptune Beach Fletcher), Tavares Martin (Greenacres John I. Leonard)
Analysis: Like the RB position, it's a strong year in-state. Numbers shouldn't be a huge need here. Florida can certainly get away with two receivers in 2015 – assuming it's two good ones. Plenty of size available at this spot. Would be interesting to see if UF targets some slot options, and who those players might be who will emerge on the board down the road.
Tight End
Needs: 1
Devonaire Clarington (6-5, 220, Miami Westminster Christian) – Big receiving threat who is more receiver than tight end at the moment. Raw, but possesses top-flight tools as a prospect. Has grabbed 12 receptions for 181 yards and four touchdowns through three games this season.
Garrett Williams (6-4, 225, Orlando First Academy) – Talented two-way player has excelled on both sides of the ball as the prep level. Already claims numerous offers from programs around the South.
Others to watch: Jaason Lewis (Ocean Lakes, Va./Ocean Lakes), Jalen Wilkerson (Douglas, Ga./Coffee County)
Analysis: It's early, but the top two prospects in the state appear to be leaning elsewhere at the moment with Clarington favoring Miami and FSU legacy Williams appearing to be a strong candidate to end up in Tallahassee. The Gators will have to drum up some other names at the position over the next several months, although I do expect Clarington to continue being a major target of South Florida recruiting ace Travaris Robinson.
Offensive Line
Needs: 4-5
Martez Ivey (6-5, 275, Apopka) – Possibly the top prospect in the state of Florida for 2015, and considered a strong lean to UF early on. This is a guy the Gators need to lock down.
Mitch Hyatt (6-6, 270, Suwanee, Ga./North Gwinnett) – Considered the nation's top offensive line prospect for 2015. Florida coaches were in attendance for his game against Lorenzo Carter and Norcross last week. Considered a Clemson lean, but Florida will try and make a run at possibly the nation's top prospect for next year.
Jake Fruhmorgen (6-5, 280, Tampa Plant) – Despite the fact Fruhmorgen is an Alabama legacy, he's expressed an interest in staying in-state for college. The Gators have positioned themselves quite well early on for the Tampa-area product.
Tristen Hoge (6-5, 290, Pocatello, Idaho/Highland) – Hoge recently made it to Gainesville for a multi-day visit. With Brent Pease's Idaho connections, the Gators figure to have a shot they might not normally have with a prospect from that particular region of the country.
Matthew Burrell (6-5, 290, Woodbridge, Va./C.Y. Hylton) – No offer, but he's a top-100 caliber national prospect who claims early interest in the Gators. He's coached by former UF and Denver Broncos safety Tony Lilly, also a native of Woodbridge.
Christian Pellage (6-7, 250, Brooksville Nature Coast) – Also projected as a defensive end, those close to his recruitment believe Pellage is primed to play offensive tackle at the next level with his frame and growth ability. Definitely a name that is primed to be on the rise over the next several months.
Luke Hiers (6-3, 295, Lake Wales) – Tim Davis has expressed a desire to go out and get a center in each recruiting class. Hiers would seem to be the most likely prospect to receive such consideration in the 2015 class from the Gators early on.
Others to watch: Zack Bailey (Summerville, S.C.), Chuma Edoga (Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern), Ryan Fines (Bradenton Manatee), Isaiah Prince (Greenbelt, Md./Roosevelt), Drew Richmond (Memphis, Tenn./University), Brandon Sandifer (Warner Robins, Ga./Northside), Alec Shriner (Oviedo), Tyree St. Louis (Bradenton IMG Academy), Nick Wilson (Alpharetta, Ga./Milton)
Analysis: The pieces are there for Florida to put together a really stellar group up front. If numbers are an issue in 2015, UF can address that as well. But the key is quality, and there are plenty of quality prospects out there – with serious interest in the Gators – in looking ahead to next year.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Florida: the new prep OL powerhouse
Traditionally, in recruiting circles, the Midwest is sort of thought of as the place to go for big-time OL prospects. It makes sense. The Big Ten has long been considered the cradle of great offensive linemen, so it would stand to reason that prep coaches in that region would also focus on the quality of their offensive lines as an important cornerstone in the process of building their teams.
On the other hand, Florida has long been considered the place to go to for top-level skill talent. Running backs, receivers, defensive backs, linebackers, even pass-rushers. College programs can always get their fill in the Sunshine State. Quarterbacks and offensive linemen? Not so much. But perhaps that paradigm should be in for shift, at least, if recent recruiting rankings have any indication.
For the Class of 2012, John Theus (Jacksonville/Bolles) was widely-regarded as a consensus five-star prospect. He signed with Georgia, and showed a lot of promise in his first year, moving into the right tackle spot for the 'Dawgs and proving to be a significant contributor.
This past February, Laremy Tunsil (Lake City Columbia) surprised many by signing with Ole Miss. But what isn't surprising, is the fact he's already running second-team at left tackle in Oxford. Tunsil was also considered a five-star talent.
Now, David Sharpe (Jacksonville/Providence) is carrying the torch for Florida offensive linemen. Also considered a five-star talent with incredible upside, Sharpe has offers from nearly all the top programs in the country and has been selected to participate in the Army All-American Game (just as Theus and Tunsil did before him.)
While offensive linemen can often emerge on the radar late, Apopka's Martez Ivey has already staked a claim as one of the top prospects in the Class of 2015. If he continues on this current path, he will give the state of Florida a five-star offensive line prospect for the fourth year in a row.
Perhaps it's time to re-evaluate the level of players Florida is producing along the offensive line?
Martez Ivey highlights:
On the other hand, Florida has long been considered the place to go to for top-level skill talent. Running backs, receivers, defensive backs, linebackers, even pass-rushers. College programs can always get their fill in the Sunshine State. Quarterbacks and offensive linemen? Not so much. But perhaps that paradigm should be in for shift, at least, if recent recruiting rankings have any indication.
For the Class of 2012, John Theus (Jacksonville/Bolles) was widely-regarded as a consensus five-star prospect. He signed with Georgia, and showed a lot of promise in his first year, moving into the right tackle spot for the 'Dawgs and proving to be a significant contributor.
This past February, Laremy Tunsil (Lake City Columbia) surprised many by signing with Ole Miss. But what isn't surprising, is the fact he's already running second-team at left tackle in Oxford. Tunsil was also considered a five-star talent.
Now, David Sharpe (Jacksonville/Providence) is carrying the torch for Florida offensive linemen. Also considered a five-star talent with incredible upside, Sharpe has offers from nearly all the top programs in the country and has been selected to participate in the Army All-American Game (just as Theus and Tunsil did before him.)
While offensive linemen can often emerge on the radar late, Apopka's Martez Ivey has already staked a claim as one of the top prospects in the Class of 2015. If he continues on this current path, he will give the state of Florida a five-star offensive line prospect for the fourth year in a row.
Perhaps it's time to re-evaluate the level of players Florida is producing along the offensive line?
Martez Ivey highlights:
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