What's left for Florida in the Class of 2014?

We're just over five months away from National Signing Day. The Gators presently stand at 15 commitments, with room at the moment to sign 16. As posted in this space last week, I see Florida closing out with somewhere around 25 signatures in the Class of 2014. If you figure there will most likely be a couple of de-commitments, with room to add 10 more players to this class, the magic number to close this group out will be somewhere around a dozen.

With Florida being virtually right at the 85 limit right now if you filter in the commitments to the roster as it's currently constructed, the remaining additions will essentially come from a result of whatever attrition takes place between now and the beginning of February. Players with remaining eligibility left could depart for a number of reasons: early entries to the NFL Draft, transfers, medical disqualifications, whatever. We don't know what the final number will be right now, but expect it to be upwards of 10.

So with that in mind, what positions appear to have the biggest need moving forward for UF? I'm glad you asked ...

Offensive Line: The Gators have four projected offensive line commitments for the Class of 2014 (I'll get into why I don't like distinguishing offensive from defensive linemen right out of the high school ranks in a future post.) The numbers are getting better here, and this group has been bolstered by the recent pledge of Nolan Kelleher. However, getting another difference-maker at tackle is a key (hence, why David Sharpe is such a priority.) Also, with Florida's shakiest current pledge (Benjamin Knox) in this position grouping, I see the most movement happening here, with the Gators likely to add 2-3 more offensive linemen for 2014.

Skill (WR/DB): With so many guys on the board (namely, Adoree' Jackson, Travis Rudolph, Artavis Scott) who can project on either side of the ball in college. I just decided to throw all of these guys together. The Gators have one big-time receiver in the fold (Ermon Lane) and need to pair him with another good addition. That could be a guy already committed to UF (J.C. Jackson or Chris Lammons) or one of the above listed prospects. In the event both Marcus Roberson and Loucheiz Purifoy go pro, Florida will need at least one other cornerback as well. As I wrote last week, that scenario would also lend itself to checking out the JUCO ranks for a player. With the move of Valdez Showers to offense, and Nick Washington playing well at corner in fall camp, there is a little more room on the depth chart at safety. This opens up an opportunity for Jamal Adams to step right in and make an early contribution in the secondary.

Linebacker: As we covered last week, the Gators still presently lack a true linebacker commit in this class, despite the fact that DE commit Justus Reed could possibly play a hybrid LB/DE role in the mold of Lerentee McCray and Ronald Powell. It is true that Florida signed an excellent group of linebackers last year, but following up with 2-3 good ones should still be a priority. After watching Jacob Pugh this weekend, I'm fairly sure he's a better fit at the BUCK, but could play a hybrid role – similar to Reed. Again, Florida seems to only be seriously targeting three linebackers at this point: Clifton Garrett, Raekwon McMillan and Dwight Williams. And of those three, only Williams seems to be a realistic option right now. I continue to be curious as to the direction UF will take at this position. I fully expect at least a couple of guys to emerge on the radar over the course of the fall.

Defensive Line: With 2½ commitments here (depending on how you classify Justus Reed), there is a need for at least two more pledges. Landing an elite pass-rusher (Lorenzo Carter) is the primary concern. Grabbing another tackle (Thomas Holley, Anthony Moten) or hybrid player (Cory Thomas, Dewayne Hendrix) would close this group out properly. I would not be surprised to see the Gators look to the JUCO route at defensive tackle once again.

There are plenty of lists like this done in a number of ways. Consider this a mix of the top remaining prospects on the board for Florida based on need, priority, likelihood to commit and just good ole-fashioned gut feeling. We'll update this every so often. Remember, other guys will emerge in the coming months, and more than a few of these guys will fall off the list in the meantime.

1. DB Jamal Adams

2. DE Lorenzo Carter 

3. OL David Sharpe

4. DB Adoree' Jackson

5. WR Travis Rudolph

6. LB Dwight Williams

7. RB Joe Mixon

8. DE Lorenzo Featherston

9. RB Bo Scarbrough (Alabama)

10. DE Cory Thomas

11. TE Deandre Goolsby

12. DT Thomas Holley

13. WR Artavis Scott (Clemson)

14. LB Clifton Garrett

15. OL Damien Mama

16. DE Da'Shawn Hand 

17. DE Richard Yeargin (Notre Dame) 

18. LB Nyles Morgan

19. DE Dewayne Hendrix

20. DE Jacob Pugh (Florida State)

21. OL Trevor Darling (Miami)

22. WR Josh Malone 

23. DT Gerald Willis

24. LB: Raekwon McMillan

25. RB Leonard Fournette

26. WR Speedy Noil

27. OL Jordan Sims

28. DT Anthony Moten 

29. WR Johnnie Dixon

30. DB Marlon Humphrey

31. RB Tony James

32. DE Rohan Blackwood

33. TE Ravian Pierce

34. RB Cortavious Givens

35. DT Jeremy Patterson

36. TE Montez Sweat

37. DT Daniel Cage

Travis Rudolph

Alright, so one more top five update for today. West Palm Beach (Fla.) Cardinal Newman wide receiver Travis Rudolph has narrowed his list to five, according to Rivals ($): Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Ohio State and Vanderbilt.

The Gators have long been considered the top dog in the race for Rudolph (6-0½, 188.) However, Alabama and Florida State have been making up ground with the Gators. I wouldn't count out Vanderbilt, and their pitch of immediate playing time for the Under Armour All-American, either. It seems like the opportunity to come in and contribute immediately could be a driving influence on his decision. Ultimately, I don't see the Buckeyes as a major player for his services.



Rudolph has accounted for more than 3,100 all-purpose yards and 43 touchdowns in three seasons at Cardinal Newman. A phenomenal athlete as well, there has been considerable debate as to whether or not Rudolph could develop into a top-flight cornerback at the next level . In fact, Rudolph withdrew his original commitment to Miami as a result of the fact the 'Canes coaching staff seemed to prefer him as a defensive player.

To date, Will Muschamp has done an excellent job loading up his 2014 class with skill athletes who are true football players. At least two – J.C. Jackson (Immokalee) and Chris Lammons (Plantation) – could project on either side of the ball at next level, along with targets Rudolph, Adoree' Jackson (Gardena, Calif.) and Artavis Scott (Tarpon Springs/East Lake), among others. The Gators probably need at least two more skill guys in this class, and Rudolph is clearly one of the prospects for whom they sit prettiest with at the moment.

However, Florida State is making a move following a July summer camp visit to Tallahassee by Rudolph. The Seminoles presently have five receivers committed, but at least two of those prospects are believed to be wavering behind closed doors. Jimbo Fisher is clearly in the market for some more talent at the position. With Ermon Lane's commitment to Florida, Alabama may make Rudolph more of a priority as well, giving the Crimson Tide a chance to dip into the South Florida talent pool for a speedy and athletic receiver once again.

Regardless, the real race for the signature of Travis Rudolph appears to have only begun.

Mike Bellamy, the Gators, and the number 5...

I was speaking to a pretty well-connected fellow in the world of recruiting recently. He made a very good point to me, and in light of the now apparent "wavering" of running back Mike Bellamy (more on that later), it makes more sense than ever.

When Chris Dunkley signed with the Gators back in February, he did so with the understanding he would be wearing the #5 this coming fall (a number assigned to Gators All-American cornerback Joe Haden in 2009). You can find various pictures with him posing in the #5 jersey he was expected to wear this fall on his Facebook page. So imagine my surprise when I was flipping through the fall roster released by the Florida SID several days ago and happened to notice that Dunkley had instead been assigned #27 -- a curious choice for a player expected to contribute at wide receiver this fall for the Gators.

Meanwhile, the #5, she is still sitting wide open and right there for the taking.

Don't get me wrong, Joe Haden was a great player for the Gators during his three years, as evidenced by his selection among the top 10 picks of the NFL Draft by Cleveland back in April. His presence will be missed in Gainesville. But he wasn't so overwhelming on the field that his number is going to be retired anytime soon. This isn't the same deal as #15 being left vacated for the time being. This is something very different altogether.

Back to Mike Bellamy, and that Clemson commitment he was reportedly so solid on...

In talking with a well-connected person in SW Florida, he told me even before Friday Night Lights that regardless of what Bellamy was saying, that the door was still cracked open just a bit. Regardless of how adamant Bellamy was about heading to Clemson, following in C.J. Spiller's footsteps, and being excited to run down the Hill for every Tigers home game, his recruitment is not and will not be finished for some time. I believed my source then, and his words are even more spot on now that Bellamy is reportedly looking at Florida State due to "depth chart issues" at Clemson. His recruitment is going to be a volatile one until he signs on the dotted line because that's just the way it's going to be. Everyone should sit down, grab some popcorn, and enjoy the show.

So, where does the #5 fit into all of this?

As I said earlier, Dunkley was expected to wear the number ever since he committed to the Gators back in January. Is wasn't some dealbreaker...it was just a matter of the fact that Dunkley liked the number, and it would be there for the taking if Haden left early for the pros (which he ended up doing). Then all of the sudden, sometime over the summer...something happened to convince the Gators to assign Dunkley #27 instead. By all accounts, Dunkley has worked hard since signing his letter of intent paperwork with Florida. He has added some necessary bulk to help him through the SEC grind, he has stayed out of trouble off-the-field, and other than the fact he has some diva-ish qualities not all that unlike many star wide receivers (Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens come to mind), he has done the things he needs to do to put himself in a position to play as a true freshman. But then when I think about it, there was the little matter of Mike Bellamy attending Friday Night Lights, even after being "solid" to Clemson. He has long been rumored to have a strong appreciation of the Gators and the spread offense. He just happens to wear...

You guess it -- the number 5. Conspiracy theory or not? You tell me...

Where the Gators stand: Wide Receiver

This week, I'll be hitting each spot on the Gators depth chart with a position-by-position analysis on where Florida currently stands in regards to the Class of 2011, and what needs still have to be met across the board. This is the third part of the series, as after previewing the quarterbacks and running backs we will now turn our attention to the wide receivers...

Current Florida depth chart:

WR
6 - Deonte Thompson (5-11, 203, R-Jr.)
7 - Justin Williams (6-1, 205, R-Sr.)
27 - Chris Dunkley (5-11, 180, Fr.)
8 - Adrian Coxson (6-1, 205, Fr.)

SLOT
3 - Chris Rainey (5-9, 178, R-Jr.)
4 - Andre Debose (6-0, 192, R-Fr.)
83 - Solomon Patton (5-9, 175, Fr.)
81 - Robert Clark (5-8, 172, Fr.)
85 - Frankie Hammond (5-11, 180, R-So.)**

WR
9 - Carl Moore (6-4, 217, R-Sr.)
82 - Omarius Hines (6-0, 220, R-So.)
18 - T.J. Lawrence (6-1, 197, R-So.)
89 - Stephen Alli (6-5, 220, R-Fr.)
84 - Quinton Dunbar (6-2, 170, Fr.)

**Frankie Hammond has not worked out with the team this summer, and is not currently on scholarship due to off-field transgressions earlier in the year.

Committed to Florida for 2011:
Javares McRoy (5-9, 170, Lakeland, Fla./Lakeland) - Jan. enrollee
Ja'Juan Story (6-3, 190, Brooksville, Fla./Nature Coast)

Top of the board:
Kelvin Benjamin (6-6, 220, Belle Glade, Fla./Glades Central)
Sammy Watkins (6-2, 190, Ft. Myers/South Ft. Myers)
George Farmer (6-2, 195, Gardena, Calif./Junipero Serra)
Quinta Funderburk (6-3, 205, Chesapeake, Va./Oscar Smith)
Kasen Williams (6-2, 205, Sammamish, Wash./Skyline)

Others to watch:
Quenton Bundrage (6-1, 180, Bradenton, Fla./Manatee)
Vincent Dallas (5-11, 180, Ellenwood, Ga./Cedar Grove
Andre Davis (6-2, 185, Tampa, Fla./Jefferson)
Durrell Eskridge (6-1, 190, Miami, Fla./Central)
Curt Evans (5-11, 175, Hollywood, Fla./Chaminade-Madonna)
Charles Gaines (5-11, 175, Miami, Fla./Jackson)
Bryan Holmes (5-11, 180, Lake Butler, Fla./Union County)
Willie Snead (6-0, 185, Muskegon Heights, Mich./Muskegon Heights)
Jesse York (6-0, 180, Lauderdale Lakes, Fla./Boyd Anderson)

Analysis: Right now the numbers all look pretty good at the wide receiver position, but Florida is aiming to take at least one more in the 2011 class, with Kelvin Benjamin being the focus of the majority of their remaining efforts at the wide receiver position.

Despite the fact Florida is in pretty good shape at the slot position, the Gators went ahead and took Javares McRoy anyways. The reasoning behind that decision simply being that the Gators feel McRoy is as good, if not better, than the two slot guys they brought in with the last class (Robert Clark and Solomon Patton). The addition of McRoy gives Florida another home-run threat on the perimeter, and his ability to run with the football (he will line up primarily as a running back for Lakeland HS this fall) is something that will be taken advantage of as well.

The addition of Ja'Juan Story gives the Gators another big, fast player at one of the outside wide receiver spots. Although still very raw in the technical aspects of playing the position, Story possesses great speed (he consistently ran the 100m in less than 11 seconds this year) and seems to have a natural aptitude for the game. He could also potentially get a look on the defensive side of the ball (as a safety or linebacker) down the road as well.

As I mentioned off the top, Kelvin Benjamin is the top remaining target on the board, and with good reason. His combination of size and athleticism is nearly unmatched, and he will have a great opportunity to contribute early wherever he goes. With his considerable length, Benjamin's ability to adjust to passes that aren't right on the money gives quarterbacks a huge margin for error. In reality, he's a guy who could come in and compete for a starting job from day one. Florida appears to be in control right now, but keep an eye on Miami, who is continuing to work him hard to consider spending the next three (maybe four) years in Coral Gables.

Sammy Watkins continues to be a target for the Gators, despite the fact he looks to be leaning towards Clemson after a weekend stay in the Palmetto State. He is, of course, the younger brother of Gators freshman DB Jaylen Watkins. George Farmer is also on the board, although he is a strong lean to the USC Trojans at the present time. Quinta Thunderburk and Kasen Williams are two other possibilities to keep an eye on.

Among the names to watch out for, I would keep my eyes peeled on Miami speedster Charles "C.J." Gaines. He really impressed during a camp performance at Florida back in June, and while he didn't dominate at Friday Night Lights last week (to be honest, I didn't think any wide receiver really did), he still has that top-end speed to make him the vertical threat who can regularly get behind the defense. Gaines also appears to have the speed and athletic ability to potentially contribute at cornerback as well.

In any case, look for Florida to take at least one more (preferably Benjamin) and don't be surprised to see wholesale changes on this depth chart from this year to next. A player or two could be moved to defense, and I would not be shocked at all to see those who don't see their number called much this year to move on to greener pastures following the season (or perhaps even sooner than that).