Where the Gators stand: Tight End/Fullback

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 fourth part of the series, as after previewing the other skill positions on the roster we will now turn our attention to the tight ends and fullbacks...

Current Florida Depth Chart:

Tight End
11 - Jordan Reed (6-3, 240, R-Fr.)
80 - Desmond Parks (6-5, 244, R-Fr.)
32 - Gerald Christian (6-3, 240, Fr.)
88 - Michael McFarland (6-6, 237, Fr.)

Fullback
45 - T.J. Pridemore (6-1, 241, R-So.)
42 - Steve Wilks (6-1, 235, R-Jr.)

Committed to Florida for 2011:
Hunter Joyer (5-11, 245, Tampa, Fla./Tampa Catholic)
A.C. Leonard (6-3, 235, Jacksonville, Fla./University Christian) - Jan. enrollee

Top of the board:
Nick O'Leary (6-4, 230, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer)
Jay Rome (6-5, 240, Valdosta, Ga./Valdosta)
Junior Pome'e (6-3, 215, Moreno Valley, Calif./Rancho Verde)
Austin Seferian-Jenkins (6-7, 265, Gig Harbor, Wash./Gig Harbor)
Cameron Clear (6-6, 265, Memphis, Tenn./Central)

Others to watch:
Troy Niklas (6-6, 250, Anaheim, Calif./Servite)
Brandon Fulse (6-4, 250, Ft. Meade, Fla./Ft. Meade
Jerrell Adams (6-5, 225, Summerton, S.C./Scotts Branch)
Alonzo Robertson (6-3, 210, Avon Park, Fla./Avon Park)

Analysis: Who would have ever thought that the fullback and tight end positions would be a strength of the Gators under Urban Meyer? No one who watched this team back in 2005, that's for sure (and as an aside, both positions fall under the responsibilities of assistant coach Brian White, for now, so they are grouped together in this analysis as well).

In any case, a relatively strong area of the team only figures to get better next fall. The Gators will add A.C. Leonard (quite possibly the top tight end prospect in the entire Southeast) along with Hunter Joyer (considered by many to be among the top fullback prospects in the country). It's really amazing to see this transformation take place over the last two years or so before our very eyes. It can all be traced back directly to the play of Tim Tebow, however. He worse so many hats for the Gators over the past four years that those abilities will now be diversified among a number of positions, including running back (where the Gators are hotly pursuing bulldozer James Wilder), fullback (the aforementioned addition of Joyer), and tight end (where the Gators have signed four players over the last two classes, and figure to add at least one more for 2011). Give the coaches credit. They know another Tim Tebow isn't walking through that door, and are smartly looking at ways to spread his workload around so that Florida can continue their considerable offensive success over the coming years.

Although the additions of Joyer and Leonard are both very positive for the direction of Florida on offense in the future, the Gators are not done in this area as it relates to the Class of 2011. Not by a long shot.

Clearly, the number one option left on the board for Florida in the Class of 2011 (as it is for several teams still in the mix for his services) at tight end is Nick O'Leary. O'Leary is an incredible talent, his Friday Night Lights performance notwithstanding, he is still one of the very best in the entire country. Florida's chances to land O'Leary don't seem great, but the Gators will continue to push for his signature, and I don't think you can rule out Florida until the very end on this one, especially with their deep ties into Dwyer High School.

The player who really emerged at Friday Night Lights at the tight end position is Junior Pome'e, a high school teammate of star freshman Ronald Powell. Pome'e is a little different than O'Leary and Leonard in that he is more of a flex TE/big WR than a true H-Back or tight end. He provies a big target in the passing game, however, and figures to factor heavily in the plans for Florida moving forward.

Jay Rome remains on the board, although Florida looks to be fading for his signature for the time being. Brandon Fulse (who is also being looked at to potentially play other positions) and Jerrell Adams fall into the same boat as well.

The other major tight end targets on the board -- Cameron Clear, Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Troy Niklas -- all sort of fall in the big TE/project OT 'tweener category. All three prospects are in the 6-6 to 6-7 range, and in excess of 250 pounds. With Florida needing a left tackle for the future, all three of these prospects will be names to watch over the coming months as the search narrows in that regard. Of the three, Florida would currently figure to have the best shot at Clear, who currently has Florida in his top three along with Alabama, Duke, Ole Miss, and Tennessee. Seferian-Jenkins appears to be leaning to Texas, while Niklas currently lists Notre Dame and Stanford as his leaders.

In any case, look for the Gators to add at least one more prospect among this versatile group of athletes, and don't be surprised if they go higher than that by the time February rolls around.