Thursday, September 12, 2013

UF Recruiting News & Notes, 9/12

– With this being Florida's first bye week of the fall, it should come as no surprise that the UF staff has begun to hit the recruiting trail in earnest.


Muschamp and Gators DB coach Travaris Robinson were assuredly at the game to check in on DT commit Khairi Clark, among others.

Clark, for his part, seemed to appreciate the gesture:


Muschamp later made his way to Central vs. Coral Reef, where he watched a pair of Florida commitments – 2014 RB Dalvin Cook along with 2015 WR Da'Vante Phillips:


Cook, it should be noted, finished with 162 yards and three touchdowns on just nine carries in a 49-0 win for Miami Central.

Defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin was also out and about on Thursday night:


The Gators have been working hard on McMillan, a 6-foot-2, 240-pound bowling ball from Hinesville (Ga.) Liberty County. However, UF has yet to actually break his top three schools, which presently include Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State.

– Big defensive line prospect Cory Thomas out of McCalla, Ala. also has some big news from the Florida perspective ($), according to Paul Jones of 247.

"I have already set up one of my official visits, too, and that is to Florida when they play Florida State on Nov. 30th," Thomas told Jones.

Mississippi State was believed to be the leader coming out of the summer, but it appears the Bulldogs are falling back to the pack a little bit. Getting Thomas on campus for an unofficial visit as well (such as the Tennessee game next weekend), would be vital to Florida's chances of making a move for the 6-foot-6, 270-pounder.

 – Thomas isn't the only big name to make a date on an official visit to Florida, as five-star Lorenzo Carter has also set his official visit for the Tennessee game.

This is certainly an interesting ploy by the Muschamp & Co. Florida had the momentum in the summer, but Carter has since backed off public comments proclaiming UF as his leader. If the Florida staff feels they can get him back on campus at least one more time – and preferably for another game – then I don't see the problem with lining up the first official visit. But this could be a critical time for the 6-foot-5, 235-pound pass-rusher, who is generally considered as one of the consensus top-three prospects on the board for Florida in the Class of 2014. He doesn't make-or-break this class, but Carter is a very critical recruit to the UF efforts, as he brings incredible athleticism and length to the position. He would be a phenomenal addition to the UF defensive end corps. The Gators are battling Alabama and Georgia for the five-star prospect.

– I posted earlier this week about how vital the Tampa-area was shaping up to be for the future, because of the presence a trio of talented 2015 prospects in LB Jaye Miner (Wiregrass Ranch), QB James Pensyl (Land O'Lakes) and RB T.J. Simmons (Lakeland Christian.) All three have had impressive starts to the season. Well, a few other names in the 2015 class have popped up in the same region.

QB Christian Alexander, a teammate of Simmons at Lakeland Christian, may prove to be the other big name at quarterback for 2015, along with Pensyl. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound prospect has thrown for 300 yards and three touchdowns against one interception through two games (58.8% comp.) Through just over two years of varsity competition, Alexander has thrown for 3,887 yards on 407 attempts (55.8% completion percentage). He's also tossed 49 touchdowns against just 16 interceptions. It should be noted that former star UF quarterback Wayne Peace coaches both Alexander and Simmons at Lakeland Christian.

Over at Tarpon Springs, RB Michael Ford (5-10, 205) has quickly emerged with a hot start to the season, rushing for 355 yards on 37 carries (9.6 avg.) and six touchdowns through just two games. Ford joins an already talented group of backs emerging in-state of next year, including the aforementioned Simmons, James Allen (Citra North Marion), Karan Higdon (Sarasota), Jacques Patrick (Orlando Timber Creek) and Jordan Scarlett (Ft. Lauderdale University School.)

Finally, although he projects as a receiver at the next level, Deon Cain of Tampa Bay Tech has gotten off to a hot start from the QB position. Cain has completed 30-of-47 passes (63.9% comp.) for 379 yards and six touchdowns against a single interception. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Cain has also contributed 185 yards on 22 carries as the Titans have gotten off to a 1-1 start.

– And while this actually applies to the 2016 class, keep an eye on Tampa Blake sophomore pass-rusher Shavar Manuel. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder has already recorded five sacks through two games. He will likely prove to be the next big-time defensive lineman to be recruited out of the Tampa area.
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