Post-Carolina Recruiting Thoughts

For those of you who have followed this blog over the last couple of months, I apologize for my absence over the last few weeks. There have been a lot of changes on the home front (many of them good) that have caused me to take a step back from this little pet project of mine. But now that I'm settled in a bit, I'm looking to churn out a few posts per week as we start to move towards this offseason, which figures to be coming a lot sooner than most Gators fans anticipated at the beginning of the fall.

– To be frank, there haven't been many recruiting developments over the last few weeks. The only big one of note was the slightly positive surprise of Derby (Kan.) tight end Deandre Goolsby. For anyone who has followed this blog at all, you're well-versed in how much I've been harping on the need for good tight ends in this class. Florida now has two good ones in Goolsby and Alabama native C'yontai Lewis. The Gators should also be keeping close tabs on Crawfordville Wakulla prospect Jordan Franks and Ocala Vanguard star Elkannah Dillon down the stretch as well, based on the campaigns they put together during the 2013 season.

In terms of Goolsby, the Gators are getting, in my estimation, a player who can step in and have an impact immediately. Now, I'm not predicting a 1,000-yard receiving season or anything of that sort. But this is a guy who should be able to come in, and battle for an opportunity to get on the field as a freshman. At a position where the players on the roster have really shown no ability to make an impact in the passing game as receivers, Goolsby will certainly be a welcome breath of fresh air next fall.

– But while things have been relatively quiet for the Gators on the recruiting trail in recent weeks, Thursday could be the day that changes course for UF. Highly-regarded OT prospect David Sharpe, who at one time appeared to be heading towards a decision at the Army All-American Bowl, has now decided to move up his timetable on announcing a college choice:

Thursday is the day
— David Sharpe (@SHARPECITYY) November 17, 2013

While Sharpe's only official visit has been to Tennessee so far, the signs are pointing quite favorably towards UF landing good news on Thursday. This would obviously be good news if the "buzz" proves to be true. Again, for anyone who has followed this blog, Sharpe has been a player discussed on numerous occasions and is obviously an incredible talent with major upside as an offensive tackle. If the Gators do, in fact, land him later this week, it's a big move in the right direction for a Florida unit that has struggled all throughout the course of the season.

– All that aside, a lot of Florida's recruiting success down the stretch will hinge on whether or not the Gators can hold together a strong nucleus that they've put together on the recruiting trail to date, with 15 commitments from a talented group. Prospects like Will Grier, Quincy Wilson and Ermon Lane seem to continue to give out positive vibes. However, players like Duke Dawson, J.C. Jackson and Dalvin Cook have certainly left the door open to end up somewhere other than Gainesville. With Florida poised to end a streak of 22 consecutive years in which the season was ended with a bowl game, Will Muschamp and his staff (or I guess I should say, what remains of his staff after the year), can get to work on holding together a class which still could possibly finish among the top 5-10 groups in the country come Feb. 1, 2014.

Now that it's very much clear that Will Muschamp return at the helm for at least his fourth season in Gainesville next fall, the spotlight falls directly on the offseason, and what changes Boom decides to make on his staff (along with the crop of players he brings in for next fall, obviously). Muschamp's future in Gainesville will essentially come down to the 3-4 hires (possibly more) he makes to fill out his staff this offseason. We will be keeping a close eye on the names as they emerge on the board as the Gators look to get things turned around following what will almost certainly prove to be the most disappointing UF football season in over 30 years.

Post-Arkansas Recruiting Thoughts

Just running off at the keyboard for a bit in the aftermath of Florida's 30-10 victory against the Razorbacks on Saturday, moving the Gators to 4-1 on the season (3-0 in the SEC).

First, the good news:

– The top offensive line target on the board for Florda, David Sharpe, finally showed up for a game in the Swamp this fall. It appears he enjoyed himself as well.

Enjoyed the Florida Game alot
— David Sharpe (@SHARPECITYY) October 6, 2013

In any case, the Gators appear to have done what they needed to do with this unofficial visit: "stop the bleeding," so to speak. The momentum has been quickly moving away from UF in recent weeks and more towards Clemson and Georgia. Now, it appears Florida has put themselves firmly back in the mix. But where things go with Sharpe from here is anyone's guess. Is this the weekend where Florida starts to turn the tide back in their favor? Or is this just a slight detour in the road towards Sharpe ending up at Georgia (or somewhere else)? Only time will tell.

Again, the Gators need at least one more body up front on offense in this class. At this point, they obviously can't put all their eggs in Sharpe's basket if they want to achieve the numbers they are looking for on the O-Line. But he is a critical prospect in Florida's recruiting efforts down the stretch. That much is clear. Unless a Damian Prince (or like-minded prospect) emerges as a serious target, of course. But for now, we'll consider Sharpe to be the only big-time OL prospect for whom the Gators are currently a serious option for.

– After extending an offer to Tennessee wide receiver commitment Eric Lauderdale last week, the talented JUCO prospect has already backed off of his pledge to the Vols on Sunday night:

After going over a few things, I feel like the best decision for me & my family is to back away from my commitment to Tennessee...
— Eric Lauderdale (@e_lauderdale) October 7, 2013

Considering Lauderdale has already publicly discussed making a visit to UF in the wake of the offer from Florida assistant coach Joker Phillips, this has to be considered a pretty good development for the Gators. It seems safe to say that Florida is trending up here.

Now, the bad news:

– This shouldn't come as a huge surprise. There was the news from late last week that Dalvin Cook is going to take an official visit to Arkansas. Now, Florida's other five-star skill commitment is in the process of setting up a couple of trips as well:

#Gators WR commit Ermon Lane plans to officially visit #FSU & # Alabama. Says commitment at 95%. See #FSU as the #Gators competition only.
— Gerry Hamilton (@HamiltonESPN) October 6, 2013

Whereas Cook has visited Texas, USC and now Arkansas – teams not generally thought to be any real threats at making a run for his signature – Ermon Lane plans to visit Alabama and Florida State. Those two programs obviously have a better chance at swaying Lane off of his pledge to UF. What the Crimson Tide have done over the past five years speaks for itself. And the early-season play of Jameis Winston is obviously catching the eye of some recruits (especially ones who play offense) as well.

This is definitely something worth watching down the stretch. With the need for skill players in this class (no less than eight prospects between RB, WR and DB ... and very likely more), the Gators have to be careful to make sure they hit their marks on the recruiting trail. With J.C. Jackson also apparently being a bit shaky in his commitment these days, Will Muschamp might have to take a step back and re-evaluate where some things are in regards to the Class of 2014 and the skill positions on both offense and defense.

On to some other items:

– It's kind of interesting to note how Florida's offense has played this year, and how that could (positively) effect recruiting. Despite all the hemming and hawing from the UF fanbase, this unit is on par to put together their best showing since 2009. Surprisingly, the running game has not been what is was last season. Despite a backfield stocked with talent (on paper), the results really haven't been there through four games – and that should be appealing to a talent like Dalvin Cook – who could come to Gainesville and step into a prominent role immediately.

As for the passing game, suddenly things have opened up with Tyler Murphy running the show. The Gators are throwing it around a bit more, and the three upperclassmen (Burton, Dunbar and Patton) have all made huge jumps under Joker Phillips. Phillips can also point to his immediate success working with the UF receivers as Florida attempts to hold on to Ermon Lane and reel in a couple of other top-notch prospects as well.

– Florida has now offered a JUCO receiver (the aforementioned Lauderdale) and I've previously pointed out that offering a JUCO defensive back might not be the worst idea, either. The Gators may have the answer for one of those upcoming needs already on the roster: Valdez Showers. Although he's now listed as a running back, Showers is more of an "offensive weapon" (to steal a term from the Jaguars, in regards to Denard Robinson) than a true member of the backfield. Perhaps next year, he makes a move to playing full-time as a receiver (while possibly still getting a few carries as well). With Burton and Patton gone after 2013, someone will need to step up in providing a presence in the passing game over the middle.

But Showers was originally recruited to play defense, and I wouldn't completely rule out the possibility that maybe he makes a return to that side of the football next year, considering where the numbers will be in the secondary if both Purifoy and Roberson elect to go pro. In any case, Showers is a versatile weapon whose value will become much more defined next year because of his ability to fill so many different roles effectively on the football field.

– The Gators have not signed a player out of the Mississippi prep ranks since Robert Gillespie in 1998. It should be noted that Will Muschamp attempted to hire Gillespie as an assistant when he first got on at Florida, but was rebuffed, as Gillespie elected to stay at West Virginia. With Mississippi State's struggles this season, now seems like as good of a time to strike as any in the Magnolia State. Florida used uncertainty surrounding Gene Chizik's future at Auburn last fall to make a run at AU pledge Jarrad Davis. Chizik was eventually fired, and Davis would go on to sign with UF (he has been an integral part of the special teams units for UF this fall). The guy I would be eyeing if I was a member of the UF staff? Greenville Weston linebacker Gerri Green. Checking in at 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, Green reportedly runs in the 4.5 range. Green could play linebacker, or could grow into an athletic rush end as well. In any case, he's a long, fast, athletic defensive front-seven player, which is exactly what Florida has been in the market for over the past couple of years.

Another school's commitment list who could eventually come in the crosshairs: Tennessee. The Vols gambled and it nearly paid off big when UT brought in a bunch of commits for a weekend showdown with Georgia. Tennessee fought valiantly and lost, but their performance against the Bulldogs bought some time with recruits – especially those in attendance on Saturday. However, Butch Jones still lacks a signature win in Knoxville, and may not get it this year. The Vols could easily fall to 3-7 by the middle of November following a slate which includes Alabama, South Carolina, and an improved Mizzou and Auburn over the next four games. If the Gators find someone else committed to Tennessee worth pursuing –  as they already seem to be reeling in the former JUCO WR commit Lauderdale –  then it would come as no surprise at all to see UF make that move to pursue. DaVonte Lambert, in particular, may be someone whom the Gators decide not to give up on until the LOI paperwork is in to the school of his choice.

UF Recruiting News & Notes, 10/4 (UPDATED)

– (2:00 PM UPDATE) The Gators have seemingly been trending down with David Sharpe since the beginning of football season. The 6-foot-6, 285-pound offensive lineman out of Jacksonvile had taken a trip to Clemson, two trips to Athens, and has seen Georgia three times in total to date. But had yet to make a pit-stop in Gainesville this fall. It appears that issue has been fixed from the UF perspective

Now @SBNRecruiting writes that, according to sources, David Sharpe will visit Gainesville this weekend: http://t.co/ORMyWqI5Da
— Alligator Army (@AlligatorArmy) October 4, 2013

(Sharpe himself tweeted out on Friday afternoon that he would attend the Arkansas game as a guest of UF, but the post has since been removed).

Sharpe was originally scheduled to visit Florida State this weekend. And it probably should be noted that with FSU's noon kickoff against Maryland, and Florida pegged to take on Arkansas at 7:00 PM, he could possibly take in both games over the course of one afternoon/evening. Admittedly, that would be a busy day for anyone. But there's been no definitive information given on whether or not his FSU visit plans have been scrapped, so the possibility remains that he could see both schools play tomorrow.

In any case, the Gators have to work to try and stop the momentum from moving towards Georgia and Clemson on Saturday. I'd like to throw in there that sometimes, this is simply how recruiting works. A team has the good early positioning for a player (as Florida did in the spring with Sharpe), and then said prospect gets interested in seeing what else is out there. Sometimes, he likes the other options he goes to visit and ends up at another school, sometimes he goes back with the original program he favored. We'll have to see which direction Sharpe goes in here. But nothing can be ruled out at this time in terms of where he will sign, and that includes a program not currently believed to be heavily in the picture (which could very well be FSU, I might add).

Remember, Sharpe has been to Florida several times since the beginning of the year. He will likely make it back for the Florida State game in November and possibly an official visit down-the-road as well (and if he doesn't take an official visit to UF, he can always make the quick trip from Jacksonville to Gainesville for an unofficial, if need be). Perhaps Will Muschamp and Tim Davis can "stop the bleeding," so-to-speak, this weekend. Maybe this is the first step towards moving the Gators back into the driver's seat. Only time will tell on that one.

The rest of this entry is from this morning, as follows:

– It seems that Florida commitment Dalvin Cook has made plans as to when and where he will take his next official visit:

Elite RB plans visit to Arkansas: Running back Dalvin Cook, a Florida commitment, plans to officially visit Arkansas. http://t.co/5bGBq86avq
— Richard Davenport (@ArRecruitingGuy) October 4, 2013

A trip to Fayetteville would be Cook's second, following a September jaunt to Texas. While the 5-foot-11, 197-pound running back out of Miami Central is publicly leaving the door open, there seems to be a jovial and carefree approach to these official visits. He's not visiting schools he seems to be overly serious about (Florida State, Miami and even South Florida, where his former high school coach is now an assistant, would be much more concerning). And he keeps saying the right things about Florida to the press. Barring a change in this behavior, while these visits probably aren't preferred from the UF perspective, none of them have given reason to set off any alarms, so far.

– On Wednesday, I wrote about a planned official visit by New Orleans (La.) Edna Karr prospects Speedy Noil and Gerald Willis to Florida still being on for the Arkansas game this weekend. Reports from Rivals affiliate Inside The Gators earlier that day had suggested that Noil and Willis would postpone their visit again (they had originally been scheduled to visit Gainesville for the Tennessee game two weeks ago).

Scratch Speedy Noil and Gerald Willis III from #Floridas expected official visitors for #Arkansas game http://t.co/8d6MV5mXxg
— Blake Alderman (@MistaAlderman) October 2, 2013

On Thursday, Luke Stampini of 247Sports affiliate GatorBait suggested the same thing – that Noil and Willis wouldn't be heading to The Swamp this weekend. However, there has been no actual word from the camps of either Noil or Willis, other than the interviews during an Under Armour All-America Game jersey ceremony on Wednesday when they both confirmed they were still heading to UF on Saturday.

So, what's the real answer? I guess we'll all find out within the next 24 hours, although the smoke from multiple outlets on this one suggesting that Noil and Willis will reschedule their official visits to UF for a second time (reportedly, until Vanderbilt weekend in November) indicates there is some legitimacy to the buzz floating around out there. Considering Noil and Willis have have now potentially postponed a planned trip to Gainesville twice, it's easy to come to the conclusion the pair aren't all that serious about Florida. But perhaps their reasons for doing so are legitimate (again, if they do in fact move their visit back as has been suggested).

In any case, while the chances were long that Florida could sign either player out of Louisiana to begin with, the pair are talented enough prospects to at least bring on campus and take a shot at convincing them UF is the place to be. However, assuming Noil and Willis don't visit this weekend, it does beg the question: will Will Muschamp and his staff simply cut bait and move on to other targets at this point? Or will they continue to recruit the top-100 prospects out of the Pelican State?

– Apopka junior fullback Chandler Cox picked up his first offer from Kentucky on Wednesday, according to the Orlando Sentinel. This interests Gators fans because Cox is the first real fullback to emerge on the radar for the Class of 2015, and the tender from UK was the first for 6-foot-1, 215 pound athlete.

There aren't a ton of teams in the market for pure fullbacks these days. But Florida does use a fullback quite regularly on offense, and with the Gators' top two players at the position both being juniors, it stands to reason that UF will likely be in the market for such a prospect at this time next year.

Cox is an intriguing player. He lines up all over the backfield, including at quarterback, for Apopka's unique offense, which employs quite a bit of the old-school single-wing formation to great success. Think of him as a modern-day Jim Jensen, if you will. A Swiss-army knife whose strength is in his ability to fill so many different roles. In a way, Cox could project as a potential replacement for Trey Burton, who has worn many different hats during his time in Gainesville. But the biggest difference between the two is clearly the fact that Cox is a much more effective blocker (as you can see in the film below). While he doesn't possess the brute strength and mass of a Hunter Joyer, Cox does have the frame to get much bigger in time, while likely proving to be a much more versatile and effective weapon with the ball in his hands.



It should also be noted that Cox is currently rated as the No. 4 prospect in Central Florida for 2015 by the Orlando Sentinel. Considering that area generally produces some pretty talented football players, that's certainly nothing to sneeze at. This kid can play.

Another factor to keep in mind: Cox is close friends with Apopka junior offensive tackle Martez Ivey, who figures to be one of the top prospects on the entire recruiting board the Gators in 2015. The two are reportedly pretty chummy, and reeling in Cox will certainly only help Florida's chances with Ivey as well.

Considering the position he plays, Florida was likely in no rush to extend an offer to Cox, as they kept track of his progress and made sure he was the guy they wanted to move forward with on an offer to at the fullback position in next year's recruiting cycle. And perhaps the Kentucky offer won't change a thing. But this development could also force UF to move up their timeline on extending a tender to the talented offensive weapon, in an effort to make sure both he (and Ivey) end up in Gainesville a couple of years down the line.

UF Recruiting Board Update, 10/2

Things can change a bit on the trail over the course of a week. So, here's another update to the Florida recruiting board heading into the Arkansas game this weekend

Keep in mind, this is my take on where things stand for Florida at the moment, and my take only. I do not claim to be speaking for the people inside the football offices at UF with this post.

Quarterback: Will Grier is committed and on track to enroll at UF in January. As noted in the last recruiting board update, we'll keep an eye on names like Tampa Wharton signal caller Chase Litton (6-5, 195) on the off-chance Florida elects to take a second quarterback closer to National Signing Day. That said, one quarterback seems most likely for UF in 2014.

Running Back: There's not much need to take a second back in this class, especially with a guy as talented as Dalvin Cook. The Gators will likely get a visit at some point from Bo Scarbrough (6-1, 225, Tuscaloosa, Ala./IMG Academy [Fla.]) and we'll see if Joe Mixon (6-1, 210, Oakley, Calif./Freedom) elects to make an official visit to Gainesville that was originally scheduled for the Tennessee weekend. But for now, one running back would appear to be the most likely scenario for UF.

Wide Receiver: Five-star Ermon Lane says Florida, but the Gators will have to work to keep him in the fold all the way to February. Joker Phillips needs to add one other top in-state prospect with Travis Rudolph (6-1, 190, West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman), Ja'Von Harrison (6-1, 185, Lakeland Kathleen) and Clemson verbal Artavis Scott (5-11, 180, Tarpon Springs East Lake) being the preferred options. Out-of-state targets include Speedy Noil (5-11, 176, New Orleans, La./Edna Karr), who will make an official visit to UF this weekend, and Josh Malone (6-2, 191, Gallatin, Tenn./Station Camp), who is expected to make a trip to Florida at some point this fall. The latest offer from Florida at the wide receiver position went out earlier this week to Tennessee commitment Eric Lauderdale (6-2, 200, Fayetteville, Ga.) who is currently competing for Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif. The target number appears to be three receivers for the 2014 cycle. Keep an eye on: Anthony Rhynes (6-0, 200, Tampa Middleton).

Tight End: With a prolific season under his belt at the high school level, C'yontai Lewis will presumably add another dimension to the passing game at the tight end position for UF. But with Florida's shortcomings at the position, another tight end is wanted in the Class of 2014. Deandre Goolsby (6-4, 230, Derby, Kan./Derby) made an official visit for the Tennessee game and Florida is in the mix for his signature. Bryce Dixon (6-4, 230, Ventura, Calif./St. Bonaventure) is the other major target for UF and he is scheduled to visit Gainesville this weekend for the Arkansas game. Keep an eye on: Jordan Franks (6-4, 210, Crawfordville Wakulla).

Offensive Line: With David Sharpe (6-6, 290, Jacksonville Providence) trending away from Florida, other targets are moving up in importance. UF is trying to make a move with Damien Mama (6-4, 370, Bellflower, Calif./St. Bosco Prep) and Jordan Sims (6-4, 335, Birmingham, Ala./Homewood), but have yet to nail down a visit date for either. Damian Prince (6-5, 290, Forestville, Md./Bishop McNamara) is reported to be targeting the FSU game for an official visit trip to Gainesville. Other names will surely re-emerge on the radar that were pursued by Florida earlier in the process, including Alabama verbal Montel McBride (6-4, 350, Plant City), Purdue commitment Denzel Ward (6-8, 305, Chicago, Ill./Simeon) and Indiana pledge Delroy Baker (6-6, 270, St. Petersburg Admiral Farragut). If the Gators elect to go the JUCO route, Jordan Prestwood (6-6, 317, Plant City/Arizona Western C.C.) and Avery Gennesy (6-5, 305, Southaven, Miss./East Mississippi C.C.) are a pair of names to watch. Also keep an eye on Marcus Applefield (6-6, 280, Weeki Wachee).

Defensive End: Two prospects – Lorenzo Carter (6-5, 235, Norcross, Ga./Norcross) and Da'Shawn Hand (6-4, 260, Woodbridge, Va./Woodbridge) – lead a host of names at the end position. The Gators will get an official visit from Lorenzo Featherston (6-7, 220, Greensboro, N.C./Page) this weekend as well. Other targets include Cory Thomas (6-6, 270, McCalla, Ala./McAdory), Malik McDowell (6-7, 290, Southfield, Mich./Southfield) and Dewayne Hendrix (6-4, 260, O'Fallon, Ill./O'Fallon) for whom the Gators still have some level of involvement at the end position. In any case, figure Florida takes at least one more here to go along with Taven Bryan and Justus Reed. Keep an eye on: Wisconsin commit Rohan Blackwood (6-5, 220, Brooksville Nature Coast)

Defensive Tackle: The numbers suggest Florida will need another tackle to pair with Khairi Clark in this cycle. Thomas Holley (6-4, 300, Brooklyn, N.Y./Lincoln) and former UF pledge Anthony Moten (6-4, 290, Ft. Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas) remain on the board, along with Gerald Willis (6-3, 275, New Orleans, La./Edna Karr). The odds appear long that Florida will sign any of the three at this time. Another name on the radar for Florida is Jeremy Patterson (6-3, 310, Jesup, Ga./Wayne County). It would not be altogether unsurprising for the Gators to look to the junior college route to fill a spot in this class along the defensive line as well. Keep an eye on: Freddie Booth-Lloyd (6-1, 305, Cocoa).

Linebacker: There are two major targets: Clifton Garrett (6-2, 228) and Raekwon McMillan (6-2, 240, Hinesville, Ga./Liberty County). Neither are likely to end up at Florida as it stands. The major question now is, will Florida move on to someone else once Garrett and McMillan make it clear they are heading elsewhere? Nyles Morgan (6-2, 230, Crete, Ill./Crete-Monee) and Dwight Williams (6-1, 205, Gardena, Calif./Junipero Serra) would seemingly be the next names on the board for UF, but the Gators have yet to make much of a push for either player. Keep an eye on: Jakob Johnson (6-4, 240, Jacksonville Ribault), Xavier Preston (6-2, 220, Jensen Beach) and Sharriff Rhaheed (6-3, 205, Ft. Pierce Central).

Defensive Back: Something to keep in mind: a few of the receiver prospects Florida is still recruiting could just as soon get a look on defense if they were to come to UF. However, aside from Jamal Adams (6-0, 205, Carrollton, Tex./Hebron) – about as close as you will find to a Florida lock right now – there really aren't any other major targets on the radar for UF in the back end of the defense. Adoree' Jackson could play on either side of the ball in college. The Gators will continue recruiting Jalen Tabor (6-1, 185, Washington, D.C./Friendship Academy), but Maryland is his likely destination at this time. Keep an eye on: Kendall Sawyer (6-0, 179, Lehigh Acres East Lee County).

Recruiting News & Notes, 9/17

– Florida RB Dalvin Cook took a visit to Texas over the weekend. Just in time to see what could be the last vestiges of the Mack Brown era as the Longhorns dropped a 44-23 decision to Ole Miss. Both Texas and USC have continued to try and position themselves with Cook, and it appears both will end up getting official visits from the five-star back. Still, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of concern from the UF perspective with anything Cook is doing. For now, at least.

– On Sunday night, we discussed the continued role of Nick Washington and Ahmad Fulwood in the recruiting game for Florida. 2014 UF pledge Quincy Wilson has also followed in those footsteps and been an active presence in the recruitments of Ermon Lane and Chris Lammons as well. Now, C'yontai Lewis appears to be making a move on this front as well.

Lewis, has gotten to know McAdory (Ala.) lineman Cory Thomas through their shared recruitments (both have been pursued heavily by both Florida and Mississippi State.) Now, he's making an interesting prediction as to where Thomas will end up:

Cory gone be a Gator🐊 w/m watch..
— Bigg Cee (@idunklewis) September 16, 2013

Long thought to be a Mississippi State lean, Thomas has since backed away from the stance. With the Bulldogs rough start to the season, perhaps Florida is looking like a much more attractive option for the 6-foot-6, 270-pound prospect?

– Last week, we took a look at offensive line recruiting for Florida, and what direction the Gators might decide to go in, in the wake of Benjamin Knox's de-commitment. The JUCO route would make a lot of sense for UF at this point, and former FSU/Notre Dame lineman Jordan Prestwood is playing out at Arizona Western C.C., apparently in position to enroll in January with three years of eligibility remaining. Prestwood was named in the above-linked piece as the #1 prospect on the list in line to get an offer. Well, guess what? The 6-foot-6, 310-pound prospect picked up tenders from Cal, Ole Miss and (gasp!) Florida State on Monday. Could the Gators be next to jump into the mix for the Plant City product?

– Going back to Tuesday's update on Florida stands with the Class of 2015, one of top corners on the board has cut his list to 10. Tyrek Cole (5-11, 170, Miramar) is one of the top three corners on the board for UF among the junior class. The Gators are clearly making him a priority, and he seems to be returning the favor at the moment:

My top ten 1⃣0⃣😎🏈 Colleges pic.twitter.com/Ges6JNLrkW
— Tyrek cole (@Cole_island) September 17, 2013

– Lastly, a quick update on the top remaining prospects on the board for Florida. Amended to 9/17. Not many changes, although there have been a few additions (former TCU DT commit Zaycoven Henderson and Louisiana LB prospect Kenny Young among them.)

1. DB Jamal Adams

2. DE Lorenzo Carter 

3. DB Adoree' Jackson
4. OL David Sharpe

5. WR Travis Rudolph

6. LB Dwight Williams

7. DE Lorenzo Featherston

8. DE Cory Thomas
9. RB Bo Scarbrough (Alabama)

10. TE Deandre Goolsby

11. RB Joe Mixon
12. DB Jalen Tabor
13. OL Jordan Sims
14. WR Artavis Scott (Clemson)
15. DT Thomas Holley  

16. OL Damien Mama
17. LB: Raekwon McMillan

18. DE Da'Shawn Hand 

19. LB Clifton Garrett
20. DE Richard Yeargin (Notre Dame)
21. DT Zaycoven Henderson

22. LB Nyles Morgan

23. DE Dewayne Hendrix

24. DE Jacob Pugh (Florida State)

25. OL Trevor Darling (Miami)
26. DT Davon Godchaux
27. DE Malik McDowell

28. WR Josh Malone 

29. DT Gerald Willis 

30. RB Leonard Fournette

31. WR Speedy Noil 

32. DT Anthony Moten 

33. LB Kenny Young
34. WR Johnnie Dixon

35. DB Marlon Humphrey
36. DT Jarran Reed

37. RB Tony James

38. DE Rohan Blackwood (Wisconsin)

39. TE Ravian Pierce

40. RB Cortavious Givens

41. DT Jeremy Patterson

42. TE Montez Sweat

43. DT Daniel Cage

Central and Booker T. Washington: No. 1 vs. No. 2

The top two teams in the state of Florida will matchup tomorrow night, as Miami powerhouses Booker T. Washington and Central tangle at Traz Powell Stadium. Maxpreps has put together a nice little preview video and story for the upcoming game:



The Miami Herald also has a nice little preview of the game here.

Fans of all three of the state schools have a reason to watch this one with an eye on the future. While the Hurricanes are best represented in this matchup (OL Trevor Darling and RB Joe Yearby of Central, DL Chad Thomas, DL Demetrius Jackson and DB Nigel Bethel of Washington,) both Florida (Central RB Dalvin Cook and junior WR Da'Vante Phillips) and Florida State (Washington QB Treon Harris, Central DT Frederick Jones) also have a rooting interest in this game.

That doesn't even begin to touch on all the future FBS talent in this game, however. Washington WR Lamar Parker is headed for West Virginia. Central DB Deatrick Nichols has already given a pledge to South Florida. There are literally dozens of other players competing in this game, especially among the underclassmen, who will suit up for one of the Big Three schools, or another BCS-caliber program down the road.

In other words, this game is a big deal. In fact, it might be the be the most impressive collection of talent on one field since another matchup between the top two high school teams in the country: Long Beach Poly and Concord De La Salle out of California on Oct. 6, 2001. That game featured future pros Darnell Bing, Winston Justice, Derek Landri, Marcedes Lewis and Maurice Jones-Drew (then just known as Maurice Drew.) Numerous top prospects who went on to attend Michigan, Notre Dame, UCLA and USC, among other top programs also took part in the game. Even Brian Banks, the linebacker who was exonerated on rape charges in 2012 and spent training camp with the Atlanta Falcons this summer, also took part in the game.

Oh, by the way, De La Salle won the game in at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Long Beach, 29-15, before an announced crowd of 17,321. Drew accounted for 152 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns in a winning effort. The Spartans ran their national-record winning streak to 116 games that night (it would eventually reach 151 before De La Salle finally dropped a contest in Seattle to Bellevue, Wash. in 2004.) The Jackrabbits, it should be noted, had come in to the game having won 57 of their last 59.

In terms of Florida history, the most recent game that comes to mind in the 2006 Class 5A state final between Lakeland and St. Thomas Aquinas. The Dreadnaughts, who won a 45-42 shootout in overtime to clinch the mythical national championship, got a herculean performance from future Florida Gator and Pittsburgh Steeler Chris Rainey, who rushed for 276 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries. Lakeland also featured future NFL offensive linemen Maurkice (Pittsburgh) and Mike Pouncey (Miami). St. Thomas Aquinas could claim eventual Chicago Bears safety Major Wright among it's talented roster, which also featured Leonard Hankerson, now a receiver for the Washington Redskins.

So, will the game live up to the hype? Maybe it will, maybe it won't. But it's No. 1 and No. 2. For fans of college and/or football, it's a game worth watching at 7:30 PM on Friday night. If you don't happen to have a date or something.

A breakdown of Florida's class to date

Today, we'll do a quick look at what Florida has put together so far in the Class of 2014. 15 commitments to date with the season just underway. I prefer to take the long view, and breakdown prospects by four categories: Quarterback, Skill, Line and Specialists. This is the way Steve Spurrier and Ron Zook used to do it when announcing their recruiting classes on National Signing Day. And it makes sense. These guys still have growing and developing to do. While there's nothing wrong with projecting a prospect to a certain position at the next level, the fact is, we still have no idea where their development will take them once they get on a college campus. 

Quarterback

Will Grier (6-2½, 181, Davidson, N.C.)

– Although Florida's greatest successes at the quarterback position have historically come with the offspring of preachers, taking a coach's son isn't the worst idea either. Grier is an ultra-productive signal-caller who also brings plus-athleticism to the position. Only concern here is the frame. I don't see him getting much past 210-215 pounds at the college level. But that didn't hinder a guy like Robert Griffin III, so who knows? In any case, Grier appears to be the future at the quarterback position once Jeff Driskel moves on. 

Skill

Dalvin Cook (5-11, 196, Miami, Fla.)

Duke Dawson (5-11, 197, Cross City, Fla.)

J.C. Jackson (5-10, 180, Immokalee, Fla.)

Chris Lammons (5-9½, 171, Plantation, Fla.)

Ermon Lane (6-2, 196, Homestead, Fla.)

C'yontai Lewis (6-5, 212, Tuscaloosa, Ala.)

Quincy Wilson (6-1, 196, Miramar, Fla.)

– Cook is the perfect blend of size, athleticism and versatility. His recruitment may very well give Florida a few headaches over the next few months. But if UF can hold on to him (and there's no reason to believe they won't at the moment), he's one of the gems of the class. At this point, taking another running back is more of a luxury than a necessity.

– In Jackson and Lammons, the Gators have landed a pair of shifty offensive playmakers who are projected to the defensive side of the ball in college. Personally, I could see either player – or even both players – on offense at the college level. Neither may light up a stopwatch with a 4.4 40, but they both seem to make plays where it counts: between the white lines.

– Another pair of players, Dawson and Wilson, play corner at the high school level. Both are bigger, more physical players at the position. There are questions of whether or not either player can remain at corner in college. In a defensive scheme other than Florida's, I might agree with that notion. For the Gators, I think both guys can play corner, although either may get a look at nickel and/or safety. With Florida losing potentially three 6-foot corners, these two will bring a much-needed infusion of size to the secondary.

– While Ermon Lane and C'yontai Lewis play different positions, they both potentially bring length and an added vertical dimension to the Florida offense. Lane is a key recruit, as the Gators need to build on a strong receiver class in 2013 by continuing to add talent at the position. Florida needs to add a receiving threat at the tight end position, and Lewis could do just that. He's raw and he needs to add quite a bit of weight. But there's no question he brings a different skill-set to the table than Burton, Thompson and Westbrook.  

Line

Dontae Angus (6-6, 330, Philadelphia, Pa.)

Taven Bryan (6-5, 250, Casper, Wyo.)

Khairi Clark (6-1½, 326, Hollywood, Fla.)

Travaris Dorsey (6-2½, 314, Jacksonville, Fla.)

Nolan Kelleher (6-5, 300, Mount Pleasant, S.C.)

Benjamin Knox (6-5, 260, DeLand, Fla.)

Justus Reed (6-2, 220, Clearwater, Fla.)

–  Of this group, Clark and Kelleher are the cornerstones. Clark will need to continue to re-shape his body, but he is a true nose tackle who can potentially play the one-technique, or move head up on the center and be a two-gap zero-technique. Big get. Kelleher is an excellent pulling guard at the prep level. Great feet. He could play inside as a guard, center or perhaps even at right tackle for Florida. Very versatile player.

– Angus, Bryan, Knox make up the "project" element of the line class. Angus is fairly new to organized football, and while his junior film wasn't overly impressive (and it's barely watchable, I might add), he does have the size and an explosive first step that cannot be taught. I don't think it's a given he ends up on offense, but I tend to think he would be a better fit at guard than at defensive tackle against SEC competition. I like Bryan's athleticism and frame. The only question with him is the level of competition he faces in Wyoming. Bryan is arguably the top recruit to come out of the state since Brett Keisel in 1997. Before that, you would have to go back to former Nebraska linebacker Troy Dumas in 1991. So, yes, Wyoming does occasionally produce a Florida-caliber football player. I tend to like Bryan as a potential offensive tackle, but it's not a stretch to think he could stick at defensive end, either. Knox is the shakiest commitment of this class. He has the length and athleticism to develop into a nice tackle at the next level, but there's a lot of work in front of him. You get the sense that he and Florida are drifting further and further apart, but until the Gators can lock in some other talented linemen, there's no reason to cut him loose at this point.

– As for Dorsey and Reed, they represent an unsexy, yet vital portion of the class. Dorsey is a traditional road-grader who should compete for time at either guard or center. Reed is a talented, yet undersized pass-rusher. Think of players like Lerentee McCray and Neiron Ball when making a comparison for Reed. He could see time at the BUCK position. He could also be converted to a SAM linebacker. More importantly, he can get after the quarterback. In any case, Reed should be able to carve out some sort of role in the future for the Florida defense.

Specialists

None

– Barring a complete collapse by Austin Hardin this season, it seems highly unlikely the Gators will pursue a special teams player to bring in on scholarship for the Class of 2014.

The weekend in review: Recapping the Prospects (Part I)

The first weekend of prep football is in full force on the ESPN family of networks (and elsewhere). Some of these games counted, some didn't. In any case, it was the first chance to watch some real action from the high school level in over nine months. Here were some of the big-name prospects who jumped off the screen to me on Saturday.

OL Martez Ivey (6-6, 280, Apopka)

– Ivey absolutely looks the part of a big-time, national top-100 level lineman. Apopka lined him up all over the field – including in the slot on a handful of plays – in an effort to get him in position to make the key blocks on each offensive set. Despite the fact Apopka dropped a 51-36 decision to Palmetto State powerhouse Duncan (S.C.) Byrnes, the Blue Darters still managed to outgain their opponents in total offense, 402-367. A fact helped by the presence of Ivey as well as all-purpose back Daquan Isom. I'm still curious to see how Ivey develops over the course of the next year, but he looks phenomenal right now. Should be one of the top offensive linemen in the Class of 2015.

FB Chandler Cox (6-2, 215, Apopka)

– An all-around threat who plays multiple roles in Apopka's single-wing style offense. Cox could be the eventual successor to Zack Darlington at QB for the Blue Darters. His future on the college level is likely as a fullback, however. A devastating blocker who is also a tough runner between the tackles, Cox would seem to be a great fit at fullback for a team looking in that direction for the Class of 2015.

DE Jacob Pugh (6-4, 225, Tallahassee Godby)

– The thing that jumped out at me immediately in regards to Pugh is his noticeable gain in bulk. This isn't the lanky, gangly athlete we saw running about creating mischief as a sophomore at Monticello Jefferson County when Pugh was a sophomore. He has developed into an excellent weakside end prospect. The Seminoles got a real steal with this one, as Pugh created all sorts of headaches for the Plant offensive front – as well as Panthers head coach Robert Weiner – in an impressive and dominant kickoff classic win for defending state champ Godby over Tampa powerhouse Plant, 35-16.

WR John Burt (6-3, 175, Tallahassee Lincoln)

– Reggie Davis (Georgia) and Taj Williams (Indiana) were excellent receiver prospects for Lincoln last year. Only a junior this fall, Burt is already better. Lincoln picked up a big 34-21 win over Snellville (Ga.) South Gwinnett on Saturday, and Burt was one of the stars of the show. Four receptions, 132 yards and two touchdowns on offense. He also added an interception on defense in the victory.



Long, rangy and with the ability to get open in the vertical passing game, Burt figures to dominate the football scene in Tallahassee over the next two years as he develops into a national recruit at the receiver position. Needs to add weight and fill out, but that will come with time.

RB Dalvin Cook (5-11, 196, Miami/Central)

– In a sloppy game littered with penalties, it was hard to read much into the performance of Florida commit Cook, along with Miami pledge Joe Yearby (who combined for over 100 yards rushing and two TD's on the night) in a 44-13 kickoff classic win for Central over fellow South Florida power Dwyer. Both figure to build on twin 1,400-yard campaigns from last fall, as the Rockets prepare to defend their Class 7A state championship from last year, and make a run at the mythical national championship for this year.

DE Lorenzo Carter (6-5, 234, Norcross)

– Unfortunately for Carter, and the rest of the Norcross squad, they were completely dominated and overshadowed by the speed of the Booker T. Washington Tornadoes of Tallahassee. Undersized left tackle Jordan Ingraham pushed Carter around all night long, with the only play I can recall Carter making was on a stunt inside where he managed to get his hands in the face of BTW quarterback Treon Harris in the second quarter. Harris still managed to unleash a dart which went for about 20 yards, which was pretty much the story of the night. There's no doubt that Carter has all the athletic tools to develop into a big-time player at the next level. Saturday night proved he still has a ways to go to refine those considerable talents, however.

DE Chad Thomas (6-5, 240, Booker T. Washington)

– Thomas may not have made a huge impression in the stat column on Saturday night, but he's clearly improving as a player. While Carter is known for his athleticism as a pass-rusher, and will likely line up on the weak-side or even as a pass-rushing OLB at the next level, Thomas will be a strong-side end or even perhaps make an impact at the three-technique at Miami. Thomas lined up quite a bit on the interior and certainly seemed to have his way with the Norcross offensive front on Saturday night. His play will be closely monitored by all the recruiting services over the course of the 2013, I'm sure.

QB Treon Harris (5-10½, 186, Booker T. Washington)

– 23-of-28, 287 yards, 5 TD's against a team widely thought to be one of the 25 best in the country. Harris also threw in a cool 65 yards rushing on 10 carries. Not much more to add about this performance. He was simply sensational. I'm thinking there may be something to Harris' insistence that he get a look at QB on the next level.

RB Mark Walton (5-10, 182, Booker T. Washington)

– The next in line at Booker T. Washington. Walton looked electric in his limited role against Norcross on Saturday, which included a 13-yard touchdown run during the second quarter of the Tornadoes' rout over one of the top programs in the state of Georgia. Expect Walton to be another ho-hum national prospect from the BTW prospect machine.