Ten Florida receivers who have shined this fall

We're just past the midway point of the high school season for Florida. Most teams now have six games in the books, and some players in the passing game have really started to break away from the pack. Here's eight ten receivers (well, actually, nine receivers and a tight end) who have emerged this fall. Some were already well-known coming into the season. Some of the others? Well, they weren't quite as well known before this fall.

Now, keep in mind, I'm not advocating that these are the eight best wide receiver prospects in Florida. There have been a number of top prospects (Ermon Lane, Ja'Von Harrison, Corey Holmes and Artavis Scott among them) whose numbers haven't matched those of the players in this post for one reason or another. However, the below-listed prospects have raised their level of play this fall, without a doubt.

Ryan Sousa (6-0, 177, Lake Nona) – The prolific senior out of the Orlando area continues to put up big numbers. Sousa had over 2,400 receiving yards and 30 touchdowns over the past two seasons, and his numbers continue to trend up for Lake Nona. Through six games this fall, Sousa has grabbed 59 receptions for 901 yards (15.3 ypc) and 10 scores. FSU commitment.



Natrelle Jamerson (6-0, 175, Ocala Vanguard) – Jamerson has been a part of a prolific offensive attack for the Knights this fall. Through six games, Jamerson has 39 receptions for 785 yards (20.1 ypc) and eight scores. Tight end Elkanah Dillon has also been very effective for the Vanguard passing game this season, as the Knights are 3-3 on the season.



Mike Boone (5-9, 175, Glen St. Mary Baker County) – Following a 46-7 victory against Paxon on Friday night, the FIU pledge had nabbed 48 receptions for 841 yards (17.5 ypc) and 11 scores through seven games for 5-2 Baker County.



Jordan Franks (6-4, 210, Crawfordville Wakulla) – The senior tight end has thrived with brother Feleipe throwing him passes this fall. Franks had notched 40 receptions for 742 yards (18.6 ypc) and seven scores for the 6-1 War Eagles, before a 28-7 victory over Starke Bradford on Friday night.



Anthony "Shug" Rhynes (5-11, 190, Tampa Middleton) – Rhynes' performance has been overshadowed by the fact he competes on a 1-5 team. Still, the senior receiver had 23 receptions for 811 yards and seven scores following into a 26-21 victory for Middleton on Friday night against Blake, the Tigers' first victory of the season. Rhynes had a 70-yard pass reception for a score in the game.

Travis Rudolph (6-1, 188, West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman) – The Under Armour All-American has put together good numbers on the ground and as a receiver over the past three seasons. But nothing like he's done so far this fall. Through seven games, Rudolph already has career highs of 36 receptions, 762 yards (21.2 ypc) and 11 touchdowns for the 4-2 Crusaders. Rudolph has certainly emerged as one of the top prospects in the state of Florida at the wide receiver position, if not the best.



J.C. Jackson (5-10, 185, Immokalee) – After another big game for the Florida commitment on Friday night in a win over Naples, Jackson now has 18 receptions for 615 yards (34.2 ypc) and 9 scores for Immokalee, despite the fact he's only played in five games for the Indians, who are now 5-2 on the season. Jackson now has two games of 200+ receiving yards in the last three weeks for Immokalee.



Stephen Denmark (6-3, 200, Tallahassee Rickards) – Denmark has been a standout on a surprising 6-0 Rickards squad. He has 23 receptions for 632 yards (27.5 ypc) and eight scores for the season. He also added an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against FAMU High on Thursday, demonstrating why his stock should continue to rise over the course of this season and heading into the weeks leading up to National Signing Day.

Garrett Johnson (5-10, 168, Winter Garden West Orange) – The explosive slot receiver has been incredibly productive once against for West Orange this fall, nabbing 38 receptions for 607 yards (16.0 ypc) and nine touchdowns for the 6-1 Warriors before a 56-7 win over Cypress Creek on Friday night. Johnson had a 63-yard reception for a touchdown and also returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown in that contest as well. Johnson is committed to Kentucky.



Ny'Qwan Murray (5-11, 170, Orlando Oak Ridge) – The central Florida speedster recently picked up his first FBS offer from Cincinnati. Murray had 41 receptions for 788 yards (19.2 ypc) and 10 scores before a 23-20 win over Ocoee to move their record to 4-3 on the year. Murray had a 99-yard TD reception against East Ridge earlier this season, which is linked below.

Florida's run of success at the tight end position

Since 2000, the Gators have actually put together a pretty good record of placing tight ends into the NFL. As for how well they've stacked up with other teams over that time frame, here's the list of college programs to have at least five tight ends drafted over the last 14 years:

Miami, (Fla.): 9
Notre Dame: 8
Iowa: 7
Florida: 6
Penn State: 6
Stanford: 6
Virginia: 6
Wisconsin: 6
Georgia: 5
Oregon: 5
Tennessee: 5

213 tight ends been selected in the NFL Draft between 2000 and 2013. Among the interesting trends and numbers to develop over that time period:

– Nebraska-Omaha (2) has produced more picks than Nebraska (1). On a similar note, Texas A&M and Texas A&M-Kingsville have both produced the same number of draftees (1).

– Florida State hasn't seen a single tight end drafted since 2000. In fact, you have to go all the way back to 1994 (Lonnie Johnson) to find a tight end from FSU who was drafted into the NFL.

– Idaho (3) and Rice (3) have been surprising fertile grounds for developing tight ends in recent years as well.

The six Florida tight ends to hear their name called since 2000 are as follows:

2000 Erron Kinney (3rd Round, 68th overall, Tennessee Titans)
2003 Aaron Walker (5th Round, 161st overall, San Francisco 49ers)
2004 Ben Troupe (2nd Round, 40th overall, Tennessee Titans)
2009 Cornelius Ingram (5th Round, 153rd overall, Philadelphia Eagles)
2010 Aaron Hernandez (4th Round, 113rd overall, New England Patriots)
2013 Jordan Reed (3rd Round, 85th overall, Washington Redskins)

Although Steve Spurrier was not known for going to the tight end much during his time in Gainesville (aside from Kirk Kirkpatrick's All-SEC campaign during Spurrier's first year as coach at UF in 1990), the first three tight ends drafted (Kinney, Walker, Troupe) were all brought in during his tenure as coach.

The success of this group is a mixed bag. Despite playing just three seasons, Hernandez is actually the most prolific of this group. Kinney lasted the longest at the pro level, playing all seven of his NFL seasons in Tennessee. Walker and Troupe bounced around with multiple teams, never really catching on with any one squad. Ingram never played in a regular season game due to lingering knee issues resulting from his days at Florida. Reed is off to a good start, just four games into his rookie campaign in Washington.

Certainly, the tight end position for UF is a weakness that will have to be corrected in the following months. However, the good news for the Florida staff is that the statistics above provide an easy selling point to the top recruits they are pursuing (Bryce Dixon and Deandre Goolsby among them) that Florida has done a good job in recent years of evaluating and developing players at the position, and getting them in a position to move on to the next level and be productive as well.

Six more names to keep an eye on

Last week, we took a look at five prospects making a name for themselves this fall with their play on the gridiron. Today, we do the same. Six more prospects worth shining a light on with their performances through the month of September:

1. WR Stephen Denmark (6-3, 200, Tallahassee Rickards) – Rickards is off to a 4-0 start on the season, and coming off a stunning 43-42 triple overtime upset of Lincoln last week. A big reason for the Raiders' success is Denmark, who has already grabbed 20 receptions for 484 yards and six scores through four games. Denmark's stats are backed up by excellent Nike SPARQ testing numbers from the spring: a 4.70 40, 4.44 seconds in the short shuttle and a 36.5" vertical leap. Clearly a name to watch moving forward. Denmark doesn't look particularly "sudden" on film, but he does have enough size, speed and leaping ability to help stretch a defense from an outside receiver position.

2. TE Elkanah Dillon (6-5, 220, Ocala Vanguard) – With so few tight ends in the state of Florida, Dillon figures to pick up interest as he continues to pile up numbers this season. Through five games, Dillon has 22 receptions for 304 yards and six touchdowns for Vanguard. Good athlete for his size. He's a long, athletic player on film. More receiver than tight end at this point, but the frame is there. Looks like a small forward playing football, to be frank. He certainly seems to have more upside than a prospect like Moral Stephens in the Class of 2014.

3. Malik Robinson (6-7, 260, Tampa Freedom) – Robinson plays tight end and defensive end at the prep level. He's athletic for his size, but a bit lumbering to play those positions at the college level? Offensive tackle? Now that makes a lot more sense. Add 30 pounds to Robinson, and watch out! Definitely a bit of a project, but Robinson is a player with quite a bit of upside if the right team can tap into it.



4. OL R.J. Scaife (6-6, 260, Dade City Pasco) – Another Tampa-area big body who is primed to play major college football. Scaife has played tight end and on the defensive line for Pasco, but has now settled in at offensive tackle, where he projects to play on the next level. Scaife obviously has good length and moves well for his size. College recruiters are quite familiar with Pasco, so Scaife figures to see his recruitment pick up at some point in the near future.

5. DB JyQuis Thomas (6-1, 184, Plant City) – Has nice combo of size and speed (4.59 40) at the defensive back position. Has filled up the stat sheet so far this fall: 28 tackles (3.0 for loss), 1 interception, 3 PBU, 1 forced fumble, 1 blocked punt and a sack on the season through four games. Plays for a program that has produced a lot of talent in recent years. He's a physical and willing tackler on film. Not on the level of a Matt Elam, for instance, but if a team is looking at him to play corner, he's well above average for what is expected out of that position in terms of tackling ability.

6. WR/TE Jordan Franks (6-4, 210, Crawfordville Wakulla) – The brother of standout 2016 QB prospect Feleipe Franks, Jordan has been impressing in his own right this fall as the brothers have made for a prolific duo through the air. Franks has 37 receptions for 669 yards and 6 scores through the first five games as Wakulla is off to a 5-0 start. Franks would obviously fit into the "move" or "joker" tight end trend that has evolved in recent years.

Power Forward to Tight End: A Brief History

For so many years, the tight end position proved to be a sort of redheaded step-child of the NFL. There was truly a hodgepodge of different players, playing the spot, none of whom encompassed all the tools to take the position to another level. Some were great receivers (Ozzie Newsome, Shannon Sharpe, Jackie Smith, John Mackey and Todd Christensen come to mind), but lacked the size some of their counterparts possessed. Others were big, burly types who were excellent blockers but wouldn't prove to be as much of a threat in the passing game as some of the other "stars" of their time.

This trend continued until the late 1970's. The emergence of Kellen Winslow ultimately wouldn't revolutionize the position at the time. But he was the prototype that so many tight ends would be compared to for another generation. At 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, Winslow was the first to combine the size so many franchises hoped for out of the tight end position, with elite athleticism and receiving skills. Winslow's skill-set didn't sacrifice in any of the categories scouts looked at when evaluating prospects at the position. In essence, Winslow was a window into the future.

Fast forward about 15 years from the peak of Winslow's career as a player, which took place in the early 80's, and Tony Gonzalez emerges as the torchbearer at the position. Like Winslow, Gonzalez was the 13th overall pick of the NFL Draft, and with a similar stature and tools to build on, Gonzalez would ring in what has proven to be the golden era of the tight end in the NFL. Of course, he's still playing for the Falcons in 2013, and just turned in an All-Pro campaign a year ago. But there are now a host of great tight ends in the NFL, and many of them have very strong backgrounds in basketball, much like Gonzalez did coming out of Cal-Berkeley 16 years ago.

In college, Gonzalez helped lead Cal to the Sweet 16 in 1996. But while Gonzalez is often credited with the practice of turning undersized power forwards who lack the height to excel at the NBA level into top-flight tight ends, that simply isn't the case. Gonzalez was an All-American tight end for the Golden Bears as well. His football prowess was already well-known coming out of the college ranks. It was actually a little-known power forward out of Bradley who would get NFL personnel types to start thinking outside-the-box. And he entered the league a year earlier than Gonzalez.

Standing 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, Marcus Pollard obviously didn't have the type of frame that would convince NBA types to blaze a path to Peroia, Ill. as his eligibility came to an end at Bradley in 1995. The Braves didn't even have a varsity football team (and still don't to this day). However, Pollard's frame and mindset were enough to convince the Colts to take a flyer on the gifted athlete. Signed as an undrafted free agent by Indianapolis in 1995, Pollard had a quiet start for the Colts, making little impact in his first three seasons. Then, the arrival of Peyton Manning would prove to be the boon that allowed Pollard's ability to emerge.

During Manning's rookie season (Pollard's fourth), the athletic tight end would grab 24 receptions for 309 yards and five touchdowns. Totals that exceeded what he had done in 40 career games heading into the 1998 campaign. Their connection ignited a six-year by Pollard as one of the better receiving tight ends in the game, and Pollard would be the first of multiple undersized, yet athletic tight ends to emerge under the direction of a Peyton Manning offense (and he wouldn't be the first converted basketball player, but we'll get back to that later).

But of course, the guy to really break the floodgates open was Antonio Gates in 2003. Gates had been a significant contributor to the Cinderella run by Kent St. to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Basketball Tournament a year earlier. But despite averaging nearly 21 points and eight rebounds as a senior for the Golden Flashes, again, there wasn't a huge market for a 6-foot-4, 260-pound power forward. As a result, Gates looked to pro football as the next step, and there was a huge interest in his services as he made it be known he would pursue a pro football career. Signed as an undrafted free agent by San Diego, Gates broke into the starting line-up by the middle of his rookie season in 2003, and has proven to be one of the top tight ends in the NFL ever since, as his resume includes eight Pro Bowl selections and being honored as a consensus first team All-Pro three times as well.

Now, it should be noted that it's not as if Gates didn't have a football background. He was a highly-recruited two-sport prep athlete out of Detroit, and originally matriculated to East Lansing where he hoped to play both football and basketball for the Spartans. But when Nick Saban put the nix on any hopes Gates had of playing for Tom Izzo's squad, Gates began a journey that would see several stops before he wound up at Kent State. Gates very possibly was in line to be Michigan State's version of Tony Gonzalez, but it simply wasn't to be.

In the wake of Gates' emergence, NFL teams quickly moved to start signing any power forward they thought could make the transition to football. Names like Ed Nelson (UConn), Jai Lucas (George Mason) and Wesley Duke (Mercer) began being tossed around as possibilities to play pro football even before their college basketball seasons were over. While all three got opportunities in the NFL, Nelson with the Rams, Lucas (ultimately as a 290-pound offensive tackle) and Duke with the Broncos, all three quickly fizzled out. UNC small forward David Noel, a highly-recruited football player at the prep level who originally committed to the Tar Heels as a wide receiver, was also mentioned at the time as a candidate to make the jump to the NFL following the completion of his college eligibility. He ultimately elected to play pro basketball, and has pursued a career in Europe for several years now.

But while the failures of the post-Gates craze for NFL teams to uncover tight end talent in the college basketball ranks threw a little bit of cold water on the process, sometimes it's the process of taking one step back that allows a collective giant step forward to take place.

Just a couple of years after Lucas and Nelson bombed out of the pro football ranks, Jimmy Graham made an interesting decision following the completion of his college basketball eligibility at Miami. With his professional basketball prospects looking bleak as a 6-foot-7, 260-pound post player, Graham made the decision to enroll in graduate-level courses at Miami and go out for the football team, since he still had a year of eligibility remaining on the gridiron. Graham was not the first player to ever do this, of course. Former UF forward Major Parker joined the 2001 Orange Bowl Champion squad as a 6-foot-4, 240-pound reserve defensive lineman after lettering for the Gators in basketball for four years.

But Graham was the first to make this switch from basketball to football  in college and achieve a real level of success. Although raw, Graham grabbed 17 receptions for 213 yards and five touchdowns for the 'Canes in 2009. This was enough to convince pro scouts that Graham possessed some special tools, and the New Orleans Saints were rewarded when they drafted Graham in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Graham is now one of the most prolific tight ends in the NFL (along with Rob Gronkowski), and his performance through three games so far this season has him on pace to put together perhaps the most impressive season by a tight end in NFL history.

The successful of transition by Graham would foreshadow the transition of two other tight ends emerging in the NFL today who decided to make the move from forward to tight end while still in college. Jordan Cameron (USC) and Julius Thomas (Portland St.) were both fourth-round picks of the 2011 NFL Draft by Cleveland and Denver, respectively. Cameron was a basketball player at BYU for one year in 2006-07 before transferring to USC where he played from 2008-10. Cameron was a lightly used receiver in Troy for two seasons before moving to tight end as a senior, where he grabbed 16 receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown. After four years with the basketball team (including a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances in 2008 and 2009), Thomas traded in his high-tops for cleats in 2010, and made an immediate impact for the Portland State football team, grabbing 29 receptions for 453 yards and a pair of touchdowns, good enough for All-Big Sky honors at the tight end position.

Of course, the transition for Cameron and Thomas hasn't been quite as smooth as it has been for Graham. Both player made mimimal contributions in their first two season, but now both appear to be headed towards breakout seasons in 2013, just three games in.

It should also be noted that the Seattle Seahawks signed 6-foot-7, 260-pound former UC-Irvine basketball player Darren Fells in the offseason. After making his way through a number of foreign pro basketball circuits, the 27-year old decided to give football a try in the spring. Pete Carroll was all-too-happy to give the brother of New England Patriots tight end Daniel Fells an opportunity to make the Seahawks' roster. Alas, the younger Fells was cut by Seattle in August, and has not re-emerged on a practice squad since.

The reasons for why former basketball players with little or no football background can excel in football has already been examined extensively. The same traits that make a good power forward – good hands, good footwork, body positioning, the ability to track rebounds, being physical – also come in handy at the tight end position. But many observers forget to note that many of these basketball refugees are also incredible athletes. Cameron, Graham and Thomas all put up incredible numbers at the NFL Combine. All thee players ran under 4.65 seconds in the 40-yard dash, and all three had vertical jumps of at least 35 inches. Their numbers would have been more than adequate if they were just receivers looking for a shot at the next level. That all three were in the 6-foot-5, 250-plus pound range just added another dimension to their value as potential draft picks. Gates and Gonzalez were very much in the same class as athletes when they came out of the college ranks as well.

In many ways, the best tight ends today are being utilized as the best receivers has been. Graham, Gronkowski, Jason Witten, so and so forth. An elite pass-catching tight end today many times is just a "tight end" in name only.

Right now Jimmy Graham has spent 58.7% of his snap split out wide or in the slot. #franchisetagleverage
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) September 23, 2013

As we look to the future, I'm curious to see if the trend of basketball players moving over to play football continues as it has. Perhaps those guys in that 6-foot-5, 6-foot-6 range, who know their chances of making it in the NBA are slim, will continue to see the emergence and success of players like Gronkowski, Graham, Cameron, Thomas and others. Maybe the future is that we'll see more NFL-ready tight ends flood the college game, get better at a younger age, and only continue to improve a position that is currently flourishing at the professional level.

Post-UT recruiting thoughts

A few things that have popped into my head since Florida's 31-17 win over Tennessee on Saturday, as it relates to the recruiting side of things:

– This is the last time I'm going to write about this, since I've already covered it twice (here and here), but Florida has got to make some serious personnel adjustments at the tight end position. Right now there are four guys with scholarships on the roster, and none has proven themselves to be any more than a No. 3 or No. 4 option for this squad. All four of those guys have eligibility remaining after this season, but there is no doubt in my mind there will be some level of attrition at the position between now and National Signing Day.

Yes, the Gators have a commitment from C'yontai Lewis already in hand. But it has to go further than that. Florida continues to recruit Deandre Goolsby out of Kansas, but if they don't get him, they're going to have to look elsewhere. Another high school prospect is a possibility. Looking to the JUCO ranks is a possibility. Heck, I'd seriously think about inviting Will Yeguete out for a look next spring if he's willing. The point is, while going out and finding the next Aaron Hernandez or even Jordan Reed might be a stretch, finding a player who can at least contribute in the passing game as a receiver is not much to ask. Right now, none of the tight ends on the Florida roster can claim to give the offense even that much.

– I'm not going to totally crap on the offensive line for UF. There has been no continuity with that unit since the beginning of the season. Chaz Green was lost for the year. D.J. Humphries, Tyler Moore, Jon Halapio and even Jonotthan Harrison have all been in-and-out of the lineup with injuries. That said, among the players who are on the roster, only Humphries has shown signs of being a consistently upper-echelon SEC player. The rest of the bunch are just adequate right now (Max Garcia and Kyle Koehne have had their moments, still would like to see a little more out of those two.) Over the next few weeks, we'll see if this group can start getting healthy and building some chemistry as a unit. While the Gators have actually pass-protected fairly well through three games, they simply aren't getting any push inside, which has severely hampered the running game (the Gators are averaging 4.0 yards per carry through three games. Not good enough.)

In terms of how this impacts recruiting, it's very simple. The Gators need to recruit more offensive linemen. The numbers really aren't bad here. The Gators are in line to return 12 scholarship linemen for next year, and have a lot of older guys in that group. Trenton Brown (who needs to drop some more weight), Max Garcia and Ian Silberman would presumably return as seniors. The juniors would include a group of Chaz Green (assuming he gets a medical exemption), Humphries, Tyler Moore and Trip Thurman. Throw in a young guy or two already on the roster in with this group, and Florida would presumably have a fairly experienced offensive line to work with next year.

But outside of Humphries and Garcia, who of the returners should really have offensive line coach Tim Davis excited at this point? Right now, I'm not sure it's anybody. And that's why UF needs to start looking to the JUCO ranks for at least one guy who can come in and compete for a spot right away. That may be all Florida needs to make the jump from a middling offensive line unit to a good (or even great) group. Just one player (or maybe two) who can step in and compete right away. It might be a little late for Florida to move in on some of the top JUCO talent out there (Jermaine Eluemunor, Dominick Jackson and Chad Mavety, for instance), but there are plenty of other options out there ripe for the picking. We've already mentioned Jordan Prestwood and Avery Gennesy as options with ties to UF. There are others out there as well. Again, I'm not saying Florida needs to go to the JUCO ranks to find their savior along the offensive line. Just a player or two who can come in and compete for a position is all they need at this point.

– It really amazes me how quickly Florida has seemingly fallen out of favor with OL David Sharpe. But after the big lineman out of Jacksonville Providence did not show up for the Florida-Tennessee game, it is now becoming clear that Florida could be running third (at best) behind Clemson and Georgia (now widely presumed as the favorite for his services.) It's hard to fault UF too much here. They did all they could in the spring, Georgia never gave up, and have seemingly connected better with the Sharpe family in the months since then. These things happen. UF would be foolish not to continue making a run at the top tackle prospect in the state, but they've got to consider their other options on the board now. Contingency plans need to be put in place as the chances of Sharpe ending up in Gainesville seem to be getting slimmer with each passing day. While looking to the JUCO ranks for a player or two is a worthwhile option for the Gators to consider this point, building for the future is still the key. Finding more targets from the high school ranks to add to the three prep prospects UF already has committed is the only way to do that.

– Defensive tackle is still a very critical position for my vantage point. Florida should have five returning guys along with a commitment from Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna prospect Khairi Clark. But finding another tackle or two to continue building depth up front is important for UF. Right now, the Gators have official visits lined up from Gerald Willis (who was scheduled to visit this weekend along with prep teammate Speedy Noil, but both have pushed back their trips to Gainesville for later in the season) and Davon Godchaux, both of whom project down the line as three-technique tackles on the next level. Both prospects should be considered strong LSU leans at this point, however. Again, like the offensive line, Brad Lawing seriously has to consider the possibility of dipping down into the JUCO ranks for at least one guy who can offer immediate relief for next season in the defensive line rotation.

– Before the season, it seemed entirely likely that Will Muschamp would have to begin preparations for a future without Loucheiz Purifoy and Marcus Roberson after this season. Both looked primed for huge junior campaigns and then would presumably head off to the NFL in 2014. But three games into the fall, neither player has been overly productive to date. Roberson was solid against Toledo and Miami before going down with an injury against the 'Canes and sitting out the Tennessee game. Purifoy missed the Toledo contest and has played uneven in the two contests since then. Both have been usurped by true freshman phenomenon Vernon Hargraves III, who right now is looking and playing like the Gators' top cover corner. It's still early in the season, but it's worth noting that perhaps the need for Florida at corner in the Class of 2014 may not be quite as dire as originally anticipated? And that's a good thing, of course, since the Class of 2015 is loaded in the state of Florida at the cornerback position.

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

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.

Benjamin Knox decommits: What is Florida's next move?

In case you missed it last night, the Gators are now short one member of their 2014 recruiting class, as DeLand offensive tackle Benjamin Knox has withdrawn his commitment to UF:

Former #Gators three-star commit Benjamin Knox just told me with UF out of the mix, Louisville and USF are two schools under consideration.
— Landon Watnick (@LandonWatnick) September 11, 2013

This was not an unexpected development, as Florida and Knox seemed to be drifting apart for a few months. The move puts UF at 14 commitments for the Class of 2014, with three players projected to end up on the offensive line presently in the fold (Dontae Angus, Nolan Kelleher and Travaris Dorsey.)

Based on the numbers, Florida needs to add 2-3 more prospects to this class up front. The only problem here is, the Gators really don't have a ton of guys remaining on the board. Or, at least, that how it would appear to look from the outside. The top target is obviously David Sharpe (6-6, 290, Jacksonville Providence) and while the Gators are a strong contender there, Clemson and Georgia have made a real push with the big man in recent weeks as well.

Damien Mama (6-4, 370, Bellflower, Calif./St. Bosco Prep) and Jordan Sims (6-4, 340, Birmingham, Ala./Homewood) also claim offers, but I don't think anyone is particularly confident in the Gators' chances of landing either prospect at the moment. Miami commitment Trevor Darling (6-5, 330, Miami Central ) keeps getting thrown around as a possibility, but there's been no evidence to support the notion he's anything but solid in his commitment to the 'Canes.

In any case, regardless of what Sharpe, Mama, and Sims do, some other prospects will emerge on the radar between now and National Signing Day along the offensive line. Here's a list of six guys to keep an eye on over the coming months:

1. Jordan Prestwood (6-5, 310, Plant City/Arizona Western C.C.) – There should be some obvious concerns here, as Prestwood has already left two big-time programs (Florida State and Notre Dame) for various reasons. On the plus side, he is on pace to enroll in December, and would have three years of eligibility remaining. A big-time recruit coming out of high school, he may be the most likely candidate for UF if they elect to hit the JUCO ranks in 2014.

2. Montel McBride, (6-4, 350, Plant City) – With the recent pledge of Cameron Robinson, Alabama now has six offensive line commitments, and seems to be busting at the seems a bit at the position. McBride may be ripe for the taking, but UF has shown no indication to date they are interested in the two-way player, who is a product of Plant City High School, like Prestwood. I think that could change, depending on his senior film. McBride would be an excellent fit at guard at the next level, but he is going to have to drop some weight, as Florida offensive line coach Tim Davis clearly prefers his players to be mobile at the position.

3. Denzel Ward (6-8, 305, Chicago, Ill./Simeon) – Florida was heavily involved in the recruitment of Ward at one point. If David Sharpe decides to head elsewhere, it would come as no surprise if the Gators turn up the heat once again for the current Purdue commitment.

4. Delroy Baker (6-6, 270, Ocala/West Port) – Although the Gators offered Baker over the summer, they didn't seem to really push for the local product, who eventually committed to Indiana. With an impressive senior season, UF may re-evaluate their stance on Baker, who would presumably jump at the chance to stay closer to home.

5. Marcus Applefield (6-6, 280, Weeki Wachee) – Applefield plays at a new program, only in its third year of existence, and will prove to be the school's first player to sign with a FBS program. Applefield has great size and potential as an offensive tackle. He visited for Florida's first game against Toledo in August. Rutgers is thought to be the present front-runner for Applefield, but the opportunity to stay closer to home and attend Florida or Florida State is believed to greatly appeal to him.

6. Avery Gennesy (6-5, 305, Southaven, Miss./East Mississippi C.C.) – The Gators would be getting in late on the recruitment of Gennesy, but they do have ties to East Mississippi Community College, having signed a player out of the program each of the past two years (Damien Jacobs in 2012, Darious Cummings in 2013.)