Nashville — Recruiting is the lifeblood of college football. College coaches are afforded the opportunity to shop for the groceries and make the meal. A couple of solid recruiting classes back-to-back and a program can be set up for years to come.
Will Muschamp and his coaching staff have been relentless on the recruiting trial in their four years at the University of Florida and Saturday night against Vanderbilt their most recent recruiting class was on display.
True freshman quarterback Treon Harris earned his second start completing 13-of-21 passes for 215 yards. Harris was also effective as a runner, carrying the ball 10 times for 49 yards and two score. Harris took over for redshirt junior Jeff Driskel two weeks ago before the Georgia game. Harris’ cool, calm demeanor has taken a hold of the team and his teammates and has them playing their most confident football of the season.
On the very first drive of the game, Harris rolled out and tried to pick up a first down wit his legs but Vanderbilt linebacker Darreon Herring collided with Harris before the first down marker. The hit was jarring and Harris was slow to get up. He walked off to the sideline and threw some passes off to the side, shaking off the big hit. He never came out of the game.
“It just shows us toughness, that he’s not willing to give up on his team,” junior running back Matt Jones said. “I mean, he knew he had to come in the next drive and lead us down the field, and that’s what he did.”
A week after throwing just six passes in his first start, Harris was given more responsibility, including the ability to check out of plays if he didn’t like what he saw in the defense before the snap. “We had some run-pass things at the line of scrimmage I think he’s done a nice job with those things,” Muschamp said.
While Harris was the lone freshman standout on offense, the defense featured several freshmen who have begun to make names for themselves.
Freshman Duke Dawson saw more playing time at safety after the loss of Keanu Neal last week against Georgia. Dawson tied for a team lead in tackles with 6 (5 solo), had a tackle for a loss and a pass break up as well. Dawson’s physical tackling and overall game is opening eyes.
Quincy Wilson finished the game with just one tackle but the freshman has played a ton this season at cornerback and continues to come along and looks to be a player Florida can rely on and one that the Gators coaching staff already trusts out on an island.
Finally, Jalen Tabor — who made a ridiculous one-handed interception in the end zone last night — continues to show why he was so highly rated by recruiting services prior to enrolling at Florida.
Tabor finished the game with three tackles, an interception and pass breakup.
“I taught him that about his second day of practice,” Muschamp jokingly said of Tabor’s interception. “He’s a very good football player, he’s got really good ball skills and he’s got really good length.”
“He’s a great player and great players make great plays,” said Vernon Hargreaves.
The Gators are still alive in the SEC East this week. Their fate is not in their hands but with freshmen starting to play like veterans the future looks bright.