Gator Country’s popular Florida Gators recruiting mailbag is back to its weekly spot on Thursday’s as we answer your recruiting questions.
The Gators recruiting class is off to a great start in 2017 and look to be setting their selves up for another top class.
This week members had a lot of questions on the status of the Class of 2017 and we answer your questions here.
Remember to get your questions in on Tuesday for the Florida Gators recruiting mailbag each week.
Kirkb919: Who do you believe we will sign at defensive tackle in this class?
AS: Campbell and then I think Florida adds Tyrone Truesdell to the class. I think they would like another one but I’m just not sure who that third person is at this time.
Kirkb919: Do you think we will have anymore surprise pick ups like we had with Kyree Campbell?
AS: In January anything can happen and I would say probably more surprises happen. You will see more names added to the list in January.
Genesis: Will Mike Summers and Greg Nord be retained? What is going on with Aubrey Solomon’s recruitment? Seems pretty unpredictable.
AS: Personally I’m not 100 percent sure either way on those two guys. It wouldn’t surprise me either way but I don’t think anything happens until after the bowl game. Solomon is visiting Florida last in January but I think he’s Georgia’s to lose with Alabama next. Mom is the key here though.
Juggernautz: Which freshman quarterback do you think will see the field first?
AS: As of today I say Feleipe Franks but we still have a whole spring to go before a decision has to be made. Kyle Trask made huge strides last year but right now it’s Franks.
Juggernautz: Any new news on Adarius Lemons?
AS: He’s going back to Clearwater High next semester and he’s waiting on his ACT score to come back. Right now Florida is just waiting on all of that and then they will decide on the future of him.
Juggernautz: Do you think the results of the Outback bowl will affect our recruiting?
AS: 1,000 percent because Florida needs momentum in a huge way and a win gives you some of that. You can’t end on a three game losing streak for the second straight year. You just can’t.
Tleebow: If Mark Thompson were to leave the team would we go after a 3rd running back?
AS: I think it’s very possible if that guy is Adarius Lemons if it isn’t Lemons then I don’t think they sign a third back in this class. They will focus on Lorenzo Lingard and one more in 2018.
Hogtown: Do you get the vibe from the staff that they’re as frustrated with recruiting as the fans are?
AS: Absolutely and anyone that says different isn’t telling the truth. Frustration is there but they also know that they have time to fix things. Everyone wants to win no matter what some fans may think.
Tito22: The late offer to the Bama quarterback commit gives the impression that this staff is scrambling to get another quarterback after Stidham fell through. Does Tua Tagovailoa have any interest in us? What other quarterbacks are we going after? I can’t help but feel the staff completely dropped the ball putting all their eggs in the Allen basket and waiting to the final 8 weeks to go after some high profile names at quarterback.
AS: I’m honestly not sure why that offer was given out so late, I really don’t. I do know that Florida is looking for another quarterback in this class and they’re leaving no stone unturned in doing so. I expect several more offers to go out to quarterbacks committed elsewhere in hopes of flipping them.
Mrgator: Do you expect a lot of movement with staff now that the dead period is here or will Mac wait until after the bowl game?
AS: I think anything that happens will come after the bowl game because Mac is focused on winning this game. Florida has to win this bowl game to create a little momentum for itself.
Jimzgator: We have heard both sides, those that feel the negativity here isnt any big deal, all other programs do it, etc etc. And we have had parents of recruits come on and say its damaging and it makes a difference in the recruiting world. Give us your take. Is all this justified and no big deal, or are we seriously hurting our own brand and working against our own coaches ?
AS: Fans that whine on social media to kids definitely hurt the brand because everyone sees it. For example when fans go after players when they play bad, parents and kids see that. Now it happens everywhere but it’s something that is noticed my parents. Parents do believe that Florida fans are harder on the players than most teams though.
Hickorygatorfan: Not to sound like a downer but do you think we get ANY commitments before NSD? Hopefully you’ll give me a positive answer otherwise, i’ll have to shut down my Gator Insider Recruiting watching until after NSD.
AS: Yes, Florida will get a commit before signing day and multiple ones. Things aren’t that bad and winning the bowl game will help things. I fully expect Florida to come out ready for the bowl game against Iowa.
Lurkingator1: Hearing Mac will have nearly 1 million dollars to for the position Collins is vacating how do you seen this working out.
I.E Shannon the defensive coordinator Or co- defensive coordinator?
AS: I think they go with a co-coordinator and have Shannon calling the plays. That allows you to pay a guy that is just a position coach elsewhere and give him a better title. That’s just my opinion from what I’ve heard. Nothing is set at this time.
Dfalco2: AS..when will the bleeding stop? When will we finally have a big time recruit pull the trigger for the good guys? What is the problem is Mac that boring to these kids? It’s so gloomy in gator nation we need a pick me up bad. Do we even get our hopes up with Robinson or we Finnish 2nd once again?
AS: You’ve got to win the bowl game for starters and then convince just one big time guy to commit and then things could change. Mac is a great coach and a good guy and I don’t believe he’s boring or anything like that. Kids love Mac and parents do as well. This isn’t a Mac problem but I do feel that he has some dead weight on staff that is hurting him.
BahamaG8r: Can we please get a complete list of the EE targets we are waiting to hear from.
AS: Alex Leatherwood and Donovan Peoples-Jones are really the only two early enrollees that Florida is waiting on. Peoples-Jones announces on Thursday while Leatherwood hasn’t said when he will announce a final decision.
Ufgatordad: -What’s your honest assessment on where we stand with the current recruiting class? There is a ton of gloom and doom around here lately, but are things as horrific as many are making them out to be, or are we still in good shape to bring in a solid class?
AS: Florida still has the potential to bring in a good class and there’s still over a month to go until signing day but Florida must change the momentum and change it quickly. Winning the bowl game is the first start and then getting out on the road and getting the Gators message out there. This class is good right now but must get better before signing day. You need to sign more offensive and defensive linemen in this class.
Ufgatordad: Any idea where we stand with James Robinson and Henry Ruggs (1st, 2nd, etc.)?
AS: Florida and Oklahoma are at the top for Robinson and he’s already taken his official to Oklahoma. Ruggs has Florida, Alabama and Auburn out ahead with Florida State in fourth. I personally think it will be one of the instate schools or Florida for Ruggs.
Ufgatordad: How under-rated of a player do you think Kadarius Toney is? Could he be the biggest surprise of the ’17 class?
AS: Toney is very under rated at this because he plays quarterback in high school and most don’t expect him to play that in college. High school coaches and college coaches will all tell you that his speed and ability to stick his foot in the ground and change direction is special. I think Toney will be one of the surprises in this class for sure. One note on Toney is that he’s one of the most competitive guys that I’ve ever met.
Thumper: Who are the Lamical Perine’s and Jawaan Taylor’s of this class? These weren’t big splash names, but they were really effective and instrumental in our success this year. Also, do we get a NSD flip like a Tyrie Cleveland this year? If so, who?
AS: Daquon Green and Ventrell Miller are two guys that I’m going to label as guys that don’t get the credit they deserve but are guys that I expect to contribute next year. Miller is a big hitting linebacker that should get some playing time next year. Green is a physical receiver that should get in the rotation. Signing day flip could be a guy like Kai-Leon Herbert who is currently committed to Michigan.
BahamaG8r: Why such limited success in Florida for Mac and Co? What do we need to do to turn that around?
AS: Start winning with offense would be a start and then you have to beat Florida State on the field. It sounds simple but those are things that have to be done in order to keep teams out of the state.
Mikegator10: Any new news on Tray Bishop?
AS: He decomitted from Auburn on Tuesday night and says he will choose between Florida and Georgia after official visits or on signing day. Right now it seems as if Georgia has a slight edge but Florida gets the last visit here. Florida has been recruiting him as a defensive back the longest.
Indygator: Can you give us names and probabilities of signing with the Gators for our top 4 offensive line recruits?
AS: Kai-Leon Herbert- I would say it’s 55/45 with Michigan ahead. Florida gets the last visit.
Tony Gray- tough to get a read on him but Florida is squarely in the mix here.
Stephan Zabie- LSU, Florida and USC are all in the mix here.
T.J. Moore- Florida will get the last visit for him. Tennessee has been the hot team around him.
Firefightingator: How do you and the staff feel about Elijah Blades commitment?
AS: I personally think he sticks because of his relationship with Tim Skipper but there’s no question that it will be battle down the stretch. Blades’ father has a great relationship with Skipper as well and I think that Blades speaks to Florida on a daily basis.
FrankGator627: Are we still recruiting Jordan Wright from Dillard?
AS: Yes, Florida is still after him and it looks like the three teams squarely in the mix for him are Florida, Florida State and Kentucky. He’s scheduled to take official visits to all three in January.
RVG: Is the staff looking to add another quarterback because Luke Del Rio is looking to transfer, as Pat D noted on his podcast?
AS: The staff is still looking for another quarterback in the class whether Del Rio stays at Florida or not. I personally don’t see Del Rio leaving Florida but I could be wrong here. Either way I think you see another quarterback added in this class if someone good wants in.
Gator_nica: In 2017, let´s say Nick Washington and Marcell Harris start at Safety, Duke Dawson at nickel and Chauncey Gardner at corner. Who starts at the other corner position?
AS: First, it’s no for sure thing that Dawson returns but if he does then I think he’s your starting corner opposite of Gardner. Their has been a lot of positive reports on freshman Quincy Lenton so I think he gets on the field somewhere next year. You would hope that a guy like McArthur Burnett is ready to play in the nickel.