Florida Gators recruiting mailbag for August 11th

Gator Country’s popular Florida Gators recruiting mailbag is back to its weekly spot on Thursdays answering your recruiting questions.

The Gators recruiting class is off to a great start in 2017 and look to be setting themselves 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.

Caleb2815: Any idea who you’d say we close with for offensive line? And what’s the magic number for offensive line this cycle?

AS: Florida would love to add three more to the class with two of those guys being tackles. I like where Florida is at with Miami commit Navaughn Donaldson right now. They’re not going to give up on Alex Leatherwood either. I think Florida can get Toryque Bateman still and they’re working hard on Marcus Minor. Florida is also working on Michigan commit Kai-Leon Herbert still.

Ncargat1: Along the lines of the offensive line recruiting, anything new on Kadeem Telfort? I understand he is “committed”, but has he taken any other visits this summer and to which schools? Is this just a Florida/Miami race or have others become involved? Also, is it too early to project whether he could play some tackle, or he strictly a guard at the next level? Thanks.

AS: Telfort is a tackle in college and right now I would say he’s in the Florida class come November. You’re correct right now it’s a Miami/Florida battle.

Trina_dc: Are any of our current commits planning to enroll early? After having so many EE’s last year, how many can we expect to take this cycle?

AS: You won’t have as many early enroll this year but right now Jordon Scott, Kemore Gamble, Kadarius Toney and possibly Javier Edwards are scheduled to early enroll. Several targets are also planning to early enroll which could push the number up.

Kdm: I think I saw where you said that you expected that we would sign 22-25 recruits. What do you see as the ideal breakdown the staff is looking for by position from those remaining 8 – 11 spots (maybe 3-4 offensive line; 2-3 defensive back; 1-2 defensive tackle, 1 receiver; 1 defensive end)? Who do you think is the most likely recruit right now to end up as the 3rd receiver?

AS: I would say the number is getting closer to 25 for sure and it could reach 25 if guys go pro like we think they will. I would say the remaining spots go like this. 3- offensive linemen, 1 receiver, 2 defensive linemen, 1 linebacker , 4 defensive backs. It could be 3 defensive lineman and 3 defensive backs as well.

850gator: Do we have any silent commits at the moment? If so, what positions/when do you think they will make it public?

AS: If they are silent commits then they are not committed in my book. Silents mean nothing now days.

Gatorfanseth: Where do you project this class to fall in the rankings?

AS: Pushing top five or very close to top five.

Gatorfanseth: Where are things with AJ Terrell?

AS: Clemson has pulled a way with Florida and South Carolina chasing them. The Gators need to get him back on campus soon.

Joaqui: I imagine the staff feels that Kadarius Toney is a better receiver prospect than Mike Harley. Does it take a flip from to make way for Harley to get an offer or do they have other receivers in mind before him.

AS: If Toney was to flip then I think Harley is the next guy up at slot receiver. I know that receivers coach Kerry Dixon was following and talking to Harley a lot during Friday Night Lights. Harley also says that Dixon has been talking to him since the camp.

Nickelgators: Are we still looking at the linebacker from Crest HS in Shelby NC ?

AS: That’s Justin Foster and no the Gators aren’t actively recruiting him. He’s growing into a defensive lineman and it looks like it will be ACC or Tennessee.

GatorFanCF: How is Florida perceived by the larger and more successful high school coaches in Florida? Are Jim McElwain & Staff respected by the coaches who either did not like Muschamp or thought poorly of him? Any other comments/thoughts on how well we are making inroads here in the home state?

AS: Mac has done a great job of getting the high school coaches back on board with the Gators and all that started with recruiting coordinator Drew Hughes and the guys getting back in front of those coaches. The coaches visited a lot of schools this spring just to show the Gators logo to them. Mac also has a open door policy for high school coaches and that’s big for them.

Gator_nica: Whats your opinion on Mike Summers as a recruiter and it what way does it affect the team?

AS: Summers is an older coach so he isn’t the biggest Twitter/Facebook guy and that hurts him with communication with this group of younger guys. Summers is good in person and on the field but his communication over social media hurts him.

Haljordan: Out of the current commits, who do you think steps in and becomes a difference maker from day one?

AS: Marco Wilson, Kemore Gamble, Ventrell Miller and Javier Edwards all should get a lot of playing time year one. Daquon Green is in that category as well but receiver is a little deeper position.

Lvild2: Would love your rankings of our defensive back Commits/Prospects (Top 7-10). Just wondering where you have Wade/Terrell compared to others.

AS: Shaun Wade and A.J. Terrell are the best of the best and there’s no denying that. After that I think Marco Wilson, Devon Hunter, Hamsah Nasirildeen and Brad Stewart are next. Shawn Davis and Elijah Blades are right there behind those guys but are both really good players.

Ajoseph: In your opinion are we ready to start being considered an elite recruiting program again?

AS: Yes, I believe things are changing for the good for the Gators. McElwain and his recruiting staff led by Drew Hughes have done an unbelievable job of getting prospects on campus and interested in the program. The next step is winning on the field with a good offense.

Twondiddy: Aside from not having many elite lineman prospects in Florida. Why are some programs that are in similar situations as us, like UGA for instance as far as new coaches, having better success at o line recruiting, in your honest opinion?

AS: Georgia is having better luck with offensive linemen because they’re a lot of local instate big time guys at the position for them. The Gators have to go out of state for the most part to get their guys on the line and with them struggling on offense it has set them back.

Gator_champs1: What do you think our realistic chances are of getting Donovan People Jones a Gator?

AS: A lot of people believe the Gators are the top team for Peoples-Jones but I think it’s going to be a battle with Michigan. I do think the Gators have a legit shot with him and that will grow if Florida shows off a good offense.

Juggernautz: After Jake Allen, who’s our most active recruiter of our commits?

AS: Zach Carter, Daquon Green and Jordon Scott have all been active recruiters on Twitter towards prospects. Carter and Green both helped land Adarius Lemons.

Ufgatordad: Any word on Aubrey Solomon? Seems like Michigan keeps a tight grip when they get a commit, but are still in the thick of things with him?

AS: Florida has pretty much backed off of him and are recruiting Fred Hansard and Tyrone Truesdell hard.

Gator78: Are any recruits stopping by the practices? If so, who? It seems like last year had some visitors during this time of year. Thanks

AS: High school football practices started about the same time as Florida’s practices so prospects weren’t able to visit this fall. Prospects will likely come for the Gators scrimmage in a few weeks.