Florida Gators recruiting mailbag for January 14th

Florida Gators recruiting is doing well and this week’s recruiting mailbag had a lot of great questions about the Gators recruiting class heading into the stretch run of the class of 2016.

As you have noticed Gator Country and Andrew Spivey have mixed things up and we have taken our Florida Gators recruiting mailbag to podcast form, as well as continuing the written version of the mailbag.

Make sure to listen as Andrew answer’s everyone’s questions from this mailbag and don’t forget to get your questions in every week so he can answer your question next time on all things Florida Gators recruiting.

Here’s the written version of this week’s Florida Gators recruiting mailbag:

Lemonhope: with so many marquis receiver’s left on the board (Nate Craig-Myers Binjinem Victor, Eli Stove, Sam Bruce, Tre Nixon and Tyrie Cleveland) who is Florida highest on/most confident to real in. Does Marcus Tatum going to Tennessee Volunteers help our chances with Landon Dickerson? As always great work AS

AS: Florida likes all of those receivers but the guys I feel the most confident on are Stove and Cleveland heading into visits. Of course both of those guys are committed elsewhere but I feel Florida has the bets chance with those two. Tatum going to Tennessee doesn’t hurt Florida’s chances with Tatum but I don’t see it helping that much either because Florida wanted him no matter what. I don’t see Tennessee as a threat for Dickerson.

MrB-Gator: How many more offensive linemen do we take and who are the possibilities?

AS: Florida would like to get two more from this group. Landon Dickerson, Marcus Tatum, Jauan Williams, John Simpson and Malcolm Pridgeon. Florida may also visit a few other guys this month that aren’t on this list.

FrankGator627: When’s the next Spivey senses report?

AS: After this weekend’s official visits are over with, I should have a new report up.

Gatorstuckey: How do we finish at linebacker? How many total linebackers will we get?

AS: Florida would like to get another linebacker in the class to go with David Reese, Jeremiah Moon and Vosean Joseph. Dontavious Jackson, Mack Wilson, Josh Uche, Elyse Mbem-Bosse, Dee Walker and Jaleel Laguins all plan to visit this month. Right now I think the Gators have the best chance with Uche and Wilson.

Byrus: Do you feel we are fading as signing day nears? Thanks.

AS: I don’t think Florida is fading at all but some of the momentum did slip due to the last season losses but that can be made up on the recruiting trail when the coaches hit the road on Thursday. Also official visits are key.

Lam4ufg8ors: Are there and 5 Star offensive line flips or uncommitted from Army All-American game or Under Armour All-American game that we are targeting?

AS: Landon Dickerson and John Simpson are two guys that Florida is going hard after and both of them were in all-star games.

Dhainer24: Does Jachai Polite stick in this class? Does he stick even if we get Brian Burns?
Does Aaron Robinson have the grades to get in?
Does Rick Wells stick even if we get 2 more “bigger name” receivers?
Is C.J. McWilliams going to be asked to leave to make room for bigger fish? Are we OK at defensive back even if he leaves and we don’t get Kristian Fulton? Or does he only get asked to leave if we do get Fulton?

AS: Right now I lean towards Polite sticking in the class but USC is a big threat. Polite is a take no matter what Burns does on signing day.

Robinson has the grades but must get a test score in order to qualify.

Yes, Rick Wells sticks to Florida in fact I doubt he takes any visits besides Florida.

McWilliams is a guy that will take visits to other schools.

Lurkingator1: What’s looks like out biggest Recruiting Weekend? How many guys will we be waiting on to sign on NSD?

AS: I think the big weekend right now is January 29th when Mack Wilson, Kristian Fulton, Jamal Pettigrew, Josh Uche, Tyrie Cleveland and any other late surprises come into town. Florida will also have commits Lamical Perine and Rick Wells in town to help that weekend.

Millio21: What are our chances with the JUCO DE Jonathan Kongbo?

AS: Right now they’re slim unless Florida can get a visit from the JUCO prospect.

Gatorintx2014: Are we looking at any other JUCO players besides the “big name” guys on our boards? Any surprises left?

AS: Right now the Gators are only after Kongbo and Pridgeon from the JUCO ranks but that could change as the coaches hit the road again.

Taejr7747: Who are the lead recruiters for the OL? And how are they going to improve their effectiveness.

AS: Mike Summers is the main recruiter of offensive linemen but the area recruiters also recruit the position as well.

Kurt_borglum: Where is your mock 2017, 18 and 19 classes???

AS: Haha you forgot the class of 2020.

Gatorphan: Also, do you have any idea when we are bringing our currently committed players in for visits, as many of them have not officially visited yet?

AS: They will be scattered over the next few weeks but a majority of them are visiting on January 29th.

Nickelgators: Do you think Florida is going to flip Dwayne Haskins?
Is Mack Wilson gonna be a Gator?
Who do you feel fills out the WR class?

AS: Right now, I say Florida has a shot at Haskins but I don’t feel confident at all. I think Wilson is either a Gator or goes to Georgia. I really like Stove and Cleveland being the two final receivers in the class.

Gator_nica: Are we a legit landing place for Tyrie Cleveland, or just a hat on the table?

AS: Yes, Florida is a legit landing spot for Cleveland and he will visit on the 29th. He has family in Florida and his family wants him to move out of the state of Texas from what people have told me.

Gatorfanseth: Is Kristian Fulton a Gator or nah?

AS: I really like where Florida is at with Fulton at this time. Winning over his parents on his official visit will be huge but right now the Gators are giving LSU a run for its money.

Enickelsen: You consistently stated we would not sign a graduate transfer quarterback, yet we got Appleby. Any hope your denial of our interest in Jake Raulerson is also trying to mislead us in a similar way? If not why we would not be interested in pursuing him? He still has 2 years remaining, could play right away and is a huge position of need.

AS: Florida isn’t pursuing Raulerson at this time and I don’t recall saying Florida wouldn’t sign a graduate transfer. I recall saying it wouldn’t be the Davis Webb but that’s all.

Captainjoe24: Even after Shavar Manuel committed, it has felt like the momentum has slid downward. Can we expect a good/great finish?

AS:  I think Florida finishes with a really good class. Florida has a great class already and adding a few more big names will make this an even better class for them.

Haljordan: Outside of Eddy Pineiro, who do you see contributing immediately next year when it comes to those who were early enrollees?

AS: Chauncey Gardner, Mark Thompson, David Reese, Dre Massey and Freddie Swain are all guys that I think can play next year. Josh Hammond is another one that could get on the field.

RVG: Is D’Anferee McGriff still expected to enroll at Florida, and if so, when?

AS: McGriff hasn’t been on the Gators radar since he went to Prep School. It simply isnt going to happen.

Gators197: How bad do you think the Michigan game hurt our recruiting? It seemed like we were on a roll up till then.

AS: It took away a little momentum for sure but again that can be regained during coaches visits and official visits.

Juggernautz: > Do you think the negative UF recruiting has tempered down?

gt; If Saban leaves for the NFL(very slim chance) do we have to worry
about Mac being targeted as their next coach and if these rumours
persist could that impact our recruiting?

AS: Schools will always negative recruit against each other as that’s the nature of the business and as far Mac leaving that’s just not something that’s happening right now.

Tiwari218: Who are the best recruiters on staff and who needs work/may have to leave?

AS: Tim Skipper, Chris Rumph, Randy Shannon and Kerry Dixon are really good recruiters on the staff and Geoff Collins and Doug Nussmeier are as well but they’re the coordinators so it’s tough for them to recruit as much during the season.

Brainstorm: If we don’t sign Eubanks does Mac go to Jacob Mathis, take a flyer on Kelvin Lucky (my preference) or just pass on TE this year?

AS: Florida’s isn’t pushing for Mathis or Lucky right now but they’re still monitoring a few other guys as they go down the stretch run. Florida definitely wants one in the class though.

Gatordon: Do you expect things to start popping for the Gators when the dead period expires?

AS: I do because it’s January and it’s full of excitement and roller coasters in the world of recruiting.

Kinggator12: Anything on Nick Eubanks? And is that UGA LB commit Jaleel Laguins visiting Florida this weekend? Also do you see Florida landing a surprising commit on NSD?

AS: Eubanks is going to visit Florida in January and right now the Gators have a good shot at him but just need to have a good official visit. Laguins is sticking with Georgia from everything I have heard but he’s looking for a back up option just in case.

Dopplegangerg8r: Will you post where and who the coaches are visiting starting tomorrow?

AS: Yes, I will have it up before you’re reading this story.

Andrew Spivey
Andrew always knew he wanted to be involved with sports in some capacity. He began by coaching high school football for six years before deciding to pursue a career in journalism. While coaching, he was a part of two state semifinal teams in the state of Alabama. Given his past coaching experience, he figured covering recruiting would be a perfect fit. He began his career as an intern for Rivals.com, covering University of Florida football recruiting. After interning with Rivals for six months, he joined the Gator Country family as a recruiting analyst. Andrew enjoys spending his free time on the golf course and watching his beloved Atlanta Braves. Follow him on Twitter at @AndrewSpiveyGC.