Florida Gators recruiting is doing well and this week’s recruiting mailbag had a lot of great questions about how prospects view the Florida Gators after their win over the Georgia Bulldogs.
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:
MrB-Gator: Thanks Andrew……quarterback update.
Do you think we get Feleipe Franks?
And, if so, how do you feel about him?
Also….is Eason visiting us for the FSU game?
Any shot with him?
AS: Right now I lean towards Feleipe Franks being the best chance for the Gators to flip. The key is to get him back on campus again for a visit. Right now I would say no chance with Jacob Eason because I believe he sticks with Georgia. He’s an early enrollee as well.
Mdmcgarry: Are there any prospects that we want that are trending up or down since your last recruiting mailbag?
It appears that we have a loaded group of receivers that we want, who do you think we finally end up?
AS: I would say things have stayed the same for the most part. You will start to see a change in momentum one way or another after the Florida State game when schools are able to start visiting these prospects again.
As far as the receiver class goes, I think Florida will add Stove and Nate Craig-Myers to the guys they have right now.
Daswamp: Any chance Trayvon Mullen uses official visit for UF? Any new update/plans for a visit from Kristian Fulton?
AS: I don’t think Mullen visits Florida and I think he goes to either FSU or LSU. Nothing new on Fulton except he’s supposed to visit Florida for an official visit. I still think he goes to LSU.
Doppleganger8r: On the defensive line, are their guys that, if they commit, will keep others away? For example, Janarius Robinson and Dexter Lawrence? Would one of those guys committing force the other away?
AS: Lawrence is a defensive tackle and Robinson is a defensive end. Right now Florida would take those guys and figure out the numbers later, but of course, these guys will continue to look at the other commits in this class.
Msgator1981: There are some big time recruits scheduled to visit the Swamp to see the UF/FSU game. I know there are officials slated for Binjimen Victor, Mark Thompson, and Chauncey Gardner. Who else is supposed to show for that game, officially or unofficially?
AS: I don’t have a full list yet but guys like Mack Wilson, Dexter Lawrence, Shavar Manuel, Nate Craig-Myers and Eli Stove have all said they may be back for the game. It will be huge visitor’s list for both the 2016 and 2017 classes.
Juggernautz: Anything new on the kicker committed to Bama?
Can you give a breakdown on the how many we’re taking for
each position for 2016?
When does the next no contact period start?
AS: Nothing really new on Eddy Pineiro, who’s committed to Alabama. He’s still expected to visit for the Florida State game but I’m not confident he shows, honestly.
I’ll get a new breakdown up on the site this week for sure as I need to check on a few things now that the season is almost over.
The dead period starts on the 14th of December.
Macbgator: Do you see Bruce in this class at WR?
AS: Right now I lean towards Sam Bruce sticking with Miami, but that could change when the new coach is hired at Miami.
Firefightinggator: Have the dorm updates been finished? If so have you seen them?
Any idea how the new/upgraded locker rooms will look?
Go Gators
AS: I haven’t been able to view them but I’m pretty sure most of the dorm updates are done. I’ll check on that soon and let you know. There are some plans to upgrade the locker room but I haven’t seen any design for it yet.
Ufgatordad: If you could name a single recruit that you believe the coaching staff would most like to get, whether due to sheer talent or lack of depth at a position, who do you think that would be?
Also, it seems as though Bruce’s commitment to Miami is mainly dependent on his relationship with the wide receivers’ coach. Is that correct, and if so, do you think he becomes a Gator if the new Miami coach lets that position coach go?
AS: Mack Wilson, because he fills a big need for the Gators defense but there are several big time guys left on the board that Florida wants and needs.
Yes Bruce is very close with Kevin Beard, who is the Miami receiver’s coach, and if he’s let go then Bruce would look elsewhere. The question is will Florida still have a spot for him then.
Feartheswamp2009: Football related: I know you said behind the scenes stuff are going on with the QB recruiting, so is the staff just in love with Franks or is he just the only real prospect we have a chance with? Is it possible that the behind the scenes the staff is talking to a committed QB we or you haven’t mentioned as the staff doesn’t want it known yet as to not mess the recruitment up?
Are we currently recruiting any LB that we were on early in the year that may have renewed interest or added any new ones to our board?
Non-football: what in the he** are the braves thinking/doing. I’m am truly torn as I said I was done with them if they ever trade Freeman or Simmons and I would be gosh dang if they haven’t gone it.
AS: Coach McElwain has made it clear to Franks and everyone that he likes Franks a lot. I mean Mac took a trip to see him at 7 A.M. on Monday morning of the bye week. Mac and Nuss like those tall quarterbacks and he fits the bill.
No real new names on the linebacker board but that could change as the staff watches senior highlight tapes. That could be changed in the next few weeks.
I don’t think they trade Freeman, or they better not. Haha. I think we will be ok in 2017 when we hit the new ballpark.
2xgator: How many defensive backs do you see us taking?
We may lose three early to the league, one to graduation, and we have lost two to legal troubles. Taking six keeps us even.
AS: I think they take six defensive backs and maybe even seven because the Gators depth chart is very thin at defensive back. They need to add at least six in order to get depth back.
Ol2ange: New question: Is our board pretty much set or will there be new names popping up in the next few months?
How have some of our 2015 signees been doing in practice? The guys who are redshirting? (Zuniga, Buchanan, Rayshad Jackson, Chris Williamson, Luke Ancrum, K. Davis, A. Ivie, etc?). Do you see any of these players transferring?
AS: There will be new names added to the board as senior film comes out but for the most part the board is set.
Buchanan is doing really well and should be able to contribute a lot next year. Williams has played some on special teams this year but is bothered by a hamstring. Ancrum traveled with the team last week and is doing really well in practice. Zuniga is still very raw but he has a great motor and his upside is great. Jackson and Davis are still trying to get up to speed from what I’ve heard.
Kpr1386: How many verbal commits do you expect to have on Jan 1 and how many the eve before signing day?
Do you think anyone pops at FSU?
AS: I think on January first you will 23-24 but they will get a few at the all-star games. Tough to say on the eve of signing day though.
I think there is a couple of guys that could pop but nobody has told me that they will yet. I’ll keep you guys updated.
G8rmann: How concerned should we be for FSU for Nate Craig Myers?
Auburn for Mcarthur Burnett?
Uche still likely?
AS: Florida has to worry about Florida State until the end because they have always been on Craig-Myers mind but the Gators just need to keep getting him on campus.
I don’t think Burnett goes to Auburn and I think he takes an official to Florida soon and he early enrolls.
I think Florida lands Josh Uche as Randy Shannon likes him as a defensive end/outside linebacker.