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 close loss to the LSU Tigers last Saturday night.
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: How many OL do we take (including JUCO’s)?
AS: I think Florida takes a total of five. I think they get Marcus Tatum and another high school prospect. The real question is whether or not the Gators keep Branton Autry or replace him with another JUCO prospect like Ashton Julious.
SVSqueek7: Who has the potential of having the biggest impact as an incoming FR a la AC if they sign their LOI with the good guys?
AS: I’m going to go with Mark Thompson on the offensive side of the ball and then Chauncey Gardner on the defensive side of the ball. I think Gardner could potentially start at nickel next year for the Gators with the depth issues being key in the defensive backfield next year.
Gatordon: Have the recruits who wanted to see the performance on the field before deciding been sufficiently satisfied?
AS: Yes, they have and that’s a big reason why Freddie Swain decided to go ahead and commit to Florida two weeks ago. I think the guys have gotten everything they wanted to from the season, but now they are just waiting on the right time to make decisions.
Gatordon: Has Scarlett’s difficulties in terms of playing time hurt our chances with Bruce?
AS: I don’t believe so as Jordan Scarlett knows his issues and Sam Bruce knows he will play at Florida. I think Bruce is still looking good for Florida.
Gatordon: Do you expect anymore favorable announcements in the near future? Who is about ready to pull the trigger?
AS: At this time I do not, but that could change at any second as prospects could make a decision date any day. I think you will see someone pop for Florida in November but I’m not exactly sure whom yet.
Gatordon: You previously stated that we could see more decommitments from the current verbals. Is this a case of recruits simply looking elsewhere or is the staff looking to replace some current recruits with others more highly regarded?
AS: Simply guys going their separate ways. Some guys will leave due to the numbers at certain positions and other guys will be told to look around. I just like to say that they are going their separate ways.
Gator_nica: Which committed DB would begin next season in the two deep lineup and who would they back up? Could a freshmen DB actually start?
AS: I think the answer Chauncey Gardner but you could see a guy like McArthur Burnett or Jayvaughn Myers step up and play. The thing is that someone will have to step up because there is no experienced depth after Quincy Wilson and Jalen Tabor at cornerback.
Gator_nica: What is the latest on the WR board? I see the coaches going hard after Eli Stove and Keith Gavin. Anything new with these two WR´s?
AS: Auburn Tigers commit Eli Stove is looking hard at Florida right now I expect him to visit Florida this season and take an official after the season. I don’t think Florida gets Keith Gavin as I think he goes to Alabama or Florida State.
Juggernautz: Kicker/punter update?
AS: Alabama Crimson Tide commit Eddy Pineiro is the guy they are after and I think the Florida Gators can flip with their current situation at kicker being so uncertain. Florida isn’t recruiting a punter for 2016.
Juggernautz: Is Peacock leaning towards us?
AS: I would consider 2017 running back Jamari Peacock a Florida lean at this time, but he also likes Miami and Florida State a lot. Peacock has been to every Florida home game this year so that helps the Gators out a lot.
2xgator: Is Tatum still looking good for us?
AS: Yes, he still plans to take all of his official visits but I think he will be a Florida Gators recruiting commit before the first of the year.
Mdmcgarry: Your opinion, do you think another year of experience will greatly improve our offensive line or should we try replacing some with JUCO lineman?
AS: I think the offensive line will improve next year especially with freshmen Martez Ivey, Fred Johnson and Tyler Jordan all seeing playing time this year. I think Florida would love to get a JUCO guy to help inside next year but a guy like Nick Buchanan is also someone that they like inside for next year.
Jjgator55: I know Victor went to OSU this past weekend, but I was surprised to see Bruce went as well. I know Bruce’s family wants him close to home, but OSU feels Victor is a lock to commit, and Bruce can be convinced to flip to them because they need true WRs. What have you heard on their trip to OSU?
AS: Miami Hurricanes commit Sam Bruce was always expected to visit Ohio State, but I think he stays closer to home, which helps out Florida and Miami. As far as Binjimen Victor goes, I think Florida came out good here because Victor already burned his official to Ohio State and he didn’t commit.
Hoganmac97: Do you believe Shavar is now somewhat of a lean to Florida due to the fact he did not commit over the weekend to LSU?
AS: I think Shavar Manuel will be a Florida vs. LSU battle all the way until the end, but I do expect Manuel to be at Florida at least two more times this year which helps Florida a ton.
Grandkids3: Keep seeing Xavier Lane’s name pop up as an under the radar receiver, and saw the coaches visited him Monday, what’s your opinion of him?
AS: I love his film and he’s a very good player but the receiver board is so loaded that I don’t know where you fit him in at. Lane is a 6-3 receiver, though, and Florida will continue to recruit him just in case they have room for him in Gainesville.
Flups76: Drew, Should we expect any more commitments before NSD?
AS: Absolutely Florida will get plenty more commits before National Signing Day rolls around.
Gatorstein: Andrew, who do you believe may EE this year? Thanks!
AS: Right now, Freddie Swain, Mark Thompson, Isaiah Johnson, Chauncey Gardner and Josh Hammond are planning on early enrolling, but I expect this number to grow as we get closer to January.
Easypeasey: A few names to get your take on after a week of numerous visits:
Velus Jones
John Simpson
Terrance Davis
Thaddeus Moss
Josh Uche
Jachai Polite
AS: Jones- is a good player but again, I don’t know where he fits in at due to the numbers, but he’s having a great year.
Simpson- South Carolina or Clemson for the offensive lineman.
Davis- offensive lineman from Maryland likes Florida and Michigan but he needs to visit Gainesville first.
Uche- Miami Hurricanes commit who I think Florida has a great shot at because of Randy Shannon. Uche can play linebacker and defensive end, which helps Florida, out a ton.
Polite- he’s a guy that Florida will continue to recruit as they wait on bigger name guys at this time.
Ol2ange: Do you see both Eric Mitchell and JaQuan Bailey in this class on NSD?
AS: Right now I think those two guys go elsewhere. I know that Bailey wants to play with his brother and I think Mitchell stays close to home at Miami.
Ol2ange: Are we still recruiting some guys such as JaMarcus King?
AS: Yes, they are still recruiting him but his academics aren’t good enough to get into Florida at this time.
Wilbur11: If Treon succeeds (wins out/wins SEC east) as the starter, what kind of impact does this have with the Miami kids? The Harris family is an institution in SoFla high school football. Are they a positive for UF recruiting?
AS: It will absolutely help Florida out because he’s a big name guy down there and someone that kids look up to and like playing with. Treon winning at Florida is huge for recruiting.
Wrl344: Is Josh Hammond wavering? Seeing stuff out there leading me to believe he’s not as solid as I once thought.
AS: I think Hammond sticks at Florida due to his family ties to the Florida Gators but he’s definitely looking at Georgia hard.
Nickelgators: Is Sam Bruce going to be a Gator ?
AS: I think Sam Bruce is a Gator on National Signing Day.
Dhainer24: Considering the bigger names that we are in on at certain positions, I would rate the most likely to de-commit as:
1. McWilliams
2. Mitchell
3. Bailey
4. Wells
Am I in the ballpark here?
AS: Yes, you’re in the ballpark but I think some of those guys remain in the class while others leave. It will happen pretty soon in my opinion.
Al Golden firing doesn’t seem to be push Bruce to the Gators”
Miami’s top-rated 2016 recruit, four-star wide receiver Sam Bruce of Fort Lauderdale-St. Thomas Aquinas, tweeted: “I didn’t commit to no damn coach! I committed to the U.” He added, “As long KB there” — UM wide receivers coach Kevin Beard, one of his mentors — “I’m there.”
Yep, I didn’t expect Bruce to say anything else because he doesn’t want to listen to Miami fans. If he flips, it will be in January.