The Florida Gators coaches are officially rejoicing because they can now hit the road to do some in person recruiting because the dead period has officially come to an end.
But before the coaches hit the road our Gator Country members have a lot of questions about how this class is going to finish as Jim McElwain and his staff have less than a month to make relationship with these prospects.
In this week’s recruiting mailbag I’ll get everyone caught up on what’s happening in recruiting in regards to the Florida Gators.
But this week’s mailbag was so big that we had to split it up into two pieces. Last night Part I and now here’s Part II
Sinner: Are there any O-lineman out there (not currently on our radar) that can contribute immediately and we have a shot at getting in this class?
AS: Honestly the ones that Florida will be able to count on next year are Martez Ivey, Tyree St. Louis and maybe one more guy. This year’s class is more about depth.
Coky12: With so many new offers passed out over the past week, especially to South Florida/Dade County players, are all these contingency/backup plans? are any immediate “takes”?
AS: Some are immediate takes and some are backup plans. Guys visiting earlier than others are takes. Again the new staff likes some different players then the past staff.
Gatorjim: Any interest in Dexter Williams RB Orlando? Film looks pretty good to me.
AS: A little but not a ton right. Louisville and Notre Dame are the leaders here.
FrankGator627: How many commitments will go public after the weekend of the 16th?
AS: Maybe 2 but don’t hold me to that at all.
Pcolagator: what’s the word with Jaason Lewis, the huge RB from Virginia?
AS: Jaason Lewis will visit this weekend and I really like Florida’s chances here. He’s a big back that can play multiple positions on offense and could play linebacker on defense.
67viking: Cowart has made the statement that other players want to follow him to his school of choice. IF, he is making a signing day announcement, is he letting these other players know his intentions before announcing? Same for Ivey & CeCe. Have they given our coaches their decision? If indeed there were a number of recruits who would like to play with these guys, why not go ahead and pick a school, and have as many elite players as possible as teammates?
AS: Those guys will tell the other guys where they are going and go from there.
8count: You’ve said we are only taking 2 running backs, and we’ve been picking up steam recently with more than 2. Who are the top 2 choices and if Scarlett Lewis and Conkrite all want in who do we take?
AS: Florida will take Jordan Scarlett and Jordan Cronkrite as running backs and Jaason Lewis as an athlete.
Dopplegangerg8r: This new staff seems to have an ever increasing recruiting board. They are getting after it in a big way! Is there a different perception of this staff with recruits in that regard?
AS: Prospects see the energy around this staff and that will play a big part in how this class finishes.
Gators123: What are your thoughts on not having the coaching staff completed before the first big recruiting weekend?
AS: I’m shocked honestly because I thought the staff would be done by now but McElwain knows better than I do and I’m sure he knows what he’s doing and will explain that to coaches.
Scbeerman: Will the Gators take a transfer QB, one that can play next year? I am particularly interested in Everett Golson. I saw him play in high school and think that he is a winner. However, there may be problems with his one year absence from school from the plagiarizing incident concerning his graduation from ND.
AS: It’s possible but right now nothing is concrete. I’m sure Florida will see how the two quarterbacks do in the spring and go from there.
PD: Knowing what you do about Mac’s recruiting philosophy, what is your sense of his loading strategy (for lack of better term)? Does he favor the “Texas model” of front-loading commitments and trying to have as much of the class as possible full by September, OR will he back-load the class, piling up most official visits in January holding out for all those wait-for-NSD elite guys to fill as many spots as possible while having a bag full of Plan Bs standing by, OR will he just focus on the players and work around their time tables and not concern themselves with the timing?
AS: I think he will go with the Texas/Alabama way and try to get a lot of top kids committed early on and then just try and get the best of the rest in January if that makes sense. McElwain doesn’t seem like someone who wants to play around with recruiting guys too late.
G8trsnapper: Andrew where do we stand with Carlton Davis for safety and Mark Fields at CB? We got in late on both are we a real player for these guys?
AS: I doubt Carlton Davis visits anymore and with Mark Fields I think Florida is likely to get a visit but they have a lot of work to do to catch Clemson.
Frankgator627: Will Richard Mcbryde visit?
AS: January 30th he’s planning to visit. Keep a close eye on him because Will Muschamp doesn’t have a great relationship with him and that could help Florida here.
Man, i sure hope youre right about Cowart, CeCe, and Ivey. I used to think they were UF locks, but the more I read the more im afraid we may lose Cowart and CeCe to Auburn. I really hope coach Mac has a big impression on them this week.
I don’t see either ending up at Auburn but that’s just me.
Ya notnl completely sure ofnAuburn either, i SHOULD have said i dont see either foing to UF anymore. Def. not Cowart.