Florida Gators recruiting mailbag: September 8th edition

Gator Country’s popular Florida Gators recruiting mailbag is back to its weekly spot on Thursday’s as we answer your recruiting questions.

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

MrB-Gator: How is the offensive line board right now?
Any new names?

AS: Still the same names at this point but the Gators did help themselves with Michigan offensive line commit Kai-Leon Herbert this past weekend. He would be a good for this class.

Juggernautz: Can you provide an update on the breakdown of what positions we’re recruiting for 2017?
Do you think we’ll recruit any JUCO players for this class & if so, what position(s)?

AS: 1 more receiver, 3 more offensive linemen, 2-3 more defensive linemen, 1 linebacker and 2-3 defensive backs. They won’t hit those numbers at every position but just a gauge to go by.

I think Florida will try to land a JUCO offensive lineman in this class to help at tackle next year. Outside of that I don’t see them going after any other JUCO guys this year.

Gatorfanseth: Would we take 6 defensive backs?

AS: I think that’s a very likely number this year. With three corners already committed, the Gators would love to add another one and then get two safeties in this class. So yeah six is possible.

Gatorfanseth: How many offensive line do you see us taking?

AS: I think the number is four, with three being offensive tackles.

Gatorfanseth: Are we satisfied at receiver if it is just two?

Kadarius Toney/Chadarius Townsend/Mike Hartley and then Daquon Green? Or do we want three?

AS: Florida would like to have three receivers in this class with the last one being an outside receiver. Toney, Townsend and Hartley are all for the same spot in my opinion. They’re all three slot guys so I think they would like to have one of those three to add to Green and another outside guy.

Gatorfanseth: Who is left on the linebackeer board?

AS: The two big names right now are Rahyme Johnson and Levi Jones out of Austin, Texas. Jones is scheduled to visit this fall for a visit but right now LSU is thought to be the leader.

Gatorfanseth: What is your views on this class as a whole and the potential of what it will be at the end up the first Wednesday of February?

AS: This class has filled the needs outside of offensive line so far. If the Gators are able to land a few more offensive linemen and then get another big receiver and defensive back then this class becomes really good. I like the way this class is heading so far.

Scooterp: If you were to rank top 5 offensive line targets in terms momentum with interest, what does it look like?

AS: Kai-Leon Herbert, Navaughn Donaldson, Alex Leatherwood, Toryque Bateman and then JUCO OL D’Marcus Hayes. I think Florida has a good shot at flipping Donaldson and Herbert. If they offer then they have a good shot at Bateman.

Gator0316: Did CeCe Jefferson play sat I didn’t hear his name all night ?

AS: Yes, he played but he played inside most of the night.

Bherny22: If you could pick one player that’s a must get for Florida in this class, who would it be?

AS: Alex Leatherwood is the guy that Florida needs the most because he’s an elite offensive tackle that plays from day one.

Chooch: In terms of recruiting, what are the feeling of the staff in terms of being able to get the guys they want to get? Do they feel positive about their first two classes and do they feel momentum starting to build? Is there any internal frustration on not landing more top offensive line or other positions of need?

AS: When you listen to Mac talk about this team you get the feel that he really likes the guys that he has recruited so far. I know that there is a lot of people frustrated with the offensive line recruiting but I believe that Mac and his recruiting staff lead by Drew Hughes is focused on getting the line fixed.

Hogtown: Do you think Florida will reveal their football master plan in the next few months? Have they leaked any information to you?

AS: I’ve only heard rumors that they’re going to get a standalone facility but I do believe that the plan will be revealed soon. I was thinking they would wait on the new athletic director to be hired before doing that but if the process drags on to long then maybe Jeremy Foley does it himself.

74gator: Offensive line is a position of need, we seem to get players at the other positions but having a more difficult time at offensive line. 2018 is a banner year in the state of Florida. Are we in good shape with any of the following players?

William Barnes
Curtis Dunlap
Nick Petit-Frere
Cleveland Reed
Richard Gouriage
Cleveland Reed
Reuben Unije

AS: Florida is in good shape with Barnes, Dunlap, Unije and are strongly in the mix for Gouriage and Reed. Nick Petit-Frere is still looking at a lot of options but Florida is in the mix for him.

Jhbyrd: Who are the 5 star recruits we still have a chance at?

AS: Donovan Peoples-Jones, Shaun Wade and Alex Leatherwood are all players that the Gators have a good chance with.

Ufgatordad: How do you think the poor showing on Sat impacted Shaun Wade and Herbert. Did the obvious need at offensive line and defensive back work in our favor, or did the overall poor play make them feel more confident in Michigan and Ohio State?

AS: The immediate need at the position is something that caught those guy’s eyes more than anything. The poor showing was bad on offense but they still won and the guys will watch the whole season and not just one game. The Gators helped their chances on Saturday.

Ufgatordad: I want Brad Stewart! Anything new here? Do you think we outright lead for him?

AS: Stewart hasn’t set a date yet for his announcement but Florida is still in good shape with Stewart. Stewart is really having a good season this year.

Gatorjlm: Any update on defensive end Jarez Parks? Who are the coaches recruiting him?

AS: Nothing really new on Parks, he plans to visit Florida, Florida State and Alabama this fall but his recruitment doesn’t likely heat up until January when he takes official visits. Chris Rumph, Doug Nussmeier, Geoff Collins and Jim McElwain are all recruiting him.

Philsgator: Elijah Blades still want to be legendary? Or are we losing some steam there?

AS: I still expect Blades to be in the Gators class, he’s recruiting several guys including linebacker Rahyme Johnson to join him at Florida. USC would have to do a lot to get Blades to change his mind.

Ufgatordad: Which of the seemingly Georgia bound recruits (i.e. Deangelo Gibbs, Aubrey Solomon, Tony Gray), do we have the best shot at, and do you think we end up stealing one from Georgia?

AS: It’s tough to say because all three look to be long shots right now but I will go with Gibbs because he has shown interest and visited the Gators before. Gray and Solomon haven’t visited in a long time so their interest hasn’t been enough for them to visit.

Ryreiduf: What’s the deal with Navaughn Donaldson and do you think Kai-Leon Herbert ends up with us?

AS: Donaldson is looking hard at Florida and plans to visit multiple times this fall. Herbert as I said above is also looking at Florida and the Gators helped their chances last week.

Dhainer24: Why do I hear people on this board say that Grimes is overrated? He looks like a stud to me. I know you are optimistic about DPJ, and Robinson is supposedly ours if he cleans up the off the field stuff, but is there any hope for Grimes? Any chance Jake can convince him to stay in the warm weather and follow him to the good guys?

AS: Grimes is very overrated in my opinion as well, he just missed last week’s game for what some called discipline reasons. Florida is doing the right thing by focusing on Donovan Peoples-Jones right now.

Gators1992: Is McElwain utilizing Spurrier in his recruiting efforts? Talking with recruits, selling the program, etc…

AS: Spurrier is there for prospects to meet while on campus but that’s about it, because Spurrier can’t call or visit kids. Spurrier will help when prospects our on campus though.

Firefightingator: Any chance we are recruiting Jarrett Stidham?

AS: No, Florida is done at quarterback for 2017.