The dead period officially ends on January 14th and the Florida Gators recruiting efforts will take off after that, as they look to finish the class of 2016 off strong.
Starting on January 15th the Florida Gators recruiting weekends will be filled with official visitors as the Gators are expected to have three big weekends in January.
GatorCountry.com broke down the remaining Florida Gators recruiting targets into offense and defense and broke down where they will take official visits too and what the Gators chances are.
Here’s part two that feature the defensive targets for the Florida Gators:
Defensive end Brian Burns
Official visit schedule:
Florida: January 22nd
Florida State: January 29th
Decision Date: Signing Day
Florida’s chances: The Gators are in great shape for the speedy pass rusher, but Miami hired Burns’ high school coach and that could throw a wrench into things. Burns has yet to set an official visit to Miami. Right now, Florida is battling Florida State for his signature.
Linebacker Josh Uche
Official visit schedule:
Decision Date: Signing day or after official visits
Florida: January 29th
Alabama: sometime in January
Miami: sometime in January
Florida’s chances: If Florida goes all in on Uche then the Florida Gators have a great shot, as Miami hasn’t been recruiting the linebacker/defensive end as hard as they were before Mark Richt took over in Coral Gables.
Linebacker Dontavious Jackson
Official visit schedule:
UCLA: October 2nd
Florida State: October 10th
Michigan: November 27th
Alabama: January 22nd
Florida: January 15th
Decision Date: Signing Day
Florida’s chances: Texas and Alabama seem to be the teams to beat for Jackson. The linebacker admitted that Randy Shannon has been recruiting him the hardest as of late. The official visit to Gainesville will be huge for both parties.
Linebacker Elysee Mbem-Bosse
Official visit schedule:
North Carolina State: October 2nd
Oregon State: November 7th
Oklahoma: November 20th
Florida: January 22nd
Decision Date: anytime in January
Florida’s chances: Mbem-Bosse was supposed to early enroll but backed off of that. Florida came in late to the party but the linebacker says he wants to visit the Gators. Mbem-Bosse seems like a long shot for Florida but if he visits then the Gators could get in the mix here.
Linebacker Mack Wilson
Official visit schedule:
Georgia: January 15th
Alabama: January 22nd
Florida: January 29th
Decision Date: Signing Day
Florida’s chances: Florida, Georgia and Alabama all like their chances for the talented Alabama linebacker but the Gators get the last visit here. Right now I think all three teams have a good shot with Georgia and Kirby Smart maybe having the upper hand heading into visits.
Georgia linebacker commit Jaleel Laguins
Official visit schedule:
LSU: December 11th
Florida: January 15th
Alabama January 22nd
Tennessee: January 29th
Decision Date: Signing Day
Florida’s chances: Laguins doesn’t feel wanted in Athens under new head coach Kirby Smart, but Georgia is the place he wants to be. Laguins set up an official visit to Florida just in case Georgia doesn’t honor his scholarship, but many, including myself, believe he will stick at Georgia.
Cornerback Kristian Fulton
Official visit schedule:
LSU: January 15th
Arkansas: January 22nd
Florida: January 29th
Decision Date: Signing Day
Florida’s chances: Fulton has been back on forth with LSU and Florida and the Gators and Tigers both like their chances. The key will be getting Fulton’s family comfortable at Florida, as they have never met Jim McElwain. The feeling I get is if Fulton’s parents feel good about Florida then the Gators have a great shot. If they don’t then he ends up at LSU. Both are great fits for the cornerback.
Cornerback Chris Brown (5-11, 190 Houston, TX)
Official visit schedule:
UCLA: October 22nd
Arizona State: November 21st
Michigan: November 28th
Florida: January 15th
Decision Date: TBD
Florida’s chances: Brown is a new name on the board and he’s close with Dontavious Jackson. This will be his first ever trip to Gainesville. Right now I don’t think the Gators are pushing for Brown but that could change in January.
What about Jayvaughn Myers. Even if his brother isn’t going to be a Gator, they should be pushing hard for him. I think he is really underrated and he played really well all week at UA AA week.
He had a very bad week at the Under Armour week and Florida is focusing on Kristian Fulton