Spring offensive visit recap: Florida Gators recruiting

The Florida Gators recruiting efforts took a giant step forward during spring football, as campus was filled with prospects day in and day out for practices.

This is one of the biggest times to get prospects on campus to see the coaching staff in action during practice, plus give them a campus tour and meet with the coaches after practice is done. Coaches are also able to eye some out of state targets for the first time, which could lead to an offer or further evaluation.

Florida was able to not only host 2017 prospects but also they were able to host prospects as far ahead as the class of 2020, which helps the Gators get a leg up on the competition.

During the month and few days for spring practice the Florida Gators recruiting list had well over 100 prospects on campus and we’re going to recap who visited.

GatorCountry will break it down into a two part series and we will start with the prospects that visited on the offensive side of the ball this spring.

Quarterbacks

The Gators already have their quarterback in 2017 in Jake Allen, so the staff was able to start looking ahead at prospects for 2018. This spring the Gators had some of the top quarterbacks for next year on campus including the top guy in the nation.

While Allen has seen everything he needs to see from the Gators and is solid to Florida he visited Gainesville multiple times this spring. Allen was mainly recruiting other guys but he did pay close attention to the spring game.

2018 quarterback Trevor Lawrence (6-5, 200, Cartersville, GA High) is considered by most to be the best quarterback for 2018 and he took a multi-day trip down to Gainesville this spring. Lawrence was joined by his family and has said he loved the trip. Florida’s biggest competition right now is Clemson, Tennessee and Georgia.
2018 quarterback Jarren Williams (6-3, 205, Lawrenceville, GA Central Gwinnett) visited Florida for the spring and he had the chance to meet with Doug Nussmeier and McElwain. Williams didn’t get an offer from Florida but he’s someone that the Gators will watch closely this spring and hopes to have in camp this summer.

2018 quarterback Emory Jones (6-4, 189, Franklin, GA Heard County) actually picked up an offer during his two-day visit to the Gators. Jones is a big athletic quarterback who left impressed by what Jim McElwain and the Gators have to offer. Jones is someone that is high on Florida and vice versa.

The quarterback position is the most important position to get an early start on recruiting prospects, as most commit early. The Gators succeeded doing that this spring.

Running backs

After the Gators signed two in 2016, Florida and running backs coach Tim Skipper can be a little bit more selective in 2017. Several guys visited campus this spring as the Gators look to add one guy in the 2017 class. Skipper has several guys to choose from, as the prospects that visited Gainesville were impressed. 2018 is also shaping up to be a good crop for backs and some of the top ones visited this spring.

Running back A.J. Davis (5-10, 198, Lakeland, FL High) visited Gainesville once this spring and he gave the visit rave reviews. The biggest thing with Davis right now is does he stick at running back at the next level or transition to another position? Davis is a guy that the Gators are in good shape with heading into the spring and summer months.

Running back Trey Sermon (6-1, 221, Marietta, GA Sprayberry) visited the Gainesville campus and the Gators recently made his top-six schools. Sermon is a guy that is high on Florida as well, but isn’t close to making a decision. Georgia and Tennessee look to be the biggest contenders for the Gators but Oklahoma is also in the mix.

Devan Barrett (6-1, 195, Tampa, FL Catholic) is an interesting prospect that can play either defensive back or running back. The Gators would take him as either and figure out once he got on campus. Florida looks to be in good shape early on, but Barrett says he isn’t close to deciding.

Miami commit Bentavious Thompson (6-0, 183, Miami, FL Killian) was in Gainesville for the first time this spring and picked up a Gators offer. Thompson says Florida is running behind Miami, but the Gators haven’t turned up the heat on him just yet. If Florida decides to push for him the Gators could be a real contender.

Here is a guy to watch who didn’t visit this spring in North Carolina commit Adarius Lemons (6-1, 192, Clearwater, FL High) but right now he’s concerned with the Gators depth chart. Florida will continue to work on him in hopes of flipping the Tar Heels commit.

2018 running back Lorenzo Lingard (6-0, 180, Orange City, FL University High) is regarded as one of the best running backs for next year and he was on campus this spring. Most people believed he was a lock to Florida State but the Gators pulled within striking distance for Lingard after this spring. Lingard sees playing time available for a 2018 prospect.

Receivers

Jim McElwain and receivers coach Kerry Dixon have done a phenomenal job of overhauling the position in the last year and a half since they arrived in Gainesville. After signing five in 2016 the Gators will look to add more playmakers in the 2017 class in hopes to restock the position that was left bare by Will Muschamp.

Right now it looks like Florida will try and sign between 3-4 guys in this class as several big name 2018 guys also visited campus this spring.

Donovan Peoples-Jones (6-1, 188, Detroit, MI Cass Tech) is one of the best players in this class and he visited Gainesville for the second time this spring. Peoples-Jones grew up rooting for Florida and the Gators continue to rise in his mind, as he’s close to Doug Nussmeier and Kerry Dixon. Peoples-Jones hasn’t named a top-group of schools but Florida will make the cut when he does.

James Robinson (6-3, 198, Lakeland, FL High) is a huge priority for the Gators in this class and he made the short drive to Gainesville to meet with new area recruiter Torrian Gray this spring. Robinson, who was once thought to be headed to Clemson, is now seriously considering Florida due to Gray and Dixon’s efforts in his recruitment. It’s a two-team race between the Tigers and Gators at this time.

Gators commit Daquon Green (6-1, 192, Tampa, FL Tech) is solid to the Gators and continues to impress people at camps this spring. Green is a commit the Gators are glad they have and the receiver is recruiting for Florida. Green was on campus multiple times.

Henry Ruggs (6-0, 171, Montgomery, AL Robert E. Lee) is one the top guys in Alabama but the Gators right in the mix for him. Ruggs is an explosive playmaker that had high praise for Kerry Dixon and the Florida coaching staff. Alabama is going to be tough to beat but the Gators are going full court press on him.

Bruce Judson also visited Gainesville several times this spring but the biggest question is where does he play at the next level. At 5-8 he has the same question marks that Sam Bruce had in 2016. The Gators will continue to monitor Judson this spring and summer.

These two guys didn’t visit Florida this spring but have interest in the Gators and are high priorities for the class. Athlete Kadarius Toney (5-10, 175, Prichard, AL Blount) and receiver Trevon Grimes (6-4, 196, Fort Lauderdale, FL St. Thomas Aquinas) are both interested in the Gators and Toney is expected this summer. Grimes has Ohio State out in front but the Gators are trying to play catch-up.

2018 athlete Justin Watkins (6-0, 160, Ocala, FL North Marion) is one of the top guys in next year’s class and he was on campus at Florida a lot this spring. Watkins is high on Florida and is very close with Freddie Swain.

2018 Miami receiver commit Daquris Wiggins (6-2, 170, Miami, FL Southridge) picked up an offer during his visit to Gainesville this spring. Wiggins is solid to Miami but says he will visit Florida this summer.

 

Tight end

The Gators added a tight end to the 2017 class this spring when Kemore Gamble (6-3, 220, Miami, FL Southridge) committed after the spring game. Gamble is a former Miami commit who can play several different positions at Florida.

Zech Byrd (6-6, 236, Millbrook, AL Stanhope Elmore) was on campus for the spring game and stayed multiple days in Gainesville. Byrd said he liked the trip a lot and that Jim McElwain really liked him. Florida will battle Alabama for Byrd as the Gators could use his height in their offense.

Tre McKitty (6-4, 225, Bradenton, FL IMG) didn’t visit this spring but is someone who is on the Florida Gators recruiting board. McKitty has several schools sticking out, but hasn’t cut down his list yet.

The 2018 class was represented by a legacy prospect in Judge Culpepper (6-4, 236, Tampa, FL Plant), who picked up an offer shortly before visiting campus. Culpepper said he liked the campus and the coaching staff.

 

Offensive line

Offensive line coach Mike Summers and the Gators are continuing to try and rebuild the line of scrimmage that was in shambles just a year ago. The Gators have done well the last two years in signing prospects and that has to continue in 2017. Several prospects visited this spring.

Alabama commit Alex Leatherwood (6-5, 298, Pensacola, FL Washington) visited the Gators and now says Florida and LSU are in second behind Alabama. Leatherwood really likes and looks up to Martez Ivey and that could help the Gators out here. Leatherwood is expected to visit again this summer.

Kai-Leon Herbert (6-4, 270, Plantation, FL American Heritage) visited Gainesville for the spring game with Jake Allen. The Gators are in great shape with Herbert and a commitment could come at any time from the athletic tackle prospect.

Tony Gray (6-4, 272, Lawrenceville, GA Central Gwinnett) was on campus and had positive things to say about the Gators but Florida still trails Georgia and Alabama. Gray is a prospect that Florida will continue to work to get back on campus.

Nick Brahms (6-5, 280, Navarre, FL High) is a prospect that is on the rise and he was able to watch the Gators practice this spring. Brahms doesn’t have a Florida offer yet but one could come this spring after the Gators watch him in practice.

Jordan Reid (6-4, 284, Detroit, MI Cass Tech) visited with his head coach this spring and just recently put the Gators in his top six schools. Florida looks to be behind the instate schools but Reid did like Gainesville.

Calvin Ashley (6-8, 311, Orlando, FL First Academy) didn’t visit this spring but the Gators are still in the mix here. Florida just needs to get him back on campus again.

Andrew Spivey
Andrew always knew he wanted to be involved with sports in some capacity. He began by coaching high school football for six years before deciding to pursue a career in journalism. While coaching, he was a part of two state semifinal teams in the state of Alabama. Given his past coaching experience, he figured covering recruiting would be a perfect fit. He began his career as an intern for Rivals.com, covering University of Florida football recruiting. After interning with Rivals for six months, he joined the Gator Country family as a recruiting analyst. Andrew enjoys spending his free time on the golf course and watching his beloved Atlanta Braves. Follow him on Twitter at @AndrewSpiveyGC.