We’re closing in on the midway point of the football season, which means schools have had chances to host prospects for several games this fall.
The Florida Gators recruiting efforts have been going kind of slow, due to the lack of a big home game, but behind the scenes things are still going full force.
Right now the Gators sit at 16 current commits in the class and now looks like the Gators will be able to get close to 25 in the class of 2017.
In the next two stories, Gator Country.com will break down five prospects on each side of the ball that the Gators are focusing in on in hopes to finish the class on a high note.
Note: This is just GatorCountry’s opinion and they’re in no order but listed alphabetically.
First up was offense and now we look at the defensive side of the ball.
Cornerback C.J. Henderson (6-0, 174, Miami, FL. Columbus)
Reason he makes the list: Henderson is one of the best athletes in the state and his speed is much needed at Florida. The Gators are lacking that elite speed and Henderson would help fix that problem. Henderson needs a little work at defensive back but he’s a guy that would help from day one on special teams.
Chances: When Henderson was committed to Miami, the Gators were the favorite to flip him and just last week he decommited from the Canes. Florida is the team to beat for Henderson but when he makes a decision is something that isn’t known at this time.
Linebacker Rahyme Johnson (6-4, 210, Los Angeles, CA. Salesian)
Reason he makes the list: Florida needs another linebacker in this class and Johnson is a perfect fit for the Gators. Johnson is having a solid year that has him with 41 tackles, two sacks and six quarterback hurries through just five games. Johnson has the athletic ability to run with opposing tight ends and running backs while also being a plus linebacker against the running game.
Chances: Johnson was a once UCLA commit but now the Gators and Nebraska appear to be the front-runners. Johnson is very close with Gators commit Elijah Blades and the two have talked about playing together since they were younger.
Defensive end Jarez Parks (6-5, 255, Sebastian, FL. River)
Reason he makes the list: Florida needs a pass rusher to go with Zach Carter in this class and Parks is one of those guys. Parks is an elite pass rusher that has also shown an ability to drop into coverage when needed.
Chances: Parks is one of if not the most difficult prospects to get a read on so that makes this part difficult. Most around Parks say that Alabama and Florida are leading the pack with Florida State also in the mix but things won’t get interesting until the defensive end takes his official visits. The one good thing for Florida is that Parks’ family is big Gators fans and he liked Florida growing up.
Safety Brad Stewart (6-0, 194, New Orleans, LA. McDonogh 35)
Reason he makes the list: Safety is a key position for the Gators in the class of 2017 and Stewart is one of the best in the country. Stewart is one of those guys that can play either corner or safety but the Gators see him as a safety.
Chances: The Gators were the favorite to land Stewart when he was supposed to a decision this summer and Florida is still squarely in the mix. It will be interesting to see how the new LSU staff does with Stewart but the safety has said he wants to go out of state. Alabama and Mississippi State are also squarely in the mix here.
Ohio State cornerback commit Shaun Wade (6-2, 179, Jacksonville, FL. Trinity Christian)
Reason he makes the list: Wade is one of if not the top corners in the country for 2017 and is a guy that can likely play from day one in college. The Gators are likely to lose both starting corners this year so they need someone to come in play from day one.
Chances: Alabama, Florida and Ohio State are all in the mix for Wade and official visits will be the key. Wade is early enrolling so things will have to happen quickly but Gators assistant Tim Skipper has been working hard on the cornerback and his parents.