Gator Country

Outside linebacker Jelani Jenkins (undecided) works out during the first day of practice leading up to the Under Armour All-America Game on Wednesday, December 31, 2008 at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. / TIM CASEY

In years past, the final 10 days before National Signing Day were like a sprint for the finish line but with one junior college transfer and five freshmen already in school to go with 10 commitments, signing day could be like a leisurely stroll in the park for the Florida Gators. The bulk of the class is accounted for with 12 recruits still in play for the four to six remaining slots but with 73 scholarship players already on campus, how will the numbers crunch out?

The Gators return 67 scholarship players from the 2008 Southeastern Conference and national championship teams including 30 on offense, 35 on defense and two specialists. They’ll be joined for mat drills and spring practice by junior college defensive tackle Edwin Herbert and five freshmen --- tight end Desmond Parks, guard Nick Alajajian, tackle Jonnathan Harrison, linebacker Jon Bostic and safety Dee Finley.

The Gators have 10 additional commits and if all 10 hold to their commitment and sign on February 4, then that puts Florida within two of the 85-scholarship limit. From all indications, Florida expects to sign at least four and possibly six more recruits to scholarships, which should give Urban Meyer his fourth straight top five recruiting class.

It also means there will be a numbers crunch at the end of the spring.

A certain amount of attrition is expected every year. Nearly every year two to four players transfer in search of playing time no matter who the coach is and there is usually one player that takes a medical hardship. At least one player has been dismissed in the January to August window every year that Meyer has been in Gainesville. Here is a look at the roster including commitments and potential signees along with players that could possibly be designated “at risk.” We’ll use the term “at risk” to determine those that might have some sort of issue that would keep them off the 85-man scholarship roster in August.

CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS:

ON SCHOLARSHIP FROM 2008: 67
JUCO TRANSFER ENROLLED: 1
EARLY ENTRY FRESHMEN: 5
COMMITTED: 10
STILL IN PLAY: 12
AT RISK: 10

OFFENSE:

QUARTERBACK (2): Tim Tebow (6-3, 240, SR); John Brantley (6-3, 215, R-SO)
Committed (1): Jordan Reed (6-3, 225, New London, CT; #141 ESPNU 150)
Still in play (1): Denard Robinson (6-1, 191, Deerfield Beach, FL; #102 ESPNU 150)
AT RISK: None.

Ideally, you want four quarterbacks, all of them separated by one year but this year it looks like the Gators will have three scholarship quarterbacks on the roster, same as the last two years. Tebow will be the odds-on favorite to win his second Heisman Trophy in three years but you can expect Brantley to see the field in every game to get him ready to start in 2010. Reed is in a no-pressure situation. He can spend his freshman year learning the offense and getting comfortable with the way things are done. Robinson is still a possibility, but it seems the chances he will wind up a Gator grow dimmer every single day.

RUNNING BACK (4): Brandon James (5-6, 185, SR); Emmanuel Moody (6-0, 210, JR); Chris Rainey (5-9, 185, R-SO); Jeff Demps (5-9, 180, SO)
Committed (1): Mike Gillislee (6-0, 190, DeLand, FL; #129 ESPNU 150)
Still in play (1): Trent Richardson (5-11, 225, Pensacola, FL Escambia; #6 ESPNU 150)
AT RISK: None.

The Gators return as much running back talent as any team in the country and it’s hard to imagine that another team has four faster running backs than James, Rainey, Demps and Moody. Gillislee is an elusive runner with pass catching skills although he’s more slasher than power back. Richardson is committed to Alabama but he’s definitely in the mix. If the Gators added Richardson, this would probably be the top ranked set of backs in the country to start 2009. Adding one more back isn’t a necessity, but if the Gators can’t turn Richardson this year, finding a big back for the class of 2010 will become a priority.

TIGHT END/FULLBACK (4): Aaron Hernandez (6-3, 260, JR); Steve Wilks (6-2, 230, R-SO); T.J. Pridemore (6-3, 240, R-FR); Desmond Parks (6-4, 225, Greer, SC)
Still in play (1): Orson Charles (6-3, 230, Tampa, FL Plant)
AT RISK: None

Hernandez has star written all over him and it’s a distinct possibility that he could leave after 2009 for the NFL. Wilks’ future is as a blocker and long snapper. Pridemore could develop into a Hernandez-type if he can develop the pass-catching skills. Parks needs to add 25 pounds of muscle but he has good receiving skills. Charles is a tweener, probably more wide receiver/H-Back than traditional tight end. Because Hernandez could jump to the NFL after 2009, Charles is probably more of a priority than first imagined.

WIDE RECEIVER (9): David Nelson (6-5, 220, R-SR); Riley Cooper (6-3, 220, SR); Carl Moore (6-4, 215, SR); Justin Williams (6-1, 205, R-JR); Deonte Thompson (6-0, 200, R-SO); Paul Wilson (6-0, 195, R-SO); Frankie Hammond (6-0, 180, R-FR); Omarius Hines (6-1, 205, R-FR); T.J. Lawrence (6-1, 200, R-FR)
Committed (2): Nu’Keese Richardson (5-10, 170, Pahokee, FL; #112 ESPNU 150); Andre Debose (6-0, 182, Sanford, FL Seminole; #17 ESPNU 150)
Still in play (1): Marlon Brown (6-5, 205, Memphis, TN Harding Academy; #24 ESPNU 150)
AT RISK: None

Nelson and Cooper will have their chances to step up into stardom as seniors. Moore was a juco All-American who should break out as a senior. Williams has the talent to be the spring surprise while Thompson should become the next great deep threat at Florida. Wilson is a great pass catcher but he’s got to prove he can stay healthy. Hammond, Hines and Lawrence will all have a chance to prove themselves in the spring. Richardson and Debose add deep speed and the ability to make people miss. Adding Marlon Brown would be icing on the cake but if the Gators whiff, it’s not like the position will be lacking.

CENTERS (3): Maurkice Pouncey (6-5, 312, JR); Corey Hobbs (6-4, 300, R-JR); Sam Robey (6-4, 300, R-FR)
Committed (1): Kyle Koehne (6-6, 290, Indianapolis, IN Cathedral)
AT RISK (1): Will Corey Hobbs be content to spend his career as a backup at Florida? He could finish his degree in the spring, transfer somewhere and have two years of eligibility if he decides he wants to see the field somewhere.

Maurkice Pouncey should make All-America as a junior. He was as good a center as there was in the country as a sophomore even though more publicized players got the honors. Hobbs has never challenged for starting time in four years so there is always that possibility that he will want to go somewhere and play. Coaches love Robey because he’s smart and capable of playing multiple positions. Koehne could end learning to play center, guard and tackle.

GUARDS (5): Mike Pouncey (6-5, 312, JR); Mo Hurt (6-3, 310, R-JR); James Wilson (6-5, 320, R-SO); Byran Jones (6-3, 305, R-FR); Nick Alajajian (6-4, 280, Naples, FL; #61 ESPNU 150)
Committed (1): Jonathan Halapio (6-4, 305, St. Petersburg, FL Catholic)
AT RISK (1): Mo Hurt is maybe one shoulder stinger away from a medical hardship.

Getting Mo Hurt and James Wilson healthy enough to last an entire season has to be a priority. Right guard is solid as a rock with Mike Pouncey, who could make All-America in 2009. If healthy, Hurt and Wilson would give the Gators as powerful middle of the line as there is. Jones has become a nice prospect now that he’s trimmed 30 pounds of fat. Alajajian will probably redshirt so he can gain strength and weight. Halapio is a road grader in the making. He might have a chance to get in the rotation as a freshman.

TACKLES (6): Carl Johnson (6-5, 344, R-JR); Marcus Gilbert (6-6, 308, R-JR); Jim Barrie (6-5, 295, R-JR), Matt Patchan (6-6, 285, SO); David Young (6-5, 300, R-FR); Jonnothan Harrison (6-4, 295, FR)
Committed (1): Xavier Nixon (6-6, 280, Fayetteville, NC Jack Britt; #51 ESPNU 150)
AT RISK (1): We may not know until the summer if Jim Barrie will be able to come back from a devastating knee injury back in August.

Carl Johnson will move from left guard to left tackle where he should be a dominator. He’s got the quick feet to go with all that bulk. Gilbert is long on technique and talent but he’s got to prove it on the field as a starter in the fall. Watch for Patchan if he’s got his weight up to 290-plus. He could challenge Gilbert in the spring and fall if Gilbert gets off to a slow start. David Young is a star of the future. Harrison will start at tackle, but will he wind up on the inside? Nixon is as good an offensive line prospect as there is in the nation and if he can get his weight up in the 290-295 range, look for him to challenge for backup minutes at left tackle.

DEFENSE:

ENDS (6): Jermaine Cunningham (6-4, 250, SR); Carlos Dunlap (6-7, 292, JR); Justin Trattou (6-4, 270, JR); Duke Lemmens (6-4, 260, JR); William Green (6-4, 235, SO); Earl Okine (6-7, 280, R-FR)
Committed (1): Kedric Johnson (6-4, 220, Palmetto, FL)
AT RISK: None.

Florida might have the most talented defensive ends in the nation in 2009. Dan McCarney wants Cunningham to bulk up to 260-265 and if he can add the weight without losing speed, he could be a real terror as a senior. If Dunlap continues to improve, he will be off the charts in the fall. Trattou is the best of the defensive ends against the run. He needs the spring to get better as a pass rusher. Lemmens is a high energy guy who has given good backup minutes in two years. Okine is a beast in the making and Green only needs to add bulk. He’s got incredible speed. Johnson will likely redshirt as a freshman. If we see the type of improvement from one year to the next like we saw this past season, then this could be the year that Florida’s defensive ends set sack records.

TACKLES (9): Troy Epps (6-1, 295, SR); Lawrence Marsh (6-5, 300, R-JR); Brandon Antwine (5-11, 300, R-JR); Terron Sanders (6-0, 300, R-JR); Torrey Davis (6-4, 300, JR); Edwin Herbert (6-3, 295, JR); Jaye Howard (6-5, 290, R-SO); John Brown (6-0, 300, R-SO) Omar Hunter (6-0, 310, R-FR)
Committed (1): Gary Brown (6-4, 290, Greensboro, FL West Gadsden; #23 ESPNU 150)
Still in play (2): Luther Robinson (6-2, 280, Fort Pierce, FL Westwood); Brandon Moore (6-6, 320, Montgomery, AL Carver)
AT RISK (3): Antwine came back from a serious back injury to play well in 2008 before he suffered a devastating knee injury in November. He could be a medical hardship if he can’t come back. Epps suffered a very bad knee injury and he might not be ready by spring. If his rehab goes slow, he might be a candidate to transfer or take a medical hardship. Brown has returned to school but remains a candidate to transfer to a junior college after the spring semester.

This is the position where there will be the most questions in 2009. Epps and Antwine have to come back from knee injuries and there’s no telling what will happen with John Brown. Marsh and Sanders were solid all season and both should continue to improve. Davis has All-America ability if he can get it together both off and on the field. Howard is still growing and his upside is enormous. Hunter missed all of 2008 with a back injury but when he’s healthy, he’s a beast at the nose. Gary Brown will be in the rotation from day one. He’s that good. We’ll see Herbert for the first time in the spring but he was great against the run in juco. Getting Robinson and/or Moore would make this less of a question mark position. Moore has incredible size and the ability to control two gaps.

LINEBACKERS (10): Brandon Spikes (6-3, 245, SR); Dustin Doe (6-0, 230, SR); Ryan Stamper (6-2, 232, R-SR); A.J. Jones (6-1, 225. R-JR); Brandon Hicks (6-2, 225, JR); Lorenzo Edwards (6-2, 232, JR); John Jones (6-2, 225, JR); Lerentee McCray (6-2, 220, SO); Brendan Beal (6-2, 235, R-FR); Jon Bostic (6-3, 232, FR; #109 ESPNU 150)
Still in play (3): Jelani Jenkins (6-1, 215, Wheaton, MD Good Counsel; #9 ESPNU 150); Jarvis Jones (6-3, 230, Columbus, GA Carver; #60 ESPNU 150); Frankie Telfort (5-11, 205, Miami, FL Gulliver Prep; #29 ESPNU 150)
AT RISK (1): You have to wonder if John Jones is willing to spend another year as a special teamer. He hasn’t really shown that he could crack the two-deep so he might be one that considers a transfer to a place where he could see the field.

With Spikes returning, the Gators will have the best linebacking corps in the nation in 2009 and that’s even if they whiff on Jenkins, Jarvis Jones and Telfort and even if they lose someone to a transfer. Spikes is simply the best linebacker in the country while Doe, Stamper, Hicks and A.J. Jones have all started at one time or another and they are solid. This could be the spring that Lorenzo Edwards finally puts it together. He’s got as much ability as any linebacker on the roster with the exception of Spikes. Beal is coming back from a knee injury but he was going to be in the rotation before he went down. Bostic has grown into a prototypical linebacker although he still has safety speed. McCray is a flyer who was a valuable special teamer. If the Gators add even one of the three recruits still on the board, it will be like piling on … the rich will just get so much richer.

CORNERBACKS (7): Wondy Pierre-Louis (6-1, 185, SR); Markihe Anderson (5-10, 185, SR); Joe Haden (5-11, 185, JR); Moses Jenkins (6-2, 190, JR); Janoris Jenkins (5-10, 190, SO); Jeremy Brown (5-10, 180, R-FR); Adrian Bushell (5-10, 183, R-FR)
Committed (1): Marsalis Teague (5-10, 170, Paris, TN Henry County)
Still in play (1): Dre Kirkpatrick (6-2, 180, Gadsden, AL; #4 ESPNU 150); Jamal Reid (6-0, 179, Mayo, FL Lafayette County; #80 ESPNU 150)
AT RISK (2): Wondy Pierre-Louis lost his starting job and there were rumors that he wanted an NFL Draft Evaluation. The guess is that he will be back, but you have to put him in the at risk category at least until he shows something in the spring. Coaches like Moses Jenkins a lot but he hasn’t come close to challenging for a starting job. Is he willing to patiently wait his turn?

There might not be a pair of starting corners anywhere in the nation better than Haden and Janoris Jenkins. Pierre-Louis has starting experience and he’s valuable on special teams. There were rumors that he was not content in December so he’s one to keep an eye on. Anderson played a lot late in the season and he’s valuable as a backup. Jeremy Brown would have been in the rotation as a freshman before he got hurt and took a redshirt. Bushell has speed and nice cover skills. Moses Jenkins could be the big corner against teams with tall wide receivers, but will he stick around? Teague is a very talented and fast athlete but he’s a shaky commit. Kirkpatrick is a longshot but stranger things have happened and nobody would be shocked if Jamal Reid busted his Miami commitment to sign with the Gators.

SAFETIES (7): Dorian Munroe (5-11, 205, R-SR); Cade Holliday (5-11, 195. R-SR); Major Wright (6-0, 205, JR); Ahmad Black (5-9, 185, JR); Bryan Thomas (6-1, 205, R-JR); Will Hill (6-1, 205, SO); Dee Finley (6-1, 200, FR)
Still in play (2): Josh Evans (6-2, 185, Irvington, NJ); Jawanza Starling (6-2, 195, Tallahassee, FL Lincoln)
AT RISK (1): Thomas came to Florida expected to contribute as a true freshman but he’s been an injury looking for a place to happen. He just can’t catch a break. If he can’t make a move in the spring, will he decide to go somewhere that he can get on the field immediately?

With Munroe back from injury and Finley enrolled early, there is quality depth to go with experience. Wright and Black were as effective as any tandem of safeties in the country and Hill was exceptional in nickel situations and on special teams. Because so many teams will spread the field with multiple wide receivers, he will be on the field almost as much as the starters. Thomas has the ability but can he stay healthy? Holliday is a rock on special teams. If the Gators land Evans, he could become the big corner. For Starling to leave Tallahassee would be an upset but stranger things have happened.

PUNTER (1): Chas Henry (6-4, 215, JR)
AT RISK: None

The Gators will start looking for Henry’s replacement in 2010. Meyer thinks Henry is the best punter in the country.

PLACEKICKER (1): Caleb Sturgis (5-11, 192, SO)
AT RISK: None.

Sturgis spent 2008 kicking off. Now he gets to kick extra points and field goals. He’s got the leg to be one of the best ever at Florida. The Gators will probably start recruiting a potential replacement for Sturgis in the class of 2010.

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