Gator Country

As the Florida Gators zero in on an unparalleled fourth straight top five recruiting class, it's apparent that Coach Urban Meyer and his staff are being very selective. With 12 commitments already, there is room for maybe eight or nine others in the class at the most. There are plenty of players that want to be Gators but only a handful will actually wind up in Gainesville.

Yesterday, we looked at the offensive recruiting board. Today, we take a look at how the defensive board has shaped up.

DEFENSIVE END:

Committed to Florida: Kedric Johnson (6-4, 220, Palmetto, FL)

In play: Ryne Giddins (6-4, 220, Seffner, FL Armwood, #80 ESPN 150); Nick Kasa (6-6, 250, Broomfield, CO Legacy); Dyron Dye (6-5, 225, Sanford, FL Seminole, #143 ESPN 150)

Watch out for: Malliciah Goodman (6-4, 260, Florence, SC West Florence, #127 ESPN 150) COMMITTED TO CLEMSON; Ed Stinson (6-5, 230, Homestead, FL South Dade)

Notes: The recent commitment of Kedric Johnson took many by surprise, but in the end it really was a no-brainer. Johnson looks to be on track to qualify and with a tremendous start to his senior season, made it very easy for the coaches to pull the trigger on a committable offer. Johnson will provide the Gators with another lean, athletic defensive end who can get to the QB. Johnson is a very talented player who could be considered a “poor man’s” William Green. He will need some time to add bulk and strength, but luckily he isn’t being asked to come in and start right off the bat … Ryne Giddins is the guy the staff seems to be targeting with what is likely the last DE slot in this class. Giddins is a pass-rusher extraordinaire who is almost as well known for his play on the field as he is for the doll head he carries around and talks to off of it. When it’s all said and done, however, Giddins has proved with his play on the field that he is quite probably the top prospect on the defensive side of the ball in the Sunshine State. Certainly a player the Gators would love to see join the fold ... Nick Kasa had a fine visit to Gainesville last weekend, but I would still have to think he’s all Colorado at the present time. It will be interesting to see if Florida continues the stepped-up pursuit of Kasa they have taken in the last couple of weeks, which climaxed with the official visit that Kasa took to UF this past weekend ... Elsewhere, Dyron Dye seems to be fading; Ed Stinson is a player who might have been a Gator with a better track record in the classroom; and Malliciah Goodman is a guy I personally believe the Gators will be targeting with the departure of Tommy Bowden from Clemson.

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