Word out of LSU is that Swanson

[UberTiger]

is no longer committed to LSU.

You guys may have flipped him.

[thedyc09]

Seems odd to grab a FB this year with Joyer only a Sophomore. Staff must really like him.

[LAGatorDoc]

also can play DT, not saying he will, but I think Muschamp is all about versatility. Get the best athletes, and let the positions work themselves out. He's gone for good athletes all along, and he plays the best athletes as well where they are needed.

VHIII- Can play CB, WR, ST, LB, safety
Anzalone- TE, LB
Rod Johnson- OT or OG
Nick Washington- Safety, CB
Ramsey- WR, CB
Koehne, Silberman- OG, OT, even OC
McMillan- ILB, OLB
Q. Powell- OLB, DE (if he grows)

Methinks I see a pattern

[glnye]

Seems odd to grab a FB this year with Joyer only a Sophomore. Staff must really like him.

And he may go after next year....always a possibility. Besides, with the playing time that the fullback gets in our offense, where else would a fullback go....the spread?

[sgtfury]

Who dat?

[tomis_gator]

Boom! Love stealing recruits.


Who is this Swanson?

[thedyc09]

Boom! Love stealing recruits.


Who is this Swanson?

FB/DT from Lakeland. Played at Lake Gibson.

6'0" 245 (I've seen 260 listed, but that's likely very generous) and Rivals' number one FB.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Kennard-Swanson-124768

[thedyc09]

FWIW, he had 63 tackles and 10 sacks playing DT this year. At FB, 21 car 107 yards and 2 TDs.

[Itssaul]

It'd be perfect if he red shirts and starts one hunter leaves but contributes during hunters senior year

[GATORAZ]

Seems odd to grab a FB this year with Joyer only a Sophomore. Staff must really like him.

what if Joyer gets hurt next year?

[gtr2x]

Yea, in this offense you need more than one FB anyway.

[g8r925]

I like the looks of this kid, he would be a good back up for Joyer, we would be able to give him a blow during the game and not affect our offense.

[Minister_of_Information]

what if Joyer gets hurt again next year?

fify

[Dreamliner]

The first thing I'd expect to hear is that 6-0 (meaning he's probably 5-11) is too short for DE. Nonsense, if you're good.

[gator7_5]

6' is WAY too short for a pass rush DE in the SEC.. But who cares. He'll be playing FB anyway. Fantastic get if we land him. FB is extremely important to our O. We wouldn't be sniffing 11-1 without Joyers pancakes all yr.

[GATORAZ]

Lake Gibson (Fla.) High School's Kennard Swanson has de-committed from LSU. The Lakeland, Fla. native played defensive tackle, but projects as a fullback at the next level, and was recruited as such by LSU, which is searching for an eventual replacement for junior J.C. Copeland.

Swanson committed to LSU during the summer when the Tigers were one of only a few schools recruiting him. He recently received an offer from the Florida Gators, which he is widely expected to accept.

Swanson, much like Thursday’s other de-commitment Chuck Baker, has yet to qualify, which has been a concern for LSU for some time. It's unexpected that the Tigers will recruit another fullback, and will instead explore the possibility of converting another prospect.

http://highschoolsports.nola.com/news/article/3465718788332629029/lake-gibson-fla-prospect-kennard-swanson-joins-salmens-chuck-baker-in-decommitting-from-lsu/

[LAGatorDoc]

http://highschoolsports.nola.com/news/article/3465718788332629029/lake-gibson-fla-prospect-kennard-swanson-joins-salmens-chuck-baker-in-decommitting-from-lsu/

Hope he qualifies...

[GATORAZ]

Hope he qualifies...

staff wont take the commit unless they feel good about that happening

[rserina]

what if Joyer gets hurt next year?
True. Joyner's blocking this year, whether out of our power formations or unbalanced formations or single wing formations was absolutely huge. He can seal off that playside edge unbelievably well. If we are going to build on what Pease has done so far, we need big, physical, athletic fullbacks who can do so. When you have one in-state, all the better to grab him, regardless of class.

[StrangeGator]

also can play DT, not saying he will, but I think Muschamp is all about versatility. Get the best athletes, and let the positions work themselves out. He's gone for good athletes all along, and he plays the best athletes as well where they are needed.

VHIII- Can play CB, WR, ST, LB, safety
*Anzalone- TE, LB
Rod Johnson- OT or OG
Nick Washington- Safety, CB
*Ramsey- WR, CB
Koehne, Silberman- OG, OT, even OC
McMillan- ILB, OLB
Q. Powell- OLB, DE (if he grows)

Methinks I see a pattern

*Not coming to UF.

Doubt Powell ever grows big enough to play DE. He needs 30 pounds just to get on the field at OLB. Harris is projected at safety and outweighs Powell by almost 20 pounds. He might make a good OLB.

[GATORAZ]

*Not coming to UF.

Doubt Powell ever grows big enough to play DE. He needs 30 pounds just to get on the field at OLB. Harris is projected at safety and outweighs Powell by almost 20 pounds. He might make a good OLB.

Powell and Harris are just different athletes. Powell will play OLB and could gain the needed to wait to put his hand on the ground.

[LAGatorDoc]

*Not coming to UF.

Doubt Powell ever grows big enough to play DE. He needs 30 pounds just to get on the field at OLB. Harris is projected at safety and outweighs Powell by almost 20 pounds. He might make a good OLB.

** I know. I was just talking about the type of people that have been recruited by Muschamp this year and the ones that have stayed on despite the change in coaching regime. I know Powell is too small, hence my point, take the best athlete (Powell won defensive player of the year of Daytona or whatever) even though we don't really have a position for him and we'll sort it out later

[Gatorrick22]

I thought Q. Powell was looking around..........

[Gatorrick22]

Swanson must be a great player if the coaches take him with the few ships we have left to offer.

[GATORAZ]

I thought Q. Powell was looking around..........

I would like a free trip to Miami and LA too. USC doesn't have room for him right now but that could change. He should be a Gator in the end.

[Gatorrick22]

I would like a free trip to Miami and LA too. USC doesn't have room for him right now but that could change. He should be a Gator in the end.

You're right, but it still makes me wonder. I guess the kids these days want all the fun they can get...............fo free.

[ETGator1]

If he's 6'0"/240-260 now, might he be a candidate for FB, SDE, orMike Lber?

[Gatorrick22]

If the coaches want him.............it's good enough for me.

[rserina]

If he's 6'0"/240-260 now, might he be a candidate for FB, SDE, orMike Lber?
I don't see anything other than fullback in his future. That position is a brilliant career move. There are precious few natural fullbacks available for NFL rosters nowadays because of the position's decline in college. As long as he stays under 260 or so, he would be a perfect fit in either our system or at the next level. The only other possibility is interior defensive line, but I don't see that given how tough it is to play that position in our league.

[The_Graygator]

also can play DT, not saying he will, but I think Muschamp is all about versatility. Get the best athletes, and let the positions work themselves out. He's gone for good athletes all along, and he plays the best athletes as well where they are needed.

VHIII- Can play CB, WR, ST, LB, safety
Anzalone- TE, LB
Rod Johnson- OT or OG
Nick Washington- Safety, CB
Ramsey- WR, CB
Koehne, Silberman- OG, OT, even OC
McMillan- ILB, OLB
Q. Powell- OLB, DE (if he grows)

Methinks I see a pattern


Joe Cohen was a FB when he first came to UF, and ended up being one of our starting DT's on our '06 NC team.

[bossgator1]

LSU has FB that weighs 270 +.

[Nicho]

Joe Cohen was a FB when he first came to UF, and ended up being one of our starting DT's on our '06 NC team.

Then again, Joe was 6'2". 6'0" is extremely short for a DL. I can't remember the last guy to play on UF's DL at that height.

[gator7_5]

Then again, Joe was 6'2". 6'0" is extremely short for a DL. I can't remember the last guy to play on UF's DL at that height.

Joe was a DL who wanted to try, in vein, to play rb. Swanson is a FB who would be trying in vein to play DL. It has zero chance of happening. He is a FB. Period. Not even close to the same situation either.

[lean_gator]

Like this kid. Reminds me of Copeland at LSU. Let him backup and learn behind Joyner for a couple seasons and he will be opening up major holes for Taylor and Lane when his time comes.

[demosthenes]

Then again, Joe was 6'2". 6'0" is extremely short for a DL. I can't remember the last guy to play on UF's DL at that height.

It certainly isn't common. There are some shorties at DE in the NFL (Freeney and Dumerville) that are exceptional players. If this guy had that kind of athleticism I'm sure we'd already know about it already.

[rserina]

Agreed on Cohen. He came here in part because Zook promised him a chance to play running back, but he made the smart move and wound up at end (three-technique after Thomas got booted in 2006), where everyone projected him in the first place. Has anyone at all projected Swanson to line? I haven't seen anything to that effect. Ultimately, the system we have implemented makes far more use of fullbacks than any of our more recent schemes, so it shouldn't surprise us to have at least two fullbacks on scholarship going forward.

[Sylez_G_Koolaid]

what if Joyer gets hurt next year?

Hunter Joyer doesn't get hurt, bro.

[Juggernautz]

I haven't seen anywhere that we are pursuing him...

[BIGmike]

Then again, Joe was 6'2". 6'0" is extremely short for a DL. I can't remember the last guy to play on UF's DL at that height.

Omar Hunter is hovering right around 6'0".

[GATORAZ]

I haven't seen anywhere that we are pursuing him...

well the staff invited him to the JSU game which he came to

[Juggernautz]

Hunter Joyer doesn't get hurt, bro.

I hope you didn't jinx him! :whistle:

[rserina]

Omar Hunter is hovering right around 6'0".
Hunter was also a five-star defensive tackle recruited for that position, not a fullback. The point is less his height than his skill set and where he projects at the next level. Fullback is the smart play.

[BIGmike]

Hunter was also a five-star defensive tackle recruited for that position, not a fullback. The point is less his height than his skill set and where he projects at the next level. Fullback is the smart play.

I agree, was just pointing out the fact that we have a DT right around the 6'0" mark.

[rpmGator]

I made the mistake of thinking an LB recruit would not pan out due to size. John Vilma did ok...

Vilma was almost exactly the same size when I first saw his stats, as Powell's stats.

I won't be making that mistake again.

[PSGator66]

Joyer has been huge for us especially in blocking. We use the FB in our offense and it would be nice to pick one up.

[thedyc09]

Assuming this comes to fruition, I will at least feel validated in my desire to pick up a third back. I just wanted a legit third-down/change of pace back who could make a difference with hands and wheels. I'll take a legit bruiser of a FB in a heartbeat though.

The only reason it seemed odd to me is that I assumed Colin Thompson would simply fill the H-back/FB role when Joyer needed a blow. I think Matt Jones could likely do in a pinch also. Not to mention our plethora of jumbo-package OL.

[gatordee]

I am sure we would take him in a heart beat. You just do not pass on players like this.

[axer13]

I don't see Florida taking him right now, I think they wait until closer to NSD. There are limited spots left with some big prospects left so he might be more of a back up plan if the others fall through imo

[demosthenes]

I don't see Florida taking him right now, I think they wait until closer to NSD. There are limited spots left with some big prospects left so he might be more of a back up plan if the others fall through imo

Disagree but we will see.

[bofusgators]

He sounds like a good one.

[axer13]

Disagree but we will see.

Just curious but would you like him over say a another RB, WR, OL or DT? I would rather have another RB, WR, OL and DT over him especially if it's a player like Collins, Reed, Adams or some of the others that have interest in us right now.

[demosthenes]

Not a choice that has to be made. Collins is a no go (I don't see the value in adding a third RB but wouldn't turn Collins down). Adams is highly unlikely (definite take). We'll add Brown and cherry pick the rest if we can get them.

[G8torsRUL]

I don't see Florida taking him right now, I think they wait until closer to NSD. There are limited spots left with some big prospects left so he might be more of a back up plan if the others fall through imo

Why decommit from LSU then? If Joyer gets hurt, what happens to the pounding run game we want in BIG games? Who’s our back up FB and please don’t say bur

[woltes]

Sounds like he could commit at anytime to me.

[DieAGator]

I would take Collins and Swanson. We are going to play power football. What else does this class need, another DL and OL? We have four WRs, they'll have to do. We have three LBs, that will do. Collins/Swanson/OL/DL gets us to 25. If we can go 26, all the better if we can add two OL.

So far we have 5 DL, 3 talented Ss, 1 elite CB; 2 OL, 4 WR 2 RB, 1 QB.

Another elite RB & FB, 2 more OL if possible, 1 DL and we are at 26. If we can go 27 and staff adds another LB, all the better. I would take that class in a heartbeat.

[axer13]

Why decommit from LSU then? If Joyer gets hurt, what happens to the pounding run game we want in BIG games? Who’s our back up FB and please don’t say bur

idk why he decommitted from LSU. We do need a back up for Joyer but it is going to be tough to get one in this class with the limited spots. I haven't heard of any other FB so that leads me to think the staff wasn't too worried about taking one. Burton could be a emergency or for specific sets but you right we don't have a solid back up right now. I'm not saying we don't take him, I just think we wait a little while longer until the top prospects left commit elsewhere

[gatorbait1]

Just curious but would you like him over say a another RB, WR, OL or DT? I would rather have another RB, WR, OL and DT over him especially if it's a player like Collins, Reed, Adams or some of the others that have interest in us right now.

Yes I would. This kid is special and it is a need for our offense to have a fullback. Joyner will be a junior next year and needs a back up. I think it's a smart move. It's a need for our offense an we only have 1 true fullback on the roster