2013 FB Kennard Swanson of Lake Gibson going JUCO

[AndrewSpivey]

Florida is going to hold a spot for Swanson

[GATORnGA31909]

Caleb Brantley just tweeted we gonna get him

[MadduxFanII]

Sorry for the new thread, but any old Swanson threads have fallen off the front page.

Anyway, Zach A. says this:

Kennard Swanson will attend a junior college per Lake Gibson assistant coach Robert Whitaker.

Whitaker told me last week that he thought Florida would sign-and-place Swanson, but the coaches have decided his grades are too much of a concern because they didn't see enough improvement from him this past semester....

He believes UF will pursue Swanson again if his academics are in order at the JUCO level.

[UFFL]

2013: The class of infinite grade issues

[stomp_and_chomp]

Originally Posted by MadduxFanII

Sorry for the new thread, but any old Swanson threads have fallen off the front page.

Anyway, Zach A. says this:

With all the grade concerns, kinda saw this one coming. I rather them outright turn down kids because of grades a few days before NSD than have them let one slide through and be totally crushed when he isn't allowed to sign... *cough* Dante Phillips *cough*

[UFreak]

We'll be ok.

[fubar1]

Interesting the coaches decided his grades are too much of a concern, and not UF admissions.

[ETGator1]

That's too bad. I wish Kennard the best in JUCO with his grades. I hope he gets his two years with UF in 15 and 16.

[gymgator]

He has to go to JUCO or can he get his grades up over the summer and fall and enroll in Spring of '14?

[MadduxFanII]

Originally Posted by fubar1

Interesting the coaches decided his grades are too much of a concern, and not UF admissions.

Well, this is something like third hand information. Swanson told his coach who told Zach who told us. So it's possible that everyone involved played a game of telephone, and "The admissions department isn't going to let us accept you" became "The coaches won't accept him because of grades" by the time Zach got around to writing his post.

[NoahBeanBizzel]

Oh well. Better to find out that we're losing him now than learning that he won't be arriving on campus over the summer a few months from now.

We've lost a lot of talent due to academic issues this year. I can't remember a year like this, yet we're bringing in a dynamite group of kids. Interesting to say the least.

[Gatorrick22]

I feel bad for that kid. He really liked us, and wanted to be part of the Gators' team.

[MadduxFanII]

The one who hurts is Elijiah Daniel. Pretty much a perfect fit for what we need. Add him to this class and you can shut things down completely satisfied with what you've got.

Just couldn't get the grades.

[ArtDeco]

At least Muschamp is getting ahead of the curve on this.
No offense to other former coaches who brought in kids dumb as rocks just to have admissions tell us they were dumb as rocks.

[MadduxFanII]

Originally Posted by ArtDeco

At least Muschamp is getting ahead of the curve on this.
No offense to other former coaches who brought in kids dumb as rocks just to have admissions tell us they were dumb as rocks.

You mean like Dante Phillips?

[Lawdog88]

I hope Champ's precedent reverberates all over recruiting land, and kids who are naturally gifted with the physical, get the message that they have to also develop - through hard work and discipline - the cerebral stuff in life that doesn't come as easy.

It is a good life message.

[NoahBeanBizzel]

Originally Posted by MadduxFanII

The one who hurts is Elijiah Daniel. Pretty much a perfect fit for what we need. Add him to this class and you can shut things down completely satisfied with what you've got.

Just couldn't get the grades.

I'm sorry, but I just see that situation differently. I really think we have options at the Buck position. We return Powell, I think Fowler played a bit overweight last year and may knock a few pounds off, and we have two excellent prospects in Cox and McCallister at the position. I would almost say that Sherit projects to see time at that position as well, because he's a lot smaller than what we like up front. At least at the moment he is.

So, while I'm not necessarily trying to minimize the loss of a guy like Daniel, I think losing Swannson hurts a bit more. If you go back and look at just how many key blocks Joyer threw last year to spring some big runs, you have to wonder about:
A) replacing him in a couple of years, and
B) what happens if he goes down?

[Jupgator]

Originally Posted by Gatorrick22

I feel sad for that kid. He really liked us, and wanted to be part of the Gators' team.

I just can't feel sorry for a kid like this unless he is really dumb, in which case he likely couldn't pick up more complex football plays anyway. Bottom line is if he wanted it, he should have prepared himself by actually learning something in HS.

[nwflgator_58]

Originally Posted by ArtDeco

At least Muschamp is getting ahead of the curve on this.
No offense to other former coaches who brought in kids dumb as rocks just to have admissions tell us they were dumb as rocks.

I agree. By now, the coaches should know ahead of time what the UF admissions will and won't accept. Of course, it is amazing that admissions rejects a player, and then our opponents sign them.

[ArtDeco]

Originally Posted by MadduxFanII

You mean like Dante Phillips?

No, I'm referring to the fact that I never remembered our last coach ever telling a kid he was dumb as s**t.
I'm also giddy with delight we no longer have players using dead girls' credit cards, either...