The Florida Gators recruiting efforts finished the regular season strong with a huge win over Michigan and the coaching staff is now looking to finish off the 2019 class strong.
Mullen and his coaching staff welcomed nine early enrollees on campus earlier this month and they have their sights on finishing the class strong.
Gator Country’s members have a lot of questions about how the 2019 class will shake out and who are the top prospects that the Gators are still after.
We answer your questions in this week’s Florida Gators recruiting mailbag.
Well let’s dive right in to this week’s recruiting mailbag:
The Gator: So many rumors on Torrian Gray’s ability to recruit. What’s your thoughts on his recruiting skills?
AS: I think Gray is a good recruiter who just needed more time in Gainesville to show that ability. Marco Wilson and CJ Henderson were both guys Gray landed and both complimented Gray’s recruiting abilities when they signed. Gray is also very well known in Polk County for his recruiting.
Ncargat1: Is it too soon to have a preliminary list of top offensive line targets for 2020? Are any of these targets more “Florida friendly” at this point in their recruitment than others?
AS: A few names to watch on the offensive side of the ball are:
RB: DeMarkcus Bowman- Gators in good shape early on.
RB/Athlete: Keyvone Lee- already committed to Florida
WR: Julian Fleming-number one WR in the country and likes Florida a lot
WR: Leonard Manuel-top WR in the country and committed
OL: Jalen Rivers- in Jacksonville and likes Florida a lot
OL: Issiah Walker-Florida in great shape with the Miami prospect.
IAmBornAGator: Sort of a repeat but any word on Grad transfer OG RJ Proctor from Virginia. Also Manny Diaz at Miami seems to be very aggressive at trying to get transfers to the point he looks a little desperate taking a few character and or injury prone risks.
Also are there any other Grad transfers that might pop post signing and perhaps even after Spring ball if some of our current roster players decide to leave?
AS: Florida isn’t in the mix for Proctor at this time and Texas looks to be the favorite here. Diaz knows he has to improve his roster but like you say he’s taking some questionable characters and that’s always a concern with a transfer. We will see how that plays out in the locker room this spring and fall.
And yes, I think you will see more grad transfers this spring/summer as a few guys who have been rumored to be transferring don’t graduate until May.
OklahomaGator: I understand that coaches are assigned different areas of the state/country to do their recruiting work. At what point do the recruits position coach become involved? Example: if the WR coach is recruiting an area with a defensive tackle, when does the DL coach make contact with the recruit? Is his recruiting turned over to the position coach at some point or does it stay with the coach assigned to that area of the state?
AS: The position coach is involved pretty quickly in the recruitment of their players, the area recruiter will go by the school more in the spring but the position coach will talk to the prospect and also make at least one trip to see that player as well. It’s almost a tag team effort with all of the recruits now days.
IAmBornAGator: CDM and crew seem really on top of the 2020 class already a consensus top 5 by all of the recruiting services and plenty of highly rated prospects for 2020 looking hard at UF. And while way too early the 2021 class is ranked #1 or #2 by all the services.
Are we starting to get a taste of how it will be from here on out now that CDM has time to focus more and more on recruiting?
AS: I think so, Mullen has had time to show what he’s capable of on the field and how he can turn things around and use players on offense. Not only that but he has had time to build up those relationships in state and that’s starting to show as well. Plus you have a guy like Christian Robinson who has really taken off as a recruiter and that’s paying off big for the Gators.
Gatorace: What are your thoughts on Demarkcus Bowman? Would you call us his leader?
AS: Bowman is one of the best running backs in the country for 2020 and the Gators have a lot of momentum with him right now. Bowman says he wants to take his recruitment into his senior year but I could see him doing something earlier than that. Bowman doesn’t name a leader but I feel good in saying the Gators would be a top school for him right now.
Ufgator84: Any new developments for 2019 at defensive tackle? Is it starting to look like none of the targets commit to Florida? Maybe Moore is the only guy left that the Gators have a chance with?
AS: Moore is the only guy that Florida has a shot with at defensive tackle in 2019 and I would say it’s about 50/50 with Auburn right now for him. The Gators are definitely in the picture for him but the longer he gets away from his trip to Gainesville the better things look between him and Auburn.
UFMBA14: I see we’re going in home with Pickering. Any new developments there or do we still trail for him?
AS: No real developments here and losing Sal Sunseri hurts Florida and helps Alabama some as well. Mississippi State will host this weekend and it will be his second trip there this month so the Bulldogs are starting to look better for keeping Pickering in their class.
UFMBA14: Do you think we fill our 4 currently available spots with recruits or do we hold any of those spots for transfers?
AS: I don’t think Florida lands four more recruits this year so they will have some room left over for some transfers if Dan Mullen sees those guys as good fits for the team. Remember some guys will decide to grad transfer after spring ball because they don’t graduate until May.
Pan: How do we close? And are you taking a vacation after signing day?
AS: I feel good on Florida’s chance with Kaiir Elam right now and think the Gators are right there for both Charles Moore and Mark-Antony Richards. I believe as long as Florida lands Elam then you have to walk away saying this was a good class that filled the needs of the team. Adding Moore would be huge because that’s another defensive lineman in the class but I don’t see him as a make or break for Florida.
And yes, I’ll take a vacation after signing day, looking at heading down to Orlando to watch Braves spring training for a few days.
Macbgator: Will Khris Bogle be in this class??
AS: Without a defensive line coach, I can’t say that I feel good about Florida’s chances with Bogle. Miami and Tennessee are still working hard here and Alabama isn’t going to go away either. This weekend is a big for Florida and getting a defensive line coach is also huge.
Ajoseph: Are you hearing any rumblings about surprises (good or bad) for NSD, either for UF, or other schools?
AS: With the early signing period being the new thing, the chances of a total surprise have become slim and I don’t see that being the case for the Gators this year. Pretty much everyone that Florida is after has either visited or been talked about as a potential visitor.
Hoganmac97: What’re your initial thoughts on how the ‘20 & ‘21 classes will end up doing?
AS: I think both classes have a chance to compete for a top three finish as they’re already one of the best classes in the country. Mullen has a lot of guys looking hard at the Gators and those guys are high ranked prospects as well.
Juggernautz: Which of our 2019 recruits will have the best chance of starting and/or playing for us this fall?
AS: Chris Steele, Mohamoud Diabate and Tyron Hopper are all guys that I think could see a lot of time on the field next year. Steele should be in the two deep at corner the first day of spring. Diabate and Hopper both need to add some weight but they have a good chance of see playing time next year as well.
Juggernautz: Which areas of Florida and/or the USA, do you think we need to concentrate our recruiting efforts moreso than we do now?
AS: Florida is focusing on more on the state of Florida and that was a big concern early in 2019 but the one place that I say needs even more attention is the state of Georgia. The state has become one of the most talent rich areas over the last few years and that looks like it will continue to be the case.
Gatorfantone247: Since it is not likely that Chris Wilson will be our d line coach, who do think it will be?
AS: The one name that continues to be talked about is David Turner who used to coach with Mullen at Mississippi State. I do know that as I’m writing this on Wednesday afternoon that Mullen hasn’t offered the job to anyone yet.
Gatorfantone247: Any news on Byron Young decomitting from Bama?
AS: No, Young still seems solid to Alabama despite them continuing to take commitments from other defensive linemen. Young seems set on playing at Alabama.