Florida Gators recruiting is doing well right now and this week’s recruiting mailbag was full of great questions on the quarterback recruiting as well as how the Gators will finish at the receiver position.
Gator Country and Andrew Spivey are mixing things up and we have taken our recruiting mailbag to podcast form as well as continuing the written version of the mailbag.
Make sure to listen as Andrew answers everyone’s questions from this mailbag and don’t forget to get your questions in every week so he can answer them for you.
Here’s the written version of this week’s podcast:
Pan: What up with Xavier Gaines, appears to be a good quarterback and he seems to like the gators
AS: There are a lot of off the field issues with Gaines and that’s keeping him from going to a lot schools including Florida. Gaines is a good quarterback but probably a better athlete but right now Florida isn’t an option for him.
Hoganmac97: If Ricky Town transfers to Florida do you think UF goes after another 2016 quaterback?
AS: Right now, I don’t think Town goes to Florida because the Gators have yet to talk to him. I believe that Town is headed to Arkansas but if he was to somehow end up at Florida then I think Florida would likely stick with just one quarterback in the class. Again I don’t think Town goes to Florida.
Firefightinggator: Do you see us taking 2 QB’s in the 2017 class? if so I’m big on Cole Northrup from State augustine what do you think of him and who would you like us to look at other than who we have.
AS: I think it depends on how many the Florida Gators sign in 2016 and if anyone transfers away from the team at the quarterback position. Right now I lean towards Florida only taking Jake Allen in 2017 because I believe they get two quarterbacks in 2016.
Mdmcgarry: Who do you feel we have a good chance in getting at LB?
Would we be worried about Moon taking visits?
AS: This is the biggest question mark for me because I truly not sure who the third linebacker in the class will be after Vosean Joseph and Jeremiah Moon. Moon will visit the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the South Carolina Gamecocks this fall but I do expect Moon to visit the Florida Gators several time this fall and stick to the Gators. Remember that Geoff Collins is good friends with Moon’s high school coach at Hoover.
Gator_nica: Any new info on the second qb?
AS: Nothing really new at this time and I doubt you see any movement until the season gets going and Jim McElwain is able to show prospects what his and Doug Nussmeier’s offense will look like.
Gator_nica: If K Taylor declares for the draft, should UF be looking for a third RB in the class?
AS: I don’t think they will look for a third running back. Florida will have Lamical Perine, Mark Thompson, Jordan Scarlett and Jordan Cronkrite next year which is a good crop of depth and talent at the position.
Gator_n_Bmore: From what you can gather so far what is the staffs view on going after, or identifying and introducing themselves to the younger kids.. The 8th and 9th graders out there who are just starting to formulate opinions on programs.. Does the staff have a plan in place that we know of?
AS: Florida has a lot bigger support staff and that’s allowing them to evaluate guys earlier and get on kids much earlier than in the past. Florida has done a great job of getting several top 2016 and 2017 prospects on campus already and that will help in the future.
AG111: With us looking better for Manuel and NCM and with LSU loading up at corner, do you see Florida getting involved again w S. Smith?
AS: I don’t think that Florida will get involved with LSU Tigers safety commit Savion Smith. Smith has been solid to the LSU Tigers for months now and the Gators have moved on.
Gatornation6868: Do you see at least 4 current commits not signing with UF on NSD?
Do you see at least 4 current commits not signing with UF on NSD?
AS: I will say that I don’t think all 20 of the current Florida Gators commits will end up at Florida on National Signing Day. The key to remember here is to watch what kids are saying and if they stop talking to the staff then you know something is going on.
Ol2ange: Has anything changed with our DT recruiting situation? Are Shavar Manuel and Dexter Lawrence the only two viable candidates at this time for this position?
AS: Nothing much has changed with the defensive tackle position and I still believe that Jordan Woods will ultimately end up at defensive tackle once he puts on weight in college. I think Florida is in good shape with Manuel and they have some work to do with Lawrence.
Juggernautz: > Are we looking to add any place kickers and/or punters in the 2016 class?
AS: Florida has offered a few kickers already and I think that the Gators would love to add a kicker in this class but they have the choice of being picky because Austin Hardin has two years left. I don’t think Florida signs a punter in 2016.
> Any new news on OL recruiting?
AS: Nothing really different at this time and until kids start to visit again then I think you will see things stay the same. Florida likes a few guys that they are watching during their senior years and they could earn offers once they get some tape from this year.
MrB-Gator: Andrew….do you see Eubanks in this class?
AS: Nick Eubanks is a guy that Florida is trending upwards on right now but I still think the Alabama Crimson Tide is the team to beat at this time. A good year on the field by the tight end position will definitely help Florida out here.
Trina_dc: Which WRs do you see ultimately signing with Florida on NSD.
Out of our current commits, who are most likely to de-commit.
AS: I think that Florida has a great shot with Freddie Swain, Sam Bruce, Binjimen Victor and Nate Craig-Myers but I don’t think they will land all of them. I think that Florida gets Swain in October and after that it will be interesting to see how the others take the news. I also don’t believe that any of the Gators receivers will decommit at this time.
Pan: In your podcast you said “I really believe that they’re going to get three more receivers in this class. It’ll probably come from the group of Victor, Bruce, Nate Craig-Myers, Ridley, and maybe even a Tyrie Cleveland”
How about Freddie Swain?
AS: It was just a miscue on my part and I believe that Florida ultimately ends up landing him.
Philsgator: Can we get a little info on a few recruits that used to be talked about, but we haven’t heard about in a while:
1) Demetris Robinson
2) Trayvon Mullen
3) E.J. Price
4) Trevon Diggs
5) Richard Merritt
6) Brian Burns
7) Elijah Holyfield
AS: Robinson- Florida will get an official visit from him but right now Stanford is the team to beat due to academics.
Mullen- Florida State or the LSU Tigers are the teams to beat at this time and I do think he ends up at Florida due to the stacked defensive back class already in Gainesville.
Price- Until he visits Florida then I wouldn’t worry about him.
Diggs- Florida has moved on from him and he probably ends up at Maryland with his friend Dwayne Haskins.
Burns- Georgia is the team to beat right now but Florida is working hard on getting him back on campus this fall for a few games.
Holyfield- Florida is done at the running back position for the class of 2016.
Swamp_Gator04: Do you think NCM and Ben Victor would really go to the same school? Or is it likely one or the other? Some folks seem to think NCM to UF would automatically mean BV to tOSU.
AS: I think that both receivers could easily go to the same school because there is room to play early for both of them. I do think it will be tough for the Florida Gators or any team to land both of them but it’s possible for sure.