The Florida Gators finished the 2022 season with a disappointing 6-6 record but the offseason is going to be key for the Gators.
Billy Napier and the rest of the coaching staff have put together a great class already with 22 commits in the class and now they will look to put the finishing touches on the class both with high school prospects and transfers.
GatorCountry brings you a new recruiting mailbag to get you caught up on things as we head into the football season.
Ufgator84: 1) LB prospects? desperate need
2) DT prospects? desperate need
3) Ricks – in or out?
AS: Both linebacker and defensive tackle will be addressed in the transfer portal for sure and the staff would like to add one high school linebacker to the class and at least one defensive tackle to the class outside of the portal.
Official visits are key for Desmond Ricks but I would say LSU probably has a slight edge for him.
MrB-Gator: Do you think we get Hall and Walker?
AS: Florida is in a better spot for John Walker than Jordan Hall but the Gators have gained a lot of ground for Hall as of late. The Gators will get their shot with Hall this weekend and then next weekend with Walker.
Ncargat1: Are there any Gators currently committed that we should be watching to see if they visit elsewhere, eg Miami mods still insisting that Jackson and Denson will be returning to Miami.
AS: Right now, I do not expect either Jackson or Denson to visit Miami as both say they’re only visiting UF but it’s something to watch. Aaron Gates is another guy to watch to see if he returns to Michigan for another visit or not.
Ajoseph: Who do you see as the most likely flip candidates, both flipping to us, and flipping out of the class?
AS: John Walker has the most momentum to flip to Florida out of all the prospects right now and if I have to pick one to flip from Florida it would be Aaron Gates who has taken multiple visits to Michigan. I do think the Gators have a really good shot at keeping Gates but he would be one to watch going forward.
Dhainer24: Okunlola or Mauigoa…any chance with either? Seems there was some smoke a couple of weeks ago that has sort of died down. Do both of those guys really want to go to the dumpster fire U and play in front of 100s of fans?
AS: Right now, I would lean towards no for both but there’s a chance that Okunlola takes an official visit to Gainesville as he did enjoy his unofficial visit. Mauigoa seems very solid to Miami but the Gators are continuing to work him in hopes of getting an official.
Travlingator: Are there any updates with Russaw and Smith.
AS: Nothing new with either guy but they will take an official visit to Alabama next weekend and the Crimson Tide are sitting in the best shape for them heading into that visit. They’re both still talking to the coaching staff though.
Juggernautz: Are we done at RB?
AS: Florida wants to add another running back in the class and Mark Fletcher is the top guy for the coaching staff and he’s scheduled to take his official visit next weekend. The Gators are battling Miami for Fletcher.
Ufgatordad: Still as much optimism with flips and other commits as there was when Rashada committed?
AS: Not as much with a few guys as it was when he flipped but Rashada will help land several guys for the Gators in this class.
Cbcoakley: If we don’t like our TE and LB depth…does this board expand for second signing day.
AS: I think both positions will be addressed in the transfer portal, but the Gators would like to add another high school linebacker to the class. Michigan State commit Jordan Hall is the most likely of the targets, but he says he’s locked in with the Spartans. Despite what happens with Hall, I expect the staff to target at least one linebacker and tight end in the portal.
Floridagatorman: How is the portal outlook for positions of need? QB, LB, OL WR, TE looks to me like the ones where we have to get some talent from portal. Are there big fish out there in those positions outside ones previously discussed like McNamara, Card, Hartman?
AS: It’s tough to say right now as a lot of names have been rumored to be going into the portal but just haven’t announced it yet, if most of the names that are rumored to be going into the portal go in then it will be a lot of big fish out there. I expect some big names at pretty much all of the positions and the Gators like every other team have been doing their homework on these guys.
Cbcoakley: Do you believe there are recruits visiting in December that we are quiet/silent about?
AS: I know that there’s one or two guys who haven’t been talked about a lot that could visit in December but as of writing this they haven’t set anything up yet.
Kappa02: Which class will rank higher for UF vs the rest of the country, its high school recruiting class or college transfers?
AS: I think Florida will have one of the highest ranked classes as far as the portal is concerned simply because I think they will be very active and get double digit transfers in. Napier and company know they need immediate help and the portal is one way to do that.
Johnagator: With the Kitna news, how does this change recruiting? 2high school kids or two portal qbs?
AS: Florida will stick with just Jaden Rashada and the hope to get another quarterback out of the transfer portal so they would have four quarterbacks for spring football.
Macbgator: Who are our OL recruits left on the board??
AS: Samson Okunlola and Caden Jones are the two main guys remaining on the board with the Gators having the best shot with Jones. Jones has Florida and Texas A&M on top but the Gators have the momentum heading into official visits.