The Florida Gators coaching staff will host several big visitors on campus this weekend for the Florida State game as the regular season comes to a close on Saturday.
Billy Napier and the rest of the coaching staff are hoping to regain some momentum with several recruits on Saturday as they head into December.
GatorCountry brings you a new recruiting mailbag to get you caught up on things as we head into the last few weeks before signing day.
MrB-Gator: Do we get Zavier Mincey in this class?
AS: Florida is sitting in a decent spot for him right now, Florida State and Miami are strongly in the mix as well and pushing hard for Mincey. The Gators have long been a top team for Mincey and the need for a defensive back in the class is appealing to Mincey. Right now I give Florida the slight edge.
Ctresh: Do you expect we fill the lost spots on the DL with high quality guys, or more plan B guys right now? Talking strictly hs recruiting as we don’t quite know about the portal yet.
AS: It’s going to be tough to fill the spots with guys as good as they lost because of the timing of the losses but Florida is pushing for guys like Texas defensive line commit D’Antre Robinson and Texas A&M commit Daelyn Evans and both of those guys are really good. JUCO defensive lineman Brien Taylor will be on campus this weekend and he’s another guy that’s solid.
Asmith1460: Do you think we get another OL this class or will it be through the portal?
AS: I lean towards them not getting another high school guy but being forced to head to the transfer portal to add offensive linemen. While adding a guy like Jordan Seaton would be huge, getting some high quality transfers are a must.
Ufgator84: Who are the key remaining targets on the board? Mincey, Seaton, and ?
AS: Alabama defensive back commit Jameer Grimsley, Evans and Robinson as mentioned above. They’re still recruiting Ohio State commit Jeremiah Smith, Arkansas running back commit Jadan Baugh who plans to visit in December and running back Kewan Lacy who the Gators are hoping to get on campus in December. Michai Boireau, Malcolm Alcorn-Crowder and Brien Taylor are also names to watch.
Ufgator84: Who are the guys to watch as potential flips away from the Gators?
AS: The biggest one is Amaris Williams as it looks less and less likely that he’s in the class as it doesn’t look like he will make it back to campus before signing.
LJ McCray and Xavier Filsaime are names to watch as they’ve taken visits elsewhere but right now I have them sticking with the Gators.
Dhainer24: CB class is the worst we have seen in forever with the 793rd ranked player as our only commit, and the 738th ranked player (Denson) maybe visiting. Is Mincey only being looked at as a S or could he play CB? What about flipping Grimsley? Or what about turning up the heat on Cai Bates? He is in the state of FL and is still not committed anywhere and he’s a top 100 guy.
AS: Mincey is a guy who will play all over the backfield but could start out at corner if he comes to Florida. Florida is all in on Jameer Grimsley and are hoping to set up an official visit with the defensive back when he’s on campus this weekend for the Florida State game.
As far as Bates goes, I don’t expect Florida to be in the mix for him.
Floridagatorman: Do you get the feeling that this staff hits the portal like their jobs depend on it?
AS: Absolutely, Napier and company know that they must hit home run in the portal this year and know that they have to fill holes on both lines as well as at linebacker in the portal. I expect Napier to be more aggressive than last year.
Theorangebluewinagin: Who do you think could be a surprise addition to this year’s class that is off our radars?
AS: Jadan Baugh is a guy that I think Florida has a shot with flipping from Arkansas if he indeed does take his official visit to Gainesville in December.
Lurkingator1: what coaches are our top recruiters ?
AS: Sean Spencer and Jay Bateman have been good this year even though a few guys have left the class that Spencer recruited. On offense, Rob Sale has done a good job and Napier himself is a really good recruiter.
Johnagator: It always boils down to OL and DL. What is your overall feeling?
AS: Getting LJ McCray is huge for the defensive line as he’s a difference maker and someone that plays from day one and you pair with some of the guys that are freshmen on the line and you now have a solid defensive line. The staff still needs to hit the portal for a pass rusher and depth though.
On the offensive line, the staff needs to hit the portal hard and find some tackles that are ready to play next year to protect up front.
Travlingator: I see that Jeremiah Smith will be at the game this week. I also noticed you feel he is a FSU flip. Do you see a scenario of him picking UF to flip to based on a good result in this game. Do you see a chance that him maybe seeing a struggling FSU without Jordan might sway him still.
AS: Right now, I don’t see Smith coming to Florida, Ohio State and Florida State have a decent margin over Florida but the receiver does like DJ Lagway a lot and that helps keep the Gators in the mix.
Homeboygator: does the staff have an inkling as to who will be the best players available in the portal and will any of those be olineman or Dlineman?
AS: They have some idea of guys who could hit the portal as chatter gets out from player’s camp but with NIL and such now days, you have to wait to see who will actually hit the portal when they do.
Thanks