Gator Country’s popular Florida Gators recruiting mailbag is back to its weekly spot on Thursday’s as we answer your recruiting questions.
The Gators recruiting class is off to a great start in 2017 and look to be setting their selves up for another top class.
This week members had a lot of questions on the status of the Class of 2017 and we answer your questions here.
Remember to get your questions in on Tuesday for the Florida Gators recruiting mailbag each week.
Macbgator: Who are our EE prospects and who are EE prospects we are still recruiting that we have a good chance of getting!!
AS: Kemore Gamble, Shawn Davis, Javier Edwards and James Houston are all planning on early enrolling. The targets that are early enrolling are Donovan Poeples-Jones, Jerry Jeudy, Tre McKitty, Navuaghn Donaldson, Alex Leatherwood and Shaun Wade.
Haljordan: Out of the secondary group that is currently committed, who do you see as coming in and contributing from day 1? If any?
AS: Elijah Blades and Marco Wilson are both guys that I think could play early. Blades needs to polish his technique a little bit and Wilson needs to add some weight but both can play early.
Ncargat1: I read on another website that after his visit to Bama, the Bama folks consider Jarez Parks a commit.
We have no idea if that is true or not, but if that is the case, who is the most likely defensive end to be added to the class. I understand the Gators are still after LaBryan Ray, it just “feels” unlikely. Who is the most likely to land in Gainesville?
AS: I don’t doubt that Parks has given Alabama reason to feel good about it but Parks is a guy that is all over the place. I do believe that Parks has Alabama leading. Ray is someone to watch, plus Jordan Wright out of South Florida. Wright is someone that Florida really likes a lot. Markaviest Bryant is another guy that Florida is after but it looks like Auburn or Georgia for him.
Polarbear941: I see Adarius Lemons is still pro gator social media. He gets the right test scores do we take him back?
AS: It’s doubtful but I think both sides are still open to it. Lemons needs a test score and to stay clean off the field.
Mjhurstygator: Andrew, you are around these kids a lot and hear all the talk……so are these kids really excited about where the Florida program is headed? I think with a great coaching staff, upgraded/new facilities coming and back to back trips to hot Atlanta, there should be a great vibe about being a GATOR. Thanks again for all the time you put into bringing us information.
AS: The vibe is definitely positive and Florida is on the upward swing with these guys but it has been tough with the offense not looking good. I think that things are really turning around and you will see that even more in 2018. 2018 is the year that Florida should clean up in recruiting.
Gator_nica: Regarding Kadarius Toney, is he being recruited as an athlete, receiver, running back, quarterback, all of the above?
AS: Being recruited as an athlete and they will figure out where he plays once he gets on campus. He’s a guy that you find a spot to play at and play at early on. Toney has the ability to make plays in the open field.
Juggernautz: Which of our commits do you see moving up the ladder as far as recruiting rankings are concerned?
AS: Malik Davis, Kadarius Toney, Elijah Blades and maybe Daquon Green if he has a good Under Armour week. Blades had a great season and people have really taken notice of him.
Juggernautz: Do you see any changes to our staff forthcoming?
AS: I think several guys on staff have a chance to become head coaches and they could cause a change. As far as anyone being let go, I think it’s too early to say right now.
Juggernautz: Do you see South Alabama becoming a power in their division?
AS: I personally think Joey Jones is coaching his last few games at South Alabama and that they will get a new coach soon. South Alabama has several players and they program is on the rise, they just need a new voice.
Ufsports24_7: Barring an Arkansas-like showing against FSU and Bama, do you see us trending in the right direction recruiting-wise? Much has been said about Mac’s inability to land the big time recruits. But the guy can clearly coach, and Florida gets guys to the league every single year, are high school kids starting to take notice?
AS: Yes, kids are starting to take notice. Florida has several big targets still left out there and they will get official visits from them guys. They just need one guy to pop to get things going.
Ufsports24_7: I haven’t seen a crystal ball prediction for Florida besides Malik Davis in like 3 months… would like to see some excitement in the recruiting world again.
AS: The momentum picks up with the win over LSU and if they’re to win against Florida State then things get a lot better.
UFsports24_7: For me personally, I would like to see us taking 6 defensive backs this cycle. Let’s say for conversation sake that C.J. Henderson/Brad Stewart are locks, but we don’t get Wade or Hunter. Are we after any other DBs? I have literally not heard any other names besides Tray Bishop who is Auburn commit.
AS: Tray Bishop, LSU commit Grant Delpit and Xavier McKinney are all expected to take official visits. McKinney is a wild card and right now I would say he’s leaning towards Clemson but he liked Florida a lot early on. Bishop is the guy that I think the Gators have a great shot with.
GatorSAK: What’s going on with Tony Gray where do the Gators stand with him?
AS: I don’t think Gray himself knows what’s going on in his recruitment. Gray hasn’t shown up for several visits that he has planned and that includes multiple ones to Gainesville.
JacobRenda: If you could choose one of the Gators position coaches based on recruiting ability who would it be?
AS: Tim Skipper has done a great job in his short time on staff. He has shown the ability to go into Mobile and steal Lamical Perine from Alabama. He has shown the ability to get Elijah Blades to commit from California. He also has gotten the Gators deeply involved with Shaun Wade and Brad Stewart. He had Florida right there for Kristan Fulton last year. To sum up Skipper as a recruiter, he’s able to recruit any area because of his personality.
VincentVega73: Are we recruiting any Life Champions?
AS: Honestly, Florida isn’t’ after any of Tennessee’s commits but I think Florida has a class full of life champions.
Atlg8rfan: Listening to LSU’s pre-game show on the drive into Baton Rouge, former GC writer was being interviewed and said the Gators don’t have many good recruiting closers on staff. Obviously, there are many questions out there about Summers and Nord, but what is your overall assessment of comment?
AS: Tim Skipper, Chris Rumph, Randy Shannon and Kerry Dixon have all shown the ability to close. Torrian Gray showed that ability at Virginia Tech but is still learning the SEC game. Florida has closers but they just have to push for a commitment instead of letting it play out.
UFsports24_7: I heard that Jarez Parks is a silent commit to Bama after last weekends official visit, does that help our chances with Labryan Ray? From the tape I’ve watched, I’d rather have Ray than Parks.
AS: I don’t see both Parks and Ray going to the same school but if it was to happen then it would be Alabama. Ray is pretty wide open though and he has family in Gainesville but the official visits will be a huge part of his recruitment.