Florida Gators recruiting mailbag: October 26th edition

The Florida Gators recruiting efforts picked up last week during the bye week and look to improve as the Gators face Georgia on Saturday.
Prospects have started their season already so they’re in season mode but also continuing through the recruiting process.
Gator Country’s members have a lot of questions about how the 2018 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:

Demosthenes: What is going on with linebacker recruiting? We are desperate for numbers and have the Skipper/Shannon duo recruiting yet it doesn’t seem like we’re going to get any of our primary targets.
AS: Most of Florida’s linebacker targets are out of state which has caused the biggest issue because the home state schools are leading in most cases. Florida however is still in the mix for those guys like Channing Tindall, Richard Jibunor and even Alabama linebacker commit Quay Walker.

Blake_usmc: Are the reports on McElwain affecting any recruits or they just seeing what happens? Which games are you hearing for big time recruiting efforts or Official visits?
AS: Most of these recruits just wait and see what happens and don’t let the rumors get to them. These coaches and kids know that rumors happen every year but schools are going to use it against Florida.
Florida State should be a big recruiting weekend and then officials after the season as that has been McElwain’s approach to official visits.

Ncargat1: Based on where you see things sitting right now, is UF currently/near future having to scour the ranks of JUCO defensive tackles to make sure that the target number for that position is met?
AS: I don’t think they’re at that point not but they have to start looking for one JUCO prospect if they aren’t able to sign a high school one. They need at least one defensive tackle in this class. I know that they have been scouting a few guys in the JUCO ranks already.

Ncargat1: Bonus question: I know that it is not necessarily recruiting, but do coaches feel like Marlon Dunlap can line up and be in the rotation from day 1? I know that he played as a true freshman for North Carolina.
AS: Yes, the coaching staff is very high on Dunlap and feels like he can play next year for the Gators. That’s a big reason why signing just one defensive tackle in this class will work out for them.

Macbgator: What areas of need will we have to expand the board to fill out this class and when do we start doing this???
AS: Defensive line, linebackers and potentially even cornerback. Those are the three areas that the leans are not there but the need for those numbers are there. I think you start to see the board expand more now that you’re able to see a lot of senior year film.

Macbgator: In your opinion Andrew, who do we get to finish out our offensive line needs??
AS: William Barnes and Ed Montilus are the two guys that I feel comfortable in saying that the Gators have a great shot with at this point. Florida is still in the mix for Nick Petit-Frere but he really hasn’t started focusing on recruiting yet and has only taken one visit this fall and that was an official visit to Notre Dame last weekend. If you get the above mentioned two guys, you have a really solid class though.

Kdm: Are we completely out of it with JJ Peterson and do you think there is any chance that we look at Nick Bonnito to fill a linebacker spot? Also, what do you think is the level of interest from Jordan Davis and Christian Barmore right now at defensive tackle?
AS: Florida hasn’t recruited Peterson in sometime now so yes, they’re likely out of it. Bonnito is a tweener guy so I don’t see Florida moving on him.
Right now Davis nor Barmore have visited so the interest level isn’t that high until they visit. Both have said they want to visit but neither have and right now I would say they sign elsewhere.

FormerGatorGreat98: Is Florida after Jamien Sherwood and if so could he flip?
AS: Yes, they are but right now the focus is on adding cornerbacks and not really more safeties. If Florida decides to take another safety, then Sherwood would be at the top of the list.

Andrew Spivey
Andrew always knew he wanted to be involved with sports in some capacity. He began by coaching high school football for six years before deciding to pursue a career in journalism. While coaching, he was a part of two state semifinal teams in the state of Alabama. Given his past coaching experience, he figured covering recruiting would be a perfect fit. He began his career as an intern for Rivals.com, covering University of Florida football recruiting. After interning with Rivals for six months, he joined the Gator Country family as a recruiting analyst. Andrew enjoys spending his free time on the golf course and watching his beloved Atlanta Braves. Follow him on Twitter at @AndrewSpiveyGC.