The Florida Gators coaching staff is preparing for its biggest recruiting weekend of the season this weekend when the Gators host the LSU Tigers at 7:30 in the Swamp.
With a big weekend of visitors on tap the Gator Country members had some questions about recruiting in this week’s recruiting mailbag.
Without further delay, here’s this week’s mailbag as we prepare for Saturday.
MrB-Gator: AS….what’s the remainder of the LB board look like?
AS: Right now the board looks like this in no particular order: Jeffrey Holland, Roquan Smith, Derrick Graham, Charles Perry and Tevon Coney. All of them except for Perry will be in Gainesville on Saturday night.
Macbgator: Who are our top candidates for WR?
AS: Antonio Callaway, Ryan Davis and Javarius Davis are the most likely guys here but Florida is coming on strong for Georgia commit Van Jefferson. Like always more names will emerge as the season continues on.
Gotime51: Is this the biggest recruiting weekend of the season? Will a good or bad showing have a great effect more this time around?
AS: This is the biggest weekend yet but the banquet weekend is usually pretty big as well. A good showing will give the Gators momentum but a bad showing will slow that down. The atmosphere should be great no matter what though.
Swampie: How many of these kids are on official and how many of those are coming with parents… thanks Andrew, my goodness what a week.
AS: All of them will have parents with them this weekend and that’s huge for Florida. As for your initial comment it’s tough to recruit a lot with the big game but afterwards they have the chance to talk to them plus the prospects can watch the game. With the official visitors in town all weekend it helps the coaches have more time with them.
Easypeasey: Who pops this weekend? I know there’s got to be some light at the end of the tunnel!
AS: I think there is a good chance that cornerback Jeremy McDuffie pops this weekend but besides that I’m not sure if anyone will, honestly.
Wesstump: Are we after any large running backs? I know we’re after speed but we need bulk also. At RB who are we most likely to take?
AS: Not really any big backs but some guys like Dexter Williams can run between the tackles. I think the Gators best shot is at Williams right now but the staff is continuing to go hard after Ray-Ray McCloud.
15gator05: Any chance of seeing your mock class?
AS: With the way the season has gone it’s really too early for a mock class. After this weekend I should have a better feel for where the Gators are with some of these top targets.
Macbgator: Are we recruiting any junior college players, if we are, who are they?
AS: Cornerback Justin Martin is the only one right now on the defensive side of the ball and on offense the Gators are after Oklahoma OL commit Jamal Danley who will officially visit for the South Carolina game.
Easypeasey: Anything to worry about seeing that Baker is using his official now and it does not look like he will make a return trip after the season?
AS: Until national signing day there will be something to worry about with Jerome Baker because Ohio State is after him hard. I do think the Florida Gators will need to get him back on campus again to feel real good about him.
Will UF try to get another QB? With Driskel being awful, Mornhinweg being so bad he can’t beat out Driskel and the situation with Harris, the Gators only have Grier, who hasn’t played a down and Jones who hasn’t signed the dotted line yet. If lightning strikes and Driskel becomes a competent quarterback, it’s not a big deal since he’ll return next year since he’s no threat to leave early for the NFL. If Driskel continues to struggle, there might be a new staff anyway. It’s a very uncomfortable situation, since it’s a little late to get in on a quarterback prospect since almost all of them are committed now. But it does seem like it should be a priority to have at least a contingency plan to add another quarterback to the 2015 class.