The Florida Gators recruiting efforts gained some momentum with the big win over Kentucky 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:
MrB-Gator: Will we go after JUCU linebackers since we now have Ventrell Miller and James Houston out indefinitely?
AS: Tough to say right now because the status of the two guys is still in question because I would say they look for depth if those guys do not return.
Southcolgator: Do you think Jacob Copeland sticks or will he flip to Alabama?
AS: I believe Copeland sticks to Florida because of his relationship with Tim Skipper and Kerry Dixon. Copeland was always going to take visits and enjoy the process.
RVG: I know coaches were anticipating Antonio Callaway and Jordan Scarlett to likely leave early, but with all the uncertainty around the suspended folks does the staff cut any of them loose and go after other players in this cycle?
AS: That all remains to be seen because charges haven’t been officially filed and then charges could still be reduced. Mac has a tough decision to make.
Nickelgators: How do you feel about the two linebackers we are after ? Is there any interest in Dax Holifield, he’s very good with a younger brother who is bigger right behind him ?
AS: Florida made up a lot of ground on Channing Tindall and Richard Jibunor but still trail for both right now. The Gators are keeping an eye on Holifield and are looking at other options as well. They can’t miss at the position this year.
Wrl344: How do we recruit kids that won’t commit felonies? Personality testing, lie detector tests, background checks?
AS: No real answer except you just have to do more homework on these guys and make sure they have support both with the staff and at home when they arrive on campus.
Jonsantiago1: With three upcoming home games in the next 3 weeks, how many if any guys do you see committing during this stretch?
AS: I don’t think you see many commitments because most guys that are still uncommitted right now will take their recruitment to signing day or at least wait until after the season is over. Most of these guys will take official visits first.
Kdm: Any news on where Nick Petit-Frere stands with his recruitment? Any visits scheduled, anybody rumored to have momentum, etc? Also, is there anyone else that is really on our board right now besides him, Richard Gouraige, William Barnes and Ed Montilus?
AS: Petit-Frere is wide open in his recruitment and right now doesn’t have any visits scheduled. I have heard that he’s trying to visit for the LSU game though. And right now the offensive line board is really just Petit-Frere, Gouraige, Barnes, Montilus and Trey Hill.
Kdm: With Dennis Briggs and Nesta Silvera committed to Miami, Dante Stills to West Virginia, Rick Sandidge trending elsewhere and Coynis Miller looking like Auburn, have we expanded our defensive tackle focus to anybody else? Is there anybody left? JUCO?
AS: The defensive tackle board hasn’t expanded really except to add JUCO end Dorian Gerald to the board. The Gators feel like they can still get a good defensive tackle class out of the guys you mentioned but it will take work.
Matte984: Do you have a visitors list for LSU? Also, I thought I saw something recently where Corral said Jalen Hall would be a Gator. Any truth to that or are they just having fun?
AS: I’ll start asking players on Sunday night about LSU because they mostly don’t know until the week of. I have heard that Corral and Hall will try to make it in but again we will see next week. It should be a big list though. As far as Hall is concerned the Gators haven’t offered him yet.
Urban_Warfare: If all 9 suspended players were to be kicked off the team before signing day, would we be able to sign players to replace them this cycle, or is there some kind of cap on yearly numbers?
AS: Florida would have some more open scholarships but I’m not sure when those numbers would officially open back up. I need to do some double checking on that but I don’t think it would kick in until next year.
Rrtrackman: Anything new with Trey Knox, Antonio Nelson, or even the Blades/Bookie discussions about Nebraska?
AS: Nothing new with those guys at all. Florida is still recruiting Bookie but they need to get him on campus again. Knox and Nelson are guys that Florida is keeping in touch with him but really nothing has changed there.
Rrtrackman: We also hear very little about Coach Corey Bell. How are players and recruits taking to him? How has his recruiting been?
AS: Players and recruits like him but it’s taking time for him to get adjusted to recruiting in the SEC but it should slowly start to kick in for him.
74gator: What’s our chances with Trey Hill?
AS: Slim right now because Georgia has a decent size lead here but he’s open to visiting more which could only help Florida.
UFGator402: KC’s recent post certainly doesn’t paint a rosy picture. If things go south on the season (some could easily argue we’re lucky it hasn’t already), what are the chances Mac can keep this class together?
AS: The key is keeping Matt Corral in the class and going from there. You have to keep your quarterback and leader in the class. I believe they keep him but that’s the key here.