Spivey Senses

Football season is over and now recruiting season is in full swing and rumors are swirling faster than a category five hurricane.

In home visits started this past Sunday and will continue until December 15th when the dead period starts up.

The Gators are using the in home visits to help calm down emotions of recruits following the Gators past season as well as get some new excitement up among those guys.

In this edition of Spivey Senses I’m going to get everyone up to date on what’s going on with the Gators recruiting class.

Running back: 1 committed (Dalvin Cook, 5-11, 192, Miami, FL Central); 1 more maybe

News broke on Wednesday afternoon that Dalvin Cook had signed his financial aid agreement with Miami and he has also already signed one with Florida State. I’m told that Florida could have Cook sign one as early as Thursday. One thing that is for sure is that no team feels comfortable with securing Cook at this time. Travaris Robinson went in home with Cook on Monday and walked feeling much better about Florida’s chances. Next week will be huge for Florida as Will Muschamp will go in home with Cook and that will be the Gators last chance to see him before he decides on December 14th.

With Muschamp telling recruits that the Gators will go to more of a spread next year the Gators will need a speed back and one guy that fits that role is running back Tony James of Gainesville high school but he’s committed to Oregon. While some believe he will flip to Florida if they pursue him hard that doesn’t seem to be the case as James told me that his mind is made up and he’s headed to Oregon.

Receiver: 2 committed (Ermon Lane 6-2, 172, Homestead, FL, Ryan Sousa, 6-0, 180 Orlando, FL Lake Nona); 1 more needed

Travaris Robinson and Joker Phillips went in home with Ermon Lane on Tuesday and I’m told the visit couldn’t have gone any better. One source told me that they think Lane will only trip to Florida now despite having said in the past he wants to take multiple officials. I would consider Lane a solid commitment to Florida now.

Florida was able to flip Ryan Sousa from Florida State on Monday and while some FSU people have said that the Noles dropped him, I’m told that isn’t the case as Florida State definitely wanted him.  Sousa is a lifelong Gators fan and is a solid addition to the class.

JUCO receiver Eric Lauderdale (6-2, 200, Mission Viejo, CA Saddleback C.C) visited Florida over the weekend and the trip couldn’t have gone any better for both parties.  Travaris Robinson will visit Lauderdale on Friday but all in all it’s just matter of time before Lauderdale should join the class.

Offensive line: 3 committed (Dontae Angus 6-6, 330, Philadelphia, PA M. L. King, Travaris Dorsey 6-3, 314, Jacksonville, FL Raines, Nolan Kelleher 6-6, 285, Mt. Pleasant, SC Wando) 1-2 more needed

Offensive lineman David Sharpe was scheduled to announce his decision on Thursday but due to a conflict with is school that won’t happen until next Thursday. Despite the delay it still seems as if Sharpe will be a Gator whenever he announces. Sharpe and quarterback Will Grier have become very close and that has helped Florida a great deal.

Defensive line: 3 committed (Taven Bryan, 6-5, 250, Casper, WY Natrona County, Khairi Clark 6-2, 325, Hollywood, FL Chaminade Madonna, Justus Reed, 6-3, 215, Clearwater, FL Central Catholic); 1-2 more needed.

Defensive tackle Thomas Holley (6-4, 299, Brooklyn, N.Y. Abraham Lincoln) took an official this past weekend and afterwards his uncle said that Penn State and Florida were tied at the top. After doing some digging on this situation it seems as if Holley prefers to stay closer to home despite his uncle saying that distance wasn’t a factor. The one thing that Holley does like about Florida is its ability to put lineman in the league.

Another name that Florida has gained ground on is defensive end Lorenzo Featherston (6-7, 215, Greensboro, NC Page). Featherston has been very high on Clemson but I’m told that Florida been able to gain ground on Clemson and that in home visits will be the deciding factor. Featherston’s high school coach and Brad Lawing are good friends and that could help Florida.

Linebacker: 0 committed; 1 needed

Linebacker Nyles Morgan (6-1, 222, Crete, IL Monee) visited Florida this past weekend but I’m told that the trip didn’t go as well as the Gators had hoped. Notre Dame is quickly gaining ground on Morgan and may steal Morgan from Ole Miss.

Cornerback: 4 committed (Duke Dawson 5-11, 195, Cross City, FL Dixie County, JC Jackson 5-10, 175, Immokalee, FL, Chris Lammons 5-9, 168, Plantation, FL, Quincy Wilson 6-2, 195, Fort Lauderdale, FL University); 1 more needed

Miami has been recruiting JC Jackson hard as of late but despite its efforts it looks as if Jackson will stay a Gator. Sources told Gator Country that Jackson wouldn’t go back to FSU because he knows that the Noles will put him at receiver. D.J. Durkin and T-Rob spoke to Jackson this week and now feel good on Jackson as well.

This weekend Florida will host just one official visitor, cornerback Jalen Tabor (6-1, 186, Washington D.C), who the Gators seem to be gaining some ground with. If Marcus Roberson leaves for the NFL the Gators could be in even better shape for Tabor.

Cornerback Adoree’ Jackson (5-10, 172, Gardena, CA Junipero Serra) has been a guy that Florida has been in good shape with for some time now but as of late has seemed to be fading. On Friday cornerbacks coach Travaris Robinson will visit him and the hope is for the Gators to secure a return trip back to Gainesville for Jackson. I’m that a trip to Florida is very likely in January.

Safety Jamal Adams (6-0, 199, Lewisville, TX Hebron) has been very high on Florida for some time but as of late LSU has jumped into the picture for him. Right now signs point towards Adams going to LSU but with Joker Phillips on staff the Gators will been in the race until the end.

FIVE Most Likely:

Eric Lauderdale

David Sharpe

Jordan Sims

Adoree’ Jackson

Lorenzo Featherston

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.

2 COMMENTS

  1. Thanks for the update, Andrew. We really could use another DT and pass-rushing DE. I’m more comfortable with the receivers now with Sousa flipping and Lauderdale showing us some love. Still a a little disconcerted on a lack of linebacker in this class since we have not been stellar at that position recently. Also, would love, love, love to keep Dalvin Cook in this class. Cook and Taylor in the backfield would be a nasty combo for defenses next year. I think we are still in good standing with 2015 electric back Jacques Patrick, but that’s another year away and we don’t quite have the depth of elite talent behind Taylor (IMHO).

    • Lorenzo Featherston could be the defensive end but also Lorenzo Carter is still in play so that could still work out.