The Florida Gators are officially back on the field practicing and preparing for the season and that means recruiting is a little slow until prospects start visiting campus again. Gator Country wanted to take this time to introduce you to some Class of 2016 prospects that you should keep an eye on this season during high school football and while they take visits. This will be a two part series with the second part introducing 10 out-of-state underclassmen that you should watch. Of course, you should keep an eye on the commit that the Gators already have out-of-state for the Class of 2016. This prospect is cornerback Tre Jackson (5-9, 166, Baton Rouge, LA University School) who is solid to Florida. With that being said here are the 10 players that I’m going to be watching out of state this year for the Class of 2016.
Who to Watch (in no order)
Quarterback Brandon McIlwain (6-0, 205, Newtown, PA Council Rock North) visited Florida in June and he really liked offensive coordinator Kurt Roper. McIlwain is one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks for next year. South Carolina is the team to beat however. Running back Antonio Williams (5-11, 210, New London, NC North Stanley) was a UNC commit but decommited recently after he picked up a Florida offer. Williams has been on campus at Florida once already and has plans to return this fall. Williams is a bigger guy that can still run in the 4.6’s. Receiver Trevon Diggs (6-0, 168, Gaithersburg, MD The Avalon School) is the brother of Stefon Diggs and while the younger Diggs probably stays close to home at Maryland, he still is saying the right things about Florida. Diggs is fast and electric like his brother and maybe a bad year at Maryland and a good year at Florida will help the Gators. Tight end Mark Birmingham (6-3, 230, Ashburn, VA Briar Woods) picked up a Florida offer in July and visited the Gators shortly afterwards for Friday Night Lights. Birmingham is a big tight end that likes Kurt Roper a lot. Offensive lineman E.J Price (6-6, 260, Lawrenceville, GA Central Gwinnett) is the teammate of Adonis Thomas who has already committed to the Gators. Price has visited Florida several times and the Gators have a good shot due to his relationship with Thomas. Offensive lineman Clark Yarbrough (6-6, 257, Woodberry Forest, VA High) has family connections to Florida and he picked up an offer from the Gators back in June. Yarbrough has been to Florida twice already and has good connection with offensive line coach Mike Summers. Defensive end Chauncey Manac (6-3, 230, Homerville, GA Clinch County) has visited Florida three times since this spring and the Gators are in good shape for Manac with Georgia and South Carolina. Manac is a fast guy that can play BUCK or defensive end. Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (6-5, 290, Wake Forest, NC High) has went on the record as saying that he likes Florida a lot and that they were a dream offer for him. Lawrence hasn’t visited Florida yet but says he plans to this fall for a game. Defensive tackle Rashan Gary ( 6-4, 279, Paramus, NJ Paramus Catholic) has talked about visiting Florida a lot but just hasn’t made it down yet. If he visits Florida then the Gators have a shot because Gary likes defensive line coach Brad Lawing. Linebacker Keion Joyner (6-2, 208, Havelock, NC High) just visited Florida last week and he likes Florida but LSU is the team to beat for him because he grew up in Louisiana. Joyner however has a good relationship with Brad Lawing so that could help Florida. Get the latest on all Gator recruiting when you join Gator Country.
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