Three years ago, the Gators were coming off an 11-2 season that included a Sugar Bowl berth. The following spring, Will Muschamp signed a recruiting class that was ranked No. 3 in the country, according to 247Sports composite. Muschamp’s 2013 class was made up of 28 signees, headlined by two five-star prospects, CB Vernon Hargreaves III and RB Kelvin Taylor. Perhaps what was most impressive is that of the remaining 26 signees, 13 were rated as composite four-star recruits.

Departures due to the NFL, graduation, transfers and injuries leave the Gators with 15 members of the class of 2013 remaining on campus for the 2016 season.

Here’s a breakdown of how the class looks three years later:

Who’s gone?

  • CB Vernon Hargreaves III, five stars
  • RB Kelvin Taylor, five stars
  • WR Demarcus Robinson, four stars
  • S Keanu Neal, four stars
  • SDE Jay-nard Bostwick, four stars
  • DT Darious Cummings, four stars
  • OT Trenton Brown, three stars
  • RB Adam Lane, three stars
  • OG Roderick Johnson, three stars
  • WR Marqui Hawkins, three stars
  • QB Max Staver, three stars
  • OG Octavius Jackson, three stars
  • OT Trevon Young, three stars

It’s not surprising that the two five-star prospects skipped their senior seasons to move on to the NFL. Hargreaves was the top-rated prospect in Florida from the 2013 class and lived up to that billing, leaving UF as one of the best cornerbacks in school history. Taylor is unlikely to be remembered as one of the all-time great Gators running backs, but in fairness, his one season as the feature back was behind an inexperienced and ineffective offensive line.

Neal was ranked as the No. 8 signee in Florida’s ‘13 class, and in a sense overachieved, considering he’s the second-best player to Hargreaves after three seasons. Robinson’s off-the-field issues hampered his Florida success, but he flashed the big-play ability expected of a four-star talent.

Cummings and Brown were both junior college transfers, so their exits are to be expected by this time. Brown is currently on the San Francisco 49ers roster. The seven other departed signees are either due to injuries (Johnson, Jackson) or transfers (Bostwick, Lane, Hawkins, Staver, Jackson and Young).

Who’s still on the team?

  • OLB Alex Anzalone, four stars
  • OLB Daniel McMillan, four stars
  • S Marcell Harris, four stars
  • WR Ahmad Fulwood, four stars
  • DT Caleb Brantley, four stars
  • OLB Matt Rolin, four stars
  • WR Alvin Bailey, four stars
  • S Nick Washington, four stars
  • WDE Jordan Sherit, four stars
  • SDE Joey Ivie, three stars
  • SDE Antonio Riles, three stars (moved to offensive line)
  • OG Cameron Dillard, three stars
  • OLB Jarrad Davis, three stars
  • WR Chris Thompson, three stars
  • P Johnny Townsend, three stars

The four linebacker signees immediately jump out, especially when linebacker is seen as one of the thinnest areas on the current Gators roster. Davis is the only linebacker to significantly contribute from the group as Anzalone and Rolin have both battled multiple injuries, and McMillan hasn’t played up to expectations.

Brantley could have been part of the departed list, but chose to return for his redshirt junior season in hopes of increasing his draft stock. He will be a significant factor up front along with Sherit and Ivie.

Harris and Washington have not impressed in limited playing time the past three seasons, but their position group has received a coaching upgrade with the hiring of Torrian Gray in February.

Aside from Robinson, most people would say that Muschamp failed in recruiting receivers at Florida, with the above trio of ‘13 signees as Exhibit A. There is, however, a glimmer of hope. This spring, McElwain repeatedly praised Fulwood for using his size (6-foot-4, 208 pounds) to his advantage.

Townsend has proven to be one of the most important signees from ‘13, as winning the field position battle has kept Florida in many close games during the past three seasons.

Year four evaluation

In terms of Florida’s success on the field, the ‘13 class hasn’t lived up to its No. 3 overall ranking through three seasons. However, with five NFL draft picks already, and more to come, the class was definitely top-10 in talent.

Last season, Florida lacked depth at quarterback and on the offensive line. Those issues likely made the difference in playing the Citrus Bowl instead of a New Year’s Six bowl game.

The lack of offensive line depth appears to be more bad luck than poor planning. Muschamp signed four lineman – not great, not terrible – in ‘13, and only one remains on the roster heading into this fall. The premature endings to the careers of Jackson (shoulder injury from high school) and Johnson (spinal injury) were big blows to the depth at the position. Transfers like Young are going to happen occasionally, and in this case he seemed seriously conflicted about whether his heart was in football or basketball.

No offense to Staver, but quarterback was a critical miss in this recruiting class, and that miss had a multi-year impact. Following the transfer of Jacoby Brissett, Florida needed to sign a quarterback able to play as a freshman if needed, and instead signed a three-star, under-the-radar project quarterback in Staver. This mistake caused problems in ‘13, ‘14 and ‘15 seasons, as one injury (Jeff Driskel’s broken leg), benching (Driskel) and suspension (Will Grier) revealed inadequacies at the quarterback position.

There have been a few redshirts, but for the most part, ’16 will be the final go-around for the ’13 class. If the 15 remaining signees play up to their potential, their careers could end on a high note.