What would Gators look like with only Florida prep stars?

The state of Florida is home to over 300 FBS prospects each year and growing. Nearly two-thirds commit to programs outside of Florida. Some are heavily recruited by the Florida Gators, Florida State Seminoles and Miami Hurricanes and others garner more attention from out of state programs.

The challenge was to build a team of Florida prospects that aren’t playing for the Florida Gators.

There was an easy way to do this project by just taking a lot of starters from Florida State, some from Miami, toss in a good chunk of players from Clemson and a few other spots and poof, the team is done.

So we decided to eliminate all FBS teams in Florida teams so you won’t see Dalvin Cook or Derwin James or Stacy Coley on this team. To make things even more interesting we decided to separate the Florida recruits who went to the SEC and tried to make sure that one school from each of the other four Power Five conferences were represented.

There were a few options at quarterback like Nathan Peterman, who transferred from Tennessee to Pittsburgh, but John O’Korn was the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year at Houston as a true freshman before transferring to Michigan, so he got the nod.

Matt Dayes was chosen over Michigan State’s Madre London and a few others at the second running back spot. Clemson got four spots on the offense with Deon Cain and Jake Frumorgen coming off of impressive freshman seasons.

Defensively there’s a mix of experienced players like All-Big Ten linebacker Anthony Walker and Texas cornerback Davante Davis, who started as a true freshman for the Longhorns. Other players of note include Louisville linebacker Keith Kelsey, the son of a former Gator who played high school football in Gainesville.

Here is a look at the two teams.

All-Nation Florida Gators

(Made of prospects from the Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, Pac-12 and Notre Dame)

Offense

QB: John O’Korn, Michigan (St. Thomas Aquinas)
RB: Tarean Folston, Notre Dame (Cocoa)
RB: Matt Dayes, N.C. State (Cypress Bay)
WR: Artavis Scott (pictured), Clemson (Tarpon Springs East Lake)
WR: Deon Cain, Clemson (Tampa Bay Tech)
TE: Jordan Leggett, Clemson (Navarre)
OL: Mason Cole, Michigan (Tarpon Springs East Lake)
OL: Jon Heck, North Carolina (Jacksonville Bolles)
OL: Jake Frumorgen, Clemson (Tampa Plant)
OL: Chris Griffin, Georgia Tech (Wakulla)
OL: Jesse Burkett, Stanford (Jacksonville Bartram Trail)

Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Defense

DE: Carroll Phillips, Illinois (Miami Central)
DT: Edgar Cerenord, Duke (Plantation American Heritage)
DT: Kyle Shortridge, Louisville (Seminole Ridge)
LB/DE: Kenneth Ruff, Syracuse (Fort Lauderdale Dillard)
LB: Keith Kelsey, Louisville (Gainesville)
LB: Jerod Fernandez, N.C. State (Lake Mary)
LB: Anthony Walker, Northwestern (Miami Monsignor Pace)
CB: Davante Davis, Texas (Miami)
CB: Fabian Moreau, UCLA (Davie Western)
S: Leon McQuay III, USC (Seffner Armwood)
S: Ahmad Thomas, Oklahoma (Miami Central)

All-SEC Florida Gators

Just doing SEC programs, there’s an obvious hole at quarterback (but those of you that have heard me speak on Auburn’s QB situation before aren’t surprised). There’s a good chance both John Franklin III and Sean White will get at least one start at Auburn this year.

At the other positions there can be a good level of debate. Ralph Webb was plucked right out of Florida’s backyard and Sony Michel was one of the nation’s top backs during his recruiting class. Others like Auburn’s Chandler Cox (Apopka) and Mississippi State’s Brandon Holloway (Tampa Alonzo) were considered.

At the receiver position Kentucky’s Garrett Johnson (West Orange) and Auburn’s Marcus Davis (Delray American Heritage) were heavily considered for the second wide receiver spot, but Isaiah McKenzie won out with his special teams ability. He pairs with Calvin Ridley.

Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

On the offensive line, you have four experienced starters and Jalen Merrick, who is battling for the starting guard spot at Arkansas.

Defensively there was a major surplus of defensive backs, especially safeties with guys like South Carolina’s Jordan Diggs (Cape Coral Island Coast) not making the final cut. At the linebacker position Landon Stokes and Skai Moore are experienced starters.

The defensive line is a good mix with Corey Vereen being more of the run stopping defensive end while Byron Cowart is the powerful pass rusher. Denzil Ware can stand up as a pass rusher or play back in space as a linebacker.

Offense

QB: John Franklin III, Auburn (South Plantation) or Sean White, Auburn (Davie University School)
RB: Ralph Webb, Vanderbilt (Gainesville)
RB: Sony Michel, Georgia (Plantation American Heritage)
WR: Calvin Ridley, Alabama (Coconut Creek Monarch)
WR: Isaiah McKenzie, Georgia (Plantation American Heritage)
TE: Sean Culkin, Missouri (Indian Rocks Christian)
OL: Will Holden, Vanderbilt (Clay)
OL: Nick Haynes, Kentucky (Niceville)
OL: Robert Conyers, Ole Miss (Miami Braddock)
OL: Jalen Merrick, Arkansas (New Smyrna Beach)
OL: Isaiah Wynn, Georgia (St. Petersburg Lakewood)

Defense

DE: Corey Vereen, Tennessee (West Orange)
DT: Regie Meant, Kentucky (Cape Coral Ida Baker)
DE: Byron Cowart, Auburn (Seffner Armwood)
DE/LB: Denzil Ware, Kentucky (Crestview)
LB: Skai Moore, South Carolina (Davie University School)
LB: Landon Stokes, Vanderbilt (Lake Highland Prep)
CB: Kevin Toliver II (pictured), LSU (Jacksonville Trinity Christian)
CB: Jamel Dean, Auburn (Cocoa)
NB: Zedrick Woods, Ole Miss (Lake City Columbia)
S: Eddie Jackson, Alabama (Deerfield Beach)
S: Ronnie Harrison, Alabama (North Florida Christian)

Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports