Florida recruiting grades at dead period are good, but they could be better
It may be known as the “dead period,” but expect the Florida staff to work just as hard during the next month of recruiting. Face-to-face meetings are restricted, and phone calls made by coaches are limited, but the Gators coaches will be actively messaging prospects on social media and asking them to call.
Heading into Monday’s restricted period, the Gators found themselves at No. 7 in 247Sports composite recruiting rankings. UF’s class is third-best in the SEC, behind No. 2 LSU and No. 4 Alabama.
Florida’s marquee commitment at this time is four-star QB Feleipe Franks. At 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, Franks has the ideal height and size to play in head coach Jim McElwain’s offense. Franks is rated the No. 3 pro-style quarterback in the class of 2016. As an early enrollee, Franks will be able to jump into UF’s quarterback battle during spring practice.
Here are their grades at this point in the recruiting process. These will change, of course, in the next six week as we near national signing day.
OFFENSE: B (11 total commits)
With Franks and two-star QB Kyle Trask, the Gators are adding numbers in one area of need. As the backup on his high school team, Trask is unlikely to be ready for the speed of college football as a true freshman. McElwain and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, however, were impressed with Trask’s arm and mechanics at UF’s Friday Night Lights camp, offering him a scholarship based on long-term potential.
JuCo RB Mark Thompson, a four-star prospect, brings a much-needed power presence to Florida’s backfield and has the chance for an immediate impact in 2016. Freddie Swain, a four-star early enrollee, is the best of UF’s four current wide receiver commits and should be a freshman contributor.
DEFENSE B+ (14 total commits)
With two senior starters (DL Jonathan Bullard and LB Antonio Morrison) on their way out, and a number of potential juniors jumping to the NFL, 2016 is an important year for the Gators to add numbers on defense. UF’s top defensive recruit is four-star CB Chauncey Gardner, an early enrollee. Gardner has also been a vocal recruiter on Florida’s behalf.
Four-star defensive end Antonneous Clayton leads a solid class upfront. LB Jeremiah Moon is another four-star commitment for the Gators’ front seven.
RECRUITING NEEDS
Bringing in Swain was a great start, but the Gators need at least two more playmaking wide receivers. Florida currently has four receiver commits, and have told recruits they plan to take six. Tampa Catholic receiver Nate Craig-Myers, a four-star prospect, would be a huge addition to UF’s 2016 class.
Florida entered this year thin at linebacker and is losing Morrison. Junior LB Jarrad Davis has said he’s returning for his senior season, but still could potentially change his mind about the NFL. Surprisingly, the Gators only have two linebacker commits so far, and could certainly use more depth.
The school that likes to claim DBU doesn’t have many elite defensive back commits beyond Gardner. With CB Vernon Hargreaves III draft bound, and possibly safeties Marcus Maye and Keanu Neal, Florida needs to add more young talent to the secondary.
The Gators are plenty happy with Franks and Trask, but there’s good reason the coaches gave five-star QB Jacob Eason their best pitch. With QB Will Grier suspended until Oct. 12, 2016, the starting quarterback job for the first six games will be wide open. Eason, an early enrollee, could start learning Florida’s offense in the spring and would likely be the frontrunner to start in Week 1.