Florida’s rough recruiting night continues, loses commitment from elite CB
By Kevin Duffey
Published:
The Florida Gators haven’t had the best night on the recruiting trail.
Earlier in the night, one of Florida’s top prospects remaining on the board committed to Miami. Four-star lineman Kai-Leon Herbert shunned the Gators for the Hurricanes, and the word is that Herbert just wanted to know who the Gators next offensive line coach would be, as the position is still vacant. Obviously, Herbert wasn’t told.
Here’s what he wrote on Twitter when he committed to the Canes:
Blessed beyond measure to announce that I HAVE OFFICIALLY COMMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI??????‼️ God got us from here on out . pic.twitter.com/CxW6OqzDUH
— Papo™️ (@kaileonherbert) January 26, 2017
Later in the evening, things got worse.
Four-star cornerback Elijah Blades decommitted from the Gators via Twitter. Blades is the No. 16 overall cornerback in the class of 2017, and he’s a Pasadena, California native. He’s the No. 137 overall prospect, according to 247Sports Composite Rankings, and one of the Gators’ most prized commitments.
Blades, however, says the Gators are “still in it” and that things are coming down to National Signing Day, one week from today. He released a top five of Southern Cal, Florida, Oregon, Nebraska and Georgia following his decommitment.
https://twitter.com/savageszniv/status/824436921694912514
Following Blades’ decommitment, the Gators have 14 commitments in the class of 2017.
Jim McElwain certainly has taken his lumps on the recruiting trail during his short tenure, and the Gators’ recruiting has been somewhat skeptical. Florida fans are used to seeing top five recruiting finishes, and although McElwain and the Gators have won the SEC East in back-to-back seasons, the lack of elite prospects flowing into Florida is somewhat puzzling.
Whether it’s the lack of developing relationships or the lack of elite recruiters on the staff, McElwain has to make this a priority filling the current void on the staff, as well as improving it in the coming years.
Hopefully for the Gators’ sake National Signing Day will be a hit.
A graduate of the University of Florida and founder of Saturday Down South, Kevin is a college football enthusiast.
