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We’re inside of 24 hours until ink hits paper in college football, the most important day of the offseason in the SEC as touted prep seniors sign binding letters of intent. National Signing Day has become a February spectacle we’re all interested in as football fiends, one that breeds anticipation at every major program in the country.
RELATED: Announcement times for the SEC’s top uncommitted prospects
The Florida Gators are the country’s biggest boom-or-bust team on National Signing Day.
Picking up the pieces from Will Muschamp, Jim McElwain has done a fabulous job getting on prospects’ maps and into their living rooms. In a short time, McElwain landed one of the country’s most elite running backs in Jordan Scarlett, who was formally a Miami commit, and he’s making relationships with offensive players that Muschamp couldn’t.
The Gators have slowly worked their way from being ranked in the 80s in recruiting up to No. 42, according to 247Sports, with only 16 commitments. The Gators are expected to land 25 signees in this year’s class, give or take a couple, and the class is filling up rather quickly ahead of signing day.
The Gators have three of the biggest uncommitted prospects still on the board in the Florida trio. Five-star OT Martez Ivey, five-star DE Byron Cowart and five-star DE CeCe Jefferson all remain uncommitted, and all three are trending toward the Gators. Should Florida land all three prospects, it would be a tremendous haul for Coach Mac in a transition class. Most feel good about Ivey and Jefferson, while Cowart plays his cards closer to the vest.
The Gators could also flip four-star FSU QB commit Deondre Francois. Francois decommitted from FSU last week via Twitter, but he said his account was hacked and that he’s still committed to the Noles. Most feel that wasn’t a hack and that the Gators have a big chance to land Francois on National Signing Day.
Florida is also in the mix for recent Auburn decommitment D’Anfernee McGriff, who’s a bigger back than Scarlett. Most project McGriff to play H-Back at the next level, but he’s talented enough to become a superstar at multiple positions.
Should all the dominos fall into place, the Florida Gators could be one of the country’s hottest recruiting finishers on National Signing Day.
FLORIDA 2015 RECRUITING CLASS
- National Rank: 42
- SEC Rank: 12
- No. of commitments: 16
- No. of commitments by rating: Two four-stars, 14 three-stars
Top incoming offensive players: RB Jordan Scarlett, WR Derrick Dillon, OC Tyler Jordan
Top incoming defensive players: CB Chris Williamson, DE Jabari Zuniga, DB Kylan Johnson
Primary recruiting target(s): Five-star OT Martez Ivey, Five-star DE Byron Cowart, Five-star DE CeCe Jefferson
Best-case scenario: Florida lands the five-star trio in Ivey, Cowart and Jefferson, along with a few other four-star players, and land somewhere in the top 20 to top 15 range
VERBAL COMMITS
- Jordan Scarlett, RB, four-star
- Derrick Dillon, WR, four-star
- Chris Williamson, CB, three-star
- Tyler Jordan, OC, three-star
- Jabari Zuniga, DE, three-star
- Brandon Sandifer, OG, three-star
- Mike Horton, OT, three-star
- Camrin Knight, TE, three-star
- Andrew Ivie, DT, three-star
- Richerd Desir-Jones, OL/DL, three-star
- Kylan Johnson, S, three-star
- Fredrick Johnson, OT, three-star
- Luke Ancrum, DE, three-star
- Rayshad Jackson, LB, three-star
CURRENT CLASS
- Daniel Imatorbhebhe, TE, three-star (early enrollee)
- Kalif Jackson, WR, three-star (early enrollee)
Editor’s note: Saturday Down South’s references to recruiting rankings are to 247Sports.com industry composite ranking.
A graduate of the University of Florida and founder of Saturday Down South, Kevin is a college football enthusiast.
