Four reasons why Florida’s recruiting will improve throughout the year
By Kevin Duffey
Published:
What’s going on with Florida’s recruiting?
Several Gator fans are asking that very question right now, but it’s way too early to fret over nothing.
Florida currently has 14 commitments for the 2016 recruiting class. It’s headlined by four-star defensive back Chauncey Gardner and four-star JUCO running back Mark Thompson.
Then, several three-stars are filling out the class.
The Gators are known for getting many top-ranked prospects from the Sunshine State and from around the country. Steve Spurrier always recruited and developed well. Ron Zook recruited well, really, anywhere he went. Urban Meyer owned the recruiting game, and Will Muschamp signed top-tier talent during his time at Florida.
It’s part of the lure Florida has on head coaches. Elite prospects may not grow on trees in Florida, but coaches know that if they work hard and win some games, there’s talent right in their backyard.
Questions have emerged about why McElwain and his staff are taking commitments from two-and-three-star prospects. Here are four reasons why I think the Gators are taking several early commitments, and why the Gators recruiting will improve throughout the year:
1. Florida needs depth. The Gators need to build much better depth at every position, especially on offense. They need bodies. They need offensive linemen, and they need wide receivers and running backs. On defense, linebacker is the most important position to build depth, and Florida needs several of them. That’s probably a primary reason this staff is taking commitments so early from under-the-radar-type prospects. A bird in the hand is fantastic, especially when teams are actively building depth. UF still has room for the bigger fish down the road, too.
2. It takes time to build relationships. The 2015 recruiting class should give Florida fans encouragement. McElwain and staff got on RB Jordan Scarlett, DE CeCe Jefferson and OT Martez Ivey very late in the process, although Ivey and Jefferson were already leans. Still, McElwain landed the two uncommitted five-stars, and he flipped Scarlett from Miami. Remember, FSU and Miami have been recruiting the state’s top prospects for three or four years with their staffs; McElwain and staff haven’t had that luxury. It takes time to get into homes and in front of families and sell your program and product, especially without any success to show for it on the field yet.
3. For top talent and UF, it’s wait and see. Imagine you’re an elite offensive prospect who has watched Florida football over the last several years. Honestly, even if you love the Gators, it’d be tough to sign with UF based on the lack of offensive production and development. So, for Jim McElwain, prospects haven’t seen his offense yet, and he’s not going to get the benefit of the doubt. Prospects haven’t seen his passing game, running game or his style of play yet. Why in the world would they commit early? Outside of a few, they won’t. Prospects and parents want to see McElwain’s offensive style, philosophy and first-year success, or lack thereof, before pulling the trigger.
4. Many elite prospects wait anyway. It happens every year. Coaches have to decide to ether take a commitment from a player with less perceived talent or wait on the elite-caliber player and risk losing the guaranteed commitment. It’s a balancing act, and it’s a thin margin of error. Five of the state’s top 10 players remain uncommitted. Even if other commits are on flip watch — like Miami WR commit Sam Bruce, recruits sometimes don’t flip until later in the year closer to National Signing Day.
Undoubtedly, many of the three-stars will turn into four-stars before signing day, and Florida will have noticed that player before any of the other programs were willing to take their commitment. It happens every year.
And, truly, some three-star prospects turn out to be first-round picks. It’s all about player development within a specific system. We won’t know the developmental side of McElwain and staff until three or four years down the road.
For now, however, it’s way too early for Florida fans to be worried about the Gators’ 2016 recruiting class. There’s so much time, and too many things can and will happen prior to February.
However, a massive piece to the puzzle was added in 2017 quarterback commit Jake Allen. Allen is actively recruiting for the ’17 class, and it’s crucial to have a cornerstone prospect already committed. Allen is a top-50-type player, along with a top five pro-style quarterback.
A graduate of the University of Florida and founder of Saturday Down South, Kevin is a college football enthusiast.
