The National Signing Day Thread

Chomper

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Ahhh, the recruiting trail. Just give all Gator coaches a case of Mac's barbeque sauce and a sales quota. That should work.
 

MidwestChomp

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Dixon, Nord, Nuss, and some have even said Rump should be sent packing as well for his lack of recruiting. I wonder what Spurrier's old WR coach Dwayne Dixon is up to these day, he sure could coach.
He's at Ohio University. Been there for something like 10 years. Time for him to return home.
 

rogdochar

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He's at Ohio University. Been there for something like 10 years. Time for him to return home.

'cept McNuss has applied the true meaning to that sentence, "You can't go home again." i.e. UF ain't UF no more.
 

FlGator19382

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Dixon nees to go to. I'm not sure what's he's teaching our WR's, but it has nothing to do with getting separation.

If Butters doesn't get canned I hope he has the balls to fire Nord, Nusschamp, Dixon, oh and our strength and conditioning coach Mike Kent. I feel like the defensive assistants are ok but Randy Shannon needs to get a little more aggressive.
 

Slug

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If Butters doesn't get canned I hope he has the balls to fire Nord, Nusschamp, Dixon, oh and our strength and conditioning coach Mike Kent. I feel like the defensive assistants are ok but Randy Shannon needs to get a little more aggressive.
I agree, but I'm not holding my breath.
 

alcoholica

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I’m starting to worry about this class. What should’ve been a top 3 class will struggle to stay in the top 5, and that’s probably a best case scenario.
 

BMF

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Let's hope this kid sticks....and enrolls early:


Gators RB commit Iverson Clement eager to enroll early, sees bright future at UF

http://www.gatorsports.com/2017/10/...ent-eager-enroll-early-sees-bright-future-uf/

On Saturday, Iverson Clement took what might have been his final visit, and it only re-affirmed his commitment to enroll in January at the University of Florida.

Clement, a highly recruited running back in the 2018 class out of Rancocas Valley High in Mount Holly, New Jersey, committed to the Gators in April after multiple unofficial visits, so Saturday’s visit wasn’t about first impressions of his future campus.

“That was my seventh or eighth time going to UF, so I felt very at home,” Clement said. “I mean, I wasn’t really looking for a lot, I’ve been there so many times I’m really starting to get cool with the players. That was my first game I’ve visited, and I just wanted to see what the crowd atmosphere was like.”

Despite the night culminating in a 19-17 Gators loss, Clement came away impressed with the environment that comes with playing for UF.

“It was really loud, I’ve been to Penn State, I’ve been to Virginia Tech, I’ve been to Ohio State,” Clement said, “and they get loud, but Florida was really loud. I was really impressed, I was like ‘wow’. The atmosphere overall was amazing. I just can’t wait to get there in January.”

That’s where Clement ends any potential concerns about his recruitment. With just two months until prospects can sign as midyear enrollees, Clement isn’t looking elsewhere. And when he arrives in January, he expects to be joined by nearly half of Florida’s 2018 class so far.

“8 guys, 9 guys are coming in in January,” Clement said. “So you tell me how solid that is.”

Clement also had an opportunity to see Ja’Juan Seider’s message play out in real time. Seeing freshman running back Malik Davis rack up 97 rushing yards against the Aggies solidified the reality of possible early playing time at Florida.

“He’s great, and it’s motivation. Seeing somebody who just got out of high school and is playing in the SEC with these type of caliber teams, it shows that if your mind is on right and you do what you got to do, especially if you come in January that’s an advantage, and I’m blessed to have this ability to do that. I feel like the sky is the limit,” Clement said. “My goal is to be an impact player, I’m not coming all the way from the north just to settle for less. I want to be someone that coach really sees something in and be able to dominate.”

When it came to the elephant in the room – UF’s offensive futility despite recent success on the ground – Clement expressed confidence the offense would correct itself prior his arrival, before asserting that the future is bright in Gainesville.

“It’s going to get back on track this season. Next season is going to go off the wall,” Clement said. “You’ve got Ja’Marr Chase coming in, Jacob Copeland, you’ve got Matt Corral coming in, and you’ve got me coming in. And you’ve got Dameon Pierce coming also, a good running back too. That’s a lot of talent right there, top-of-the-country talent.”

For Clement, he’s focused on his senior season and the Gators rather than any other programs. He doesn’t intend to visit any other programs, and if he returns to Florida before his enrollment it will be for UF’s rivalry bout with Florida State.

“That’s my only official visit, I don’t plan on going to any other college football games. I might go just to go, whatever the case may be, but I’ve been pretty much focusing on my football and taking it a day at a time,” Clement said. “I’m really pumped for December 20th, but I think I’m going to go to the FSU game. Definitely I want to get back down there again.”
 

BMF

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Kevin Carter chimes in on 5-star OL:

Former Gator great has high praise for Petit-Frere
Five-star offensive tackle receives rave reviews from former Pro-Bowl pass rusher.

https://florida.247sports.com/Artic...ffers-high-praise-for-Nicholas-Peti-109142238

Kevin Carter was a two-time first team All-SEC selection and earned first team All-American honors while playing for the Florida Gators. Next, Carter enjoyed 14 seasons seasons in the NFL playing for the St. Louis Rams, Tennessee Titans, Miami Dolphins, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The defensive end was a two-time Pro-Bowl selection and led the league in sacks in 1999, all while facing the world’s best offensive linemen.

Now, you can find Carter roaming the sidelines of Berkeley Prep in Tampa, Fla. helping with the football team. That is home to 247Sports’ No. 1 offensive tackle in the nation — Nicholas Petit-Frere.

The 6-foot-5, 275-pound prospect has elite programs like Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan, and Florida pursuing his services. To Carter, there is very good reason for these top football programs to pursue Petit-Frere.

“Nick Petit-Frere, to me, is the prototype offensive linemen for any level of football,” Carter said. “The fact he’s so big, so strong, such a great athlete naturally, it’s only going to further propel him in the college game.”

Carter sees little to no flaws in Petit-Frere’s game.

“The only thing he has to do is to continue to perfect his technique,” Carter explained. “His technique will grow with him, it will change as he gets stronger, as he diversifies his mobility and understands the game better.

“This person maybe needs to work on his lateral movement, maybe he needs to work on punch, but there’s nothing necessarily that [Petit-Frere] needs to work on. There’s no weakness in his game.

“The charge, the impetus is really on his college coach, because you’ve got a specimen of an athlete, can you make work? And if you can’t, then shame on you. I’ll go out there and coach him, not knowing anything about offensive line play, and he’ll still be an all-American. It does not matter, he’s that good. So for him, the sky is the limit.”

Carter noted Petit-Frere’s “goodness” off the field. That did cause some concern, but those were quickly put to rest.

“You wonder if he’s too nice, does he not have that ferocity, does he not have that dog in him,” Carter pondered. “None of that either. The kid, when he gets to the field, he gets this gleam in his eye.

“I knew I wasn’t going to have a problem with him as far as turning it on. The first game I had a chance to coach him, which was in the spring, I said, ‘Hey, we’re going to go out there and mash these guys, right?’ I said, ‘The best thing about this, it’s football, we don’t have apologize for hurting people, you know, for doing things, for mashing people into the ground.’ I saw the biggest evil smile form on his face, and I saw a gleam in his eye that he likes this. He gets into pancaking people. He will be the one to pancake you and help you up right after.”

Ultimately, Carter sees a great deal of upside to Petit-Frere.

“I tell him all the time, I tell him every day, you’re only limited to what you can wrap your mind around, and I know your mind is open and your mind is receptive and you want it. That’s all I have to hear from you, that’s all I have to see, and you’ll have everything you want out of this sport. I tell him that all the time.”
 

BMF

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Florida Gators recruiting mailbag: October 19th edition

http://www.gatorcountry.com/feature/florida-gators-recruiting-mailbag-october-19th-edition/

The Florida Gators recruiting efforts head into a bye week looking to regain the momentum of the offseason as the staff hits the road to see prospects.

Prospects have started their season already so they’re in season mode but also continuing through the recruiting process.

Gator Country’s members have a lot of questions about how the 2018 class will shake out and who are the top prospects that the Gators are still after.

We answer your questions in this week’s Florida Gators recruiting mailbag.
Well let’s dive right in to this week’s recruiting mailbag:

TebowNut6: Are any of the primary, more influential recruits (i.e., Matt Corral, Jacob Copland, Dameon Pierce, Ja’Marr Chase, etc) being told what’s going on behind the scenes, or what “changes” are coming — likely from Mac himself? Just to keep up communication and keep them in the know/feeling looped in so they A) don’t get any ideas and think about going elsewhere, and B) help us walk a few key targets away from the ledge? Or is it still way too early for that… even though specific names/targets don’t necessarily have to be used in these scenarios?
AS: Mac and the coaching staff are very open and upfront with the commits but I don’t think they’ve been told about any changes because those changes haven’t been made yet. I do know that the commits are being told that things are going to improve but that with the guys suspended and hurt that they’re struggling with numbers. When changes are made, I expect the staff to let the commits know what’s going on.


LEMONHOPE: How are we trending in the Defensive back/Cornerback/Safety department? Pat Surtain/Tyson Campbell/Bookie etc seems quiet on that end. Thanks AS!
AS: Surtain and Campbell are still very iffy at this time and Campbell still hasn’t visited campus yet. With Bookie, Florida hasn’t really turned up the heat on him at this time. Florida is still recruiting those three, Gurvan Hall, Josh Jobe and others though. Right now Florida can be a little picky as they’re happy with what they have already committed.

MrB-Gator: If our two suspended freshmen linebackers don’t come back do we go after a Juco to build back some depth?
AS: I say yes, but Florida hasn’t offered any JUCO linebackers yet but that could change soon. Florida needs depth bad and they need guys that can contribute next year.

Jonsantiago1: Do you see anyone committing before the season is over? If so who is on that watch list?
AS: Right now, I would say no more commits until after the season is over because the guys that Florida is after are all saying they want to take official visits first. As always though, someone can surprise you and do it out of nowhere.

UFGator402: Are their any new additions to the Linebacker board? If not, do you expect to see that happen soon? Assuming we lose the two involved in the CC scheme then we are in desperate need for more.
AS: No new additions to the board at this time but at some point, the board will expand because it has too. Florida has to sign two more linebackers in this class to get depth at the position and right now Richard Jibunor and Channing Tindal are trending elsewhere. Florida did visit Alabama linebacker commit Quay Walker on Tuesday but he looks to either stick with Bama or flip to Auburn. I would expect some new names to be seen later this week and start to appear on the board.

Gatormade94: Are we signing a bigger class to offset losses from players suspended
AS: Still looks to be 25 because of the way the numbers work out, the Gators can’t over sign for those suspended players until a.) their case is resolved and B.) until next year because of the way the class count works.

McLeanti: Are we going to turn up the heat on Dax Holifield?
AS: I don’t get the feeling that Florida is going to do that. South Carolina looks to be the school to beat.

Macbgator: Who do we sign as our kicker recruit this cycle??
AS: Florida hasn’t decided on whether to sign a kicker or not because Eddy Pineiro may come back to school. Florida’s top two kickers are Connor Davis and Thomas Burks out of Tennessee though.

Macbgator: Are we recruiting Conner Shugart, linebacker out of Spartanburg, SC, he is on the list for player of the year in SC?? His dad is a medical Doctor in Spartanburg!!
AS: Not to my knowledge, that’s not a name that I’ve heard as being on the board.

74gator: Other than Anthony Schwartz, do any of commitments or recruits at receiver have that blazing speed where they can simply run away from a defensive back?
AS: Most of Florida’s receivers have that ability to run away from a defensive back but as far as pure speed, Tyquan Thornton is a track guy that can leave defensive backs in his dust. But Copeland and Chase are also really good athletes as well.

Juggernautz: Which of our 2018 commits are EE’s?
AS: So far, Iverson Clement, Matt Corral, Dameon Pierce, Randy Russell, Curtis Dunlap and Taylor Upshaw have all said they plan to early enroll at Florida this January.

Gator78: I noticed we offered a 3 star Offensive Tackle yesterday from South Carolina that’s a current Rutgers commit. He stated he’s currently setting up a visit to UF. Assume this is a back up plan to one of the OL on the board. Most likely Nick Petit-Freer (sp?), as he seems to be trending away and this offer came the day after UF went to visit NPF at school. Any info on the new guy?
AS: Very good athlete that never quits on film from what I’ve been able to tell. Brad Davis visited on Tuesday and was impressed by him and offered later that night. He’s someone that is going to visit and will be someone to keep an eye on. He’s much better than Rutgers from what I can tell and been told.

Southcolgator: Any additional updates on defensive line recruiting? If Taven Bryan and Jabari Zuniga leave early and with the future of K Davis up in the air, do we plan to add additional d-line recruits?
AS: This is the spot that just seems to be a position that doesn’t feel up until later in the year. Florida missed on Coynis Miller but that was expected by most but they’re still in on Nesta Silvera, just offered Christian Barmore and are still recruiting guys like Rick Sandidge and Ronnie Perkins out of Missouri. Florida has a lot of targets but just need to get these guys on campus and get some of them leaning their way.

OklahomaGator: Do you think the coaches will push players to sign early this year? This is the first year with the early signing period I believe.
AS: Yes, that’s something that the coaches are going to work hard to get the commits to sign in December. That makes things a lot easier for the coaching staff and helps them to be able to focus on the uncommitted guys in January.

BCNGator99: Are there any ’19 commitments that are starting to look around to the point where you are concerned?
AS: None of them are really at the point of decommitting but several guys are still taking visits. The guy to watch the most is receiver John Dunmore who visited his dream school Florida State for the Miami game. He’s probably the guy to watch the closest.
 

Fishon

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you'd think that a look at the depth chart plus film of ray lewis, jonathan vilma, dan morgan, etc. would be more enticing to LB recruits. Same with DL/DT recruits. what's going on here (besides the obvious reasons mentioned ad nasuem for months)? Is shannon a bad evaluator of talent? a disinterested recruiter?
 

BMF

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you'd think that a look at the depth chart plus film of ray lewis, jonathan vilma, dan morgan, etc. would be more enticing to LB recruits. Same with DL/DT recruits. what's going on here (besides the obvious reasons mentioned ad nasuem for months)? Is shannon a bad evaluator of talent? a disinterested recruiter?

It's head scratching. These kids can come play at UF, in the SEC, big games every weekend.....and they still don't want to come here? I don't get it. Hopefully it picks up. I want at least 1 DT and 1 more LB.
 

BMF

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Florida recruiting: Top 5 OL targets remaining for Gators

https://www.seccountry.com/florida/florida-recruiting-ol-targets

Top 5 OL targets
The Gators landed a big commitment Friday from 4-star offensive tackle Richard Gouraige, but they’re not done landing players at the position.


Florida wants to sign five linemen in the Class of 2018 and has a handful of options on the board. Here are the top 5 targets to fill those spots.

1) William Barnes, 4-star OL, Apopka (Apopka, Fla.)
DSC_0289_mupj65.jpg

William Barnes is ranked the nation’s No. 6 offensive tackle in the 247Sports Composite. (Chris Kirschner/SEC Country)
  • Barnes has been a priority from the start of the cycle. Offensive line coach Brad Davis formed a quick relationship with him after taking the job in February. The top-100 overall is no longer naming a leader and has seven schools under consideration for official visits. Florida State and North Carolina are Florida’s biggest threats for Barnes, who plans to decide on National Signing Day.
2) Nicholas Petit-Frere, 4-star OT, Berkley Prep (Tampa, Fla.)
IMG_8037-1_uqikjc.jpg

Nicholas Petit-Frere is rated a 5-star recruit by 247Sports.
  • Despite his 5-star status on 247Sports, very little is known about the recruitment of Petit-Frere. He’s in no rush to make a decision and hasn’t thought about the process a lot. Petit-Frere plans to take official visits after his senior season, but where and when is still to be determined. I think it will come down to Alabama and Florida, but that’s just a hunch. Unlike Petit-Frere, the Gators have a much clearer picture of where they stand with Barnes and that makes him more important.
3) Ed Montilus, 3-star OG, Apopka (Apopka, Fla.)
DSC_0180_nczecb.jpg

Ed Montilus is ranked the nation’s No. 21 offensive guard by 247Sports (Benjamin Wolk/SEC Country).
  • Barnes and Montilus are basically a package deal, but Montilus isn’t some tag-along teammate that college coaches are reluctant to take. He holds more than a dozen offers from Power 5 programs, but Auburn, Florida and North Carolina are the schools he likes the most. If the Apopka duo does play together on the next level, it will likely be at UF or UNC.
4) Tank Jenkins, 3-star OL, Park Crossing (Montgomery, Ala.)
DSC_0773_zholeu.jpg

Tank Jenkins is ranked the nation’s No. 10 offensive guard in the 247Sports Composite. (Chris Kirschner/SEC Country)
  • The Gators have recruited Jenkins for two and a half years, offering him a scholarship in July of 2015. Florida led for Jenkins early in his recruitment, but Auburn, Miami and Louisville are now the main schools involved. However, he still communicates with the Gators and could get the full-court press from them if they miss on their top targets.
5) Christian Meadows, 4-star OT, Macon County (Montezuma, Ga.)
Christian-Meadows_oswmi5.jpg

Christian Meadows is an Under Armour All-American. (Student Sports)
  • Meadows has been committed to Florida State for more than year and remains solid with the Seminoles. But if they continue to struggle this season and the aforementioned Florida targets go elsewhere, the Gators may take another crack at Meadows.
 

TheDouglas78

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It's head scratching. These kids can come play at UF, in the SEC, big games every weekend.....and they still don't want to come here? I don't get it. Hopefully it picks up. I want at least 1 DT and 1 more LB.

Or the Head Coach has devalued their value to the team?
 

BMF

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McElwain Hears Positive Feedback from Recruiting Trail
Jim McElwain says Florida has been received positively on recruiting trail; talks about negative recruiting.

https://florida.247sports.com/Artic...-been-received-positively-on-recrui-109361254

Jim McElwain took a step back from coaching Florida last to hit the recruiting trail. The head coach traveled up and down the Florida peninsula seeing some of the Gators' biggest targets. By all accounts the week was a success for the group, as UF welcomed yet another top in-state target, four-star offensive tackle, Richard Gouraige, to the class.

""It's been great," said McElwain about the feedback he has received from the recruiting trail. "It's been really positive. A lot of guys see the opportunity they're going to have and momentum's been really good with that."

The Gators have some on the field struggles this season - falling to 3-3 after two consecutive losses prior to the bye week. Despite those struggles, McElwain says recruits are buying into the program just as they have before.

"No. 1, relationships. No. 2, there are opportunities," said McElwain about the positivity around recruiting." Seeing the growth, everything from the facilities to the emphasis put on certain things I think has been really good.”

The Florida 2018 class currently ranks in the top ten and has the potential to continue to climb up the rankings with several top targets still waiting on their decision. However, McElwain and his staff will have to recruit against some stiff negative recruiting, as some programs see an opportunity to strike.

"That's a tactic that a lot of people use," said McElwain about negative recruiting. "It's not something we believe in. We're honest and up front. Let them know the way it's going to be."

One possible tactic many schools use on the trail is creating uncertainty around the program. In the last week, McElwain has been linked to a possible move to Oregon State, however, the head coach quickly denied that connection.

"It's that time of year. And those are things that, you know, people throw out," he said. "At the same time, we've got a hell of a group coming in and we're playing a lot of young guys right now that are playing pretty darned hard and I think have a chance to be really good players. Our main focus is what we did in the bye week now moving forward to go play Georgia."

As far as recruiting, the Gators are focused on the early signing period. McElwain and company expect many of their pledges to sign their letters of intent starting on December 20 - some of the names expected to sign: five-star quarterback Matt Corral, four-star running back Dameon Pierce, three-star defensive lineman Taylor Upshaw, four-star defensive back Divaad Wilson, four-star center Curtis Dunlap, safety Randy Russell, and four-star running back Iverson Clement .

"Obviously, we'd like to sign all 25 in December. We'll see. Certain guys are ready earlier, obviously the ones that we can get in here at mid-year. We've got a pretty good deal set up as far as that announcement."
 

BMF

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Gators offered Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco '20 QB DJ Uiagalelei.

Coach Nussmeier was on campus and put the offer out. D.J is a huge kid, 6-4, 245 pounds with arguably the strongest arm in the country right now. He's still raw and needs time to develop how to play the QB position in terms of reads, understanding coverage's, etc but his upside is tremendous. For his size, he's a very good athlete, also plays hoops and baseball, is a natural leader and has a chance to be a special player down the line.


DJ UIAGALELEI, ST. JOHN BOSCO , PRO-STYLE QUA
DJ Uiagalelei is a 6-4, 190-pound Pro-Style Quarterback from Bellflower, CA.

Read more
 

BMF

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UF’s bye week was big for Florida Gators recruiting

http://www.gatorcountry.com/feature/ufs-bye-week-was-big-for-florida-gators-recruiting/

Last week, the Florida Gators coaching staff spent most of the bye week out on the road recruiting and seeing prospects in person.

For some of these prospects, it was the first time for them to see the Gator logo on a coach’s chest since the summer time and as Jim McElwain said on Monday that was a big thing for the Gators.

“It was big (for) recruiting as well as we look forward to early signing day,” McElwain said of recruiting during the bye week. “So those things go in every bye week, and you’ve got kind of those mapped out.”

The week turned out to be a success as the Gators visited offensive lineman Richard Gouraige on Tuesday and he committed to Florida on Friday.

That was big news for the Gators as Florida continues to look for offensive linemen in this class but as McElwain says the entire class sees a chance to contribute early in the Swamp and that has shown in their response to the coaches.

“It’s been great. It’s been really positive,” he said of the reaction from prospects. “A lot of guys see the opportunity they’re going to have and momentum’s been really good with that.”

Fans may argue that they don’t see how the Gators are still succeeding in recruiting but recruits look at the bigger picture of the program instead of just the record the team.

Recruiting is also about relationships and that’s what McElwain credits the Gators success to, plus the direction the program is going.
“I think you hit No. 1, relationships. No. 2, there are opportunities,” he said on what the recruits are seeing from Florida. “Seeing the growth, everything from the facilities to the emphasis put on certain things I think has been really good.”

While many recruits around the country agree with McElwain on the opportunities in Gainesville, coaches at other schools are trying to use Florida’s record against them.

Negative recruiting is nothing new and is something McElwain had to deal with a lot last year but he believes in a different approach.
“Well, it’s, you know, that’s a tactic that a lot of people use. It’s not something we believe in,” McElwain said on negative recruiting. “We’re honest and up front. Let them know the way it’s going to be.”

With a top 10 class on the board already, the Gators coaching staff must now focus on finishing off the season strong on the field but also keep in touch with recruits around the country.

This even more important this year as the NCAA introduced a new signing day in December so the Gators are trying to sign as many guys as they can at that time.

But the verdict remains out there of how many guys will sign then and how this new rule will work but McElwain is interested to see how things work out for Florida then.

“Yeah, you know, it will be interesting to see,” McElwain said on if things change with the early signing period. “Obviously, we’d like to sign all 25 in December. We’ll see. Certain guys are ready earlier, obviously the ones that we can get in here at mid-year. We’ve got a pretty good deal set up as far as that announcement.”
 

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