Recruting Mailbag August 18th

[BMF]

Some recruiting news....

http://www.gatorcountry.com/feature/florida-gators-recruiting-mailbag-for-august-18th/

Gator Country’s popular Florida Gators recruiting mailbag is back to its weekly spot on Thursday’s as we answer your recruiting questions.

The Gators recruiting class is off to a great start in 2017 and look to be setting their selves up for another top class.

This week members had a lot of questions on the status of the Class of 2017 and we answer your questions here.

Remember to get your questions in on Tuesday for the Florida Gators recruiting mailbag each week.

MrB-Gator- What’s the latest info on the offensive line board?

AS: Not much different with the offensive line right now. I do feel as if Florida has picked up momentum on Miami commit Navaughn Donaldson but the rest of the guys just need to visit. The key is keeping the momentum up with guys through the fall so they can close on guys in winter.

Jacobrenda: Where do things stand with Tyreke Johnson?

AS: I feel like the Gators are at or near the top for 2018 defensive back Tyreke Johnson. Johnson is also looking at some schools out west and is looking at Georgia. Running backs coach Tim Skipper has done a good job early on with him though.

Gatorfanseth: When do things stand with Adonis Thomas?
He recently enrolled in Juco, which should allow him to chose whatever school he wants to go to when he is done with that.

Would we take Thomas and one more linebacker to go with the two that we already have?

AS: I know Florida has spoken to Thomas but past that nothing else has happened. I’m sure Florida will continue to monitor his situation this fall and probably watch him in games before offering or not.

47gator: Anything new with Devon Hunter? Tyrone Truesdell? James Robinson?

AS: Florida will make the next round of cuts for Hunter but past that nothing is going on. Hunter will visit Florida this fall and the Gators are in good shape. We ran a story on Truesdell on Wednesday and the defensive tackle said he almost committed to Florida on Saturday during his visit. With Robinson it’s a wait and see approach with him to see how he does this year both on and off the field.

Macbgator: Anyone we are looking at for offensive line that has not been mentioned or listed??

AS: Honestly not really, that will probably change this fall and winter after some game film is put out on seniors.

Jacobrenda: Is Alex Leatherwood going to actually visit? He has canceled last couple visits. Need to get him back on campus.

AS: I think he will visit this fall but again that is just a guess because he has said that in the past. All I know is that he continues to talk to Florida and telling them that he has interest.

Ufgatordad: Are you still feeling good about Shawn Davis? If so, do you think he’s the last DB we add for some time?

AS: I still feel like Florida has a great shot with Davis, it’s tough to say if he will be the last one for awhile or not. Brad Stewart is a guy that could announce at any time and he’s someone that Florida is in good shape on.

Dfalco2: AS how do you see our defensive back and Safety board shaking out come NSD? Seems we were in the lead for a lot of top guys but we are losing momentum. As for WR how do you feel about Donovan Peoples-Jones and James Robinson. Can we get one of them??

AS: I think the defensive back board will work itself out and be just fine. I think the Gators will end up with a really good class with the guys they’re after. Devon Hunter, Brad Stewart, Marco Wilson, Elijah Blades, C.J. Henderson and Ambry Thomas are all names that Florida is after a lot. That’s a solid list.
Florida and Michigan will battle it out for Peoples-Jones and it will go down to the wire. Florida has a great shot here but the instate team will continue to put pressure on him. It’s a wait and see approach with James Robinson.

Ufgatordad: Can’t help but feel that Hamsah Nasirildeen’s recruitment is far from over and not just because it’s only August. USCe could he heading towards a disastrous season while we could do really well! How do you feel about him right now?

AS: He’s a kid that I think will remain loyal to his pledge so I think he signs with South Carolina. That’s what people around him are saying as well so I feel good saying that. Florida won’t stop recruiting him though.

Ufgators32: When can we expect to start hearing about the staff reaching out to JUCO offensive line and defensive line?

AS: Florida has the only JUCO defensive lineman they want right now, that could change for another defensive tackle but right now I doubt it. So I think they’re done with JUCO defensive linemen. As far as offensive line goes I think they will continue to look at those prospects this fall before going for one.

Daswamp: Anything new on Jarez Parks?

AS: Alabama, Florida and Florida State are all in play for Parks and his recruitment won’t really heat up until after the season when he takes official visits. Florida is the school that closest to home which helps the Gators.

BCNGator99: Do you think UF needs to sign 4 defensive tackles with Andrew Ivie and Thomas Holley taking medical DQ’s? If that is the case and Fred Hansard does not commit to UF, who are some of the possibilities for the 4th DT assuming UF lands Truesdell.
Also – On the recruiting board page when you click on a recruit and it brings up their profile page, the section where it shows what stories/post the recruit was “tagged” in are not hyperlinked. Would it be possible to get an intern to hyperlink the each of the tags to the stories/posts?

AS: I think it’s very possible that Florida signs four defensive tackles this year. After Truesdell I can’t think of anyone that Florida has really pursued at defensive tackle but that will change if Hansard goes to Rutgers. As far as the recruiting board goes, we’re in the process of updating everything on the back end and that will be fixed.

G8trsnapper: Looking at Auburn’s schedule, they could possibly end up 4 and 8 with a big beat down by Bama in the iron bowl. Malzahn Likely gets fired. Do we stay on Calvin Ashley, and possibly Nick Brahms? They might be available in the I pending dumpster fire coming in the plains if we continue to recruit them. Your thoughts.

AS: Calvin Ashley is still talking and listening to Florida but academics are an issue so that could hurt him either way. Florida hasn’t offered Brahms after he didn’t camp at Florida like he was asked to.

 

[BMF]

More recruiting:

https://www.seccountry.com/florida/zachs-mail-stack-for-florida-football-and-recruiting-818

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Give one thing to this year’s Florida Gators — there’s never a dull moment with them.

News seems to be happening constantly with this team, and it doesn’t always make for good headlines. Star cornerback Jalen Tabor and tight end C’yontai Lewis were suspended Wednesday for fighting each other.

Several people asked for my take on this situation, and one person even wondered if the preseason troubles with Florida players are a sign that they’ll take a step back this season.

I definitely don’t think so. A few isolated incidents aren’t indicative of where things stand with the entire team, and two of them really aren’t that serious.

A fight between teammates and BB gun horseplay by a pair of freshmen aren’t exactly indictments on the football program. However, because the scuffle drew blood and the pellets damaged property, the players deservedly received punishment from UF coach Jim McElwain.

But in a month, nobody will be thinking about what they did.

As for Callaway, his case warranted extensive coverage in recent weeks, but the alleged assault took place way back in early December.

The accusation didn’t seem to slow him down in the SEC Championship Game or Citrus Bowl (121 total receiving yards and a punt return score), so I don’t expect it to have an impact on his production this fall. Certain aspects of Callaway’s case caused a bad look for the university, but he and his teammates should be unaffected by this now that he’s been cleared.

Here are the top five questions from this week:

Are we in the mix for any stud LB’s this recruiting cycle?
(From @mmajosh)

It’s fair to say Florida is in the mix for Anthony Hines, the nation’s No. 1 inside linebacker.

He made news this week by revealing he will take an official visit to UF, which is huge for the Gators. That shows legitimate interest. They haven’t signed a top-100 linebacker since 2013, so a stud is certainly needed.

Linebackers coach Randy Shannon has ties to Texas and flipped Kylan Johnson late in the 2015 cycle, so he’s capable of luring Hines away from the Lone Star State.

Shannon is also pursuing 4-star linebackers K.J. Britt, Rahyme Johnson and Levi Jones. Florida has two commits at the position and the early returns have been promising on the three freshmen, but the Gators need to at least one more linebacker in their class and they’re aiming high.

Do you think the QB from New Jersey is ours to lose next year, and who else are we recruiting at QB for 2018?
(From @aman_hyrams)

That’d be Artur Sitkowski, the nation’s No. 4 pro-style quarterback for 2018. He wowed at Florida’s QB camp and earned an offer from the Gators, which I could tell was a big deal to him.

Despite being a New Jersey native, the Sunshine State is sort of a second home to him. He has stayed in Tampa with aunt, a Gator fan, on several occasions and even attended the Florida-FSU game with her in 2013.

So Sitkowski and his parents are very familiar with the program and the camp experience impressed them even more. At this point in his recruitment, it appears to be a battle between Florida and Michigan.

The other 2018 uncommitted quarterbacks with offers are Trevor Lawrence and Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who was also offered after camping at UF. Neither signal caller seems likely to end up with the Gators, and I think Sitkowski is their man for next year.

Who do you see as a breakout player that no one is talking about this year?
(From @rdasilva)

I really believe Jordan Scarlett is going surprise everyone in 2016.

He probably won’t start or get the most carries or yards, but look for him to become Florida’s home-run threat at running back. That 60-yard scamper against Georgia showed his big-play potential, and I’m told he broke free in the first scrimmage for a long run.

He needed to go through some growing pains as a freshman and humble himself after being such a high-profile prospect. Most fans have a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately outlook when it comes to recruiting, but I still remember the jubilation Florida coaches felt when they flipped Scarlett from Miami.

The U.S. Army All-American ran the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds at The Opening and beat Gators running back Mark Thompson in a foot race. That speed will be showcased significantly more during his sophomore campaign.

Outside the lack of experience level at QB, is the LB position the most volatile area going into the season?
(From @davemock, @go_pharm_gator)

Without a doubt. If one of Florida’s starters at linebacker suffers an injury, the Gators will be in trouble.

Their depth isn’t ideal, but there’s a bigger issue now that Matt Rolin is no longer with the team. UF has zero experience among the five players behind seniors Alex Anzalone, Jarrad Davis and Daniel McMillian.

How fragile is Florida at the position? When Anzalone wasn’t spotted at practice Thursday, fans went into panic mode on social media. It got so bad that Anzalone had to address his absence on Twitter.

In case anyone is wondering, I am at grad school orientation today. Don't worry lol

— Alex Anzalone (@AlexAnzalone34) August 18, 2016



If the starters stay healthy, the Gators should be fine. All indications are that freshmen Kylan Johnson and David Reese will be able to provide quality depth, but you don’t want to count on first-year linebackers for anything more than that.

Is there any serious possibility of an assistant coach or coordinator getting a head coaching job?
(From @dangerdan8)

UF has three heading coaching candidates on its 2016 staff.

The obvious choices are defensive coordinator Geoff Collins and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier. Both were considered for jobs last year, with UCF interviewing Collins and Nussmeier turning down Southern Miss.

Shannon, Miami’s coach from 2007-10, has also drawn interest from a few schools in recent years. He’s just waiting on the right opportunity, but it’s hard to imagine him not becoming a head coach again.

Collins may be the most likely to leave if his defense has another successful season. Should that happen, I think you’d see Shannon and Florida defensive line coach Chris Rumph become co-coordinators.

Alabama wide receivers coach Billy Napier is the name to watch if and when Nussmeier gets a head coaching gig. Napier, Clemson’s former offensive coordinator, worked with McElwain at Alabama in 2011 and then followed him to Colorado State to serve as his assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach.