Recruiting 2024 Recruiting Thread: 4* 315 pound DL D'antre Robinson commits

[TN G8tr]

This is going to be a stout defense and very excited with the momentum that tis going so far.

So many posts and yet some that are puzzling with what is going on. We all have clamored for effort, work ethic, and results on the recruiting side of things. With all that has happened over the last 72 hours has been great and what we have asked for. Are we going to have a setback or two here and there? Sure. But I am still scratching my head over some of the takes on BN. I thoroughly believe that his coaching (and yes at times I scratched my head) ability last year was due to numerous factors. Team chemistry, depth, lack of recruiting/talent, and the overall attitudes leading to the reason for Jettisoning many of those guys.

Someone mentioned Meyer in this thread. So I will give you a Meyer nugget. Prior to the '09 (after the second Natty) he was at our club and I was fortunate to home for a visit and sat next to him. While chatting, we came across the subject of the Talent level. He made it clear that, "talent will win you 6-7 games alone. Decent Coaching will get you to 7-8 wins, but with Superior Talent with that decent coaching will get you championships." He clearly put it on the talent. (i.e. Muschump 10-2??) Get the best players and you will be in the hunt. I believe it will be harder to win with the landscape these days, but none the less, UF will have some great football. With Mullentham we weren't even sniffing getting these guys to visit, yet alone in their front yard.

Who knows what this '23 season will hold, but from what I am seeing we will see a better defense, possibly a more productive offense. Am I saying that Mertz is all world, NO! What I am saying is he might be a QB that can manage to be productive IF the other 21 guys playing can support and do their job. Thoroughly impressed with what is going on in Gainesville. We keep getting this talent, with Meyer's take on it, will make the whole situation better.

 

[Back Alley Gator]

Its entertaining watching guys in here, when a kid goes somewhere else, we're fkd, but when we get them, its only June and they wont stick

lmao

Those are aren't mutually exclusive you know.

 

[oxrageous]

There are going to be more ups and downs until ESD. Chances are we'll lose at least one player in a flip. However, I would expect to make that up by flipping someone else to us.

 

[Bait'n Gator]

I never doubted sling blade for a second.

 

[oxrageous]

I never doubted sling blade for a second.

Hopefully yesterday will temporarily scuttle your plans to attach an explosive device to his car ignition.

 

[oxrageous]

5-star Waller picks Gators, touts 'versatile' defense

Five-star defensive end Jamonta Waller committed to Florida on Monday night, giving Billy Napier's program its fourth ESPN 300 commitment in the class of 2024 since Saturday.

www.espn.com

"We ready, baby," Waller said. "They're glad I'm home, ready to get to work and get The Swamp to how it used to be. (This 2024 class is going to get) even better because I'm going to start recruiting now."

 

[Lucius]

The Gators' 2024 class currently has 6 commits in the top-100 composite player rankings. (247)

The last time UF had 6+ players in the top-100 was Muschamp's 2013 class. That class finished #3 nationally.

The 2024 class is only 2/3 full. A top-5 finish this cycle is very possible.

Also important to note that there aren't glaring holes not being addressed, such as OL under Muschamp or defense under Mcelwain.

 

[Silverback Gator]

You forget the glorious game management at UcheaT and Vanderbilt last season.

The answer is no.

Yeah, who needs a QB, it’s a completely irrelevant position.

Duncechump went 10-2 with a great D and Driskel at QB. We have no QB on the roster as good as Driskel. Brent Pease is an offensive guru compared to 6 play Billy.

No doubt the sideline coaching looked bad, felt terrible, often last season. Embarrassing. Willing to blame some of that on his assistants who should have been carrying their weight. As well, it makes sense that staff just didn’t have the playbook installed to, among other things, run a two minute drive. This season, no excuses. Napier’s staff needs to be prepared. I still believe it’s a mistake for Napier to be OC, but we will see how that goes.

Re QB, we know they really tried. It just hasn’t worked out as well as the other positions. At least we know they weren’t wind surfing. We might have a decent QB on roster anyway. I hope the staff’s playbook expands to include plays that help the QB- two back sets and swing passes. Simple plays. We might even find we have a QB who can throw a catchable slant.

 

[jdh5484]

... We might even find we have a QB who can throw a catchable slant.

 

[soflagator]

A staff that works their ass off on the trail is going to have their fair share of success. That's why I've never worried about recruiting under Napier. That's why I'm never wringing my effing hands in JUNE.

Whether Billy can actually coach a lick once the ball is kicked off is the one thing that's still up in the air. If nothing else, the cupboard is going to get stocked for the next guy.

You know I think highly of you. Easily top 3 message board owners within the 772 area code. Having said that, your last point is still wildly outdated. Kids don’t have to stick around like they did in ‘89-‘90, ‘04-‘05, etc., setting up the next guy who comes in. It just doesn’t work like that in the portal era. We have to hope BN makes it, or this roster will be stripped bare and we’ll see all new faces. And as I’ve said elsewhere, I really feel like this is our last hoorah as a program and he simply has to make it.

 

[oxrageous]

You know I think highly of you. Easily top 3 message board owners within the 772 area code. Having said that, your last point is still wildly outdated. Kids don’t have to stick around like they did in ‘89-‘90, ‘04-‘05, etc., setting up the next guy who comes in. It just doesn’t work like that in the portal era. We have to hope BN makes it, or this roster will be stripped bare and we’ll see all new faces. And as I’ve said elsewhere, I really feel like this is our last hoorah as a program and he simply has to make it.

Your point works both ways, though. While a roster can now be stripped bare in a year, it can also be completely re-stocked in a year with a good staff. Welcome to CFB free agency.

 

[soflagator]

Your point works both ways, though. While a roster can now be stripped bare in a year, it can also be completely re-stocked in a year with a good staff. Welcome to CFB free agency.

Absolutely. I almost mentioned that as a balance. I’m just saying what it looks like when the coach is fired won’t be what it looks like afterwards. So there’s just no more stocking talent in today’s landscape. It’s an interesting hypothesis, but do we win the 2006 title if players were free to transfer back then? I would say no.

 

[Theologator]

Absolutely. I almost mentioned that as a balance. I’m just saying what it looks like when the coach is fired won’t be what it looks like afterwards. So there’s just no more stocking talent in today’s landscape. It’s an interesting hypothesis, but do we win the 2006 title if players were free to transfer back then? I would say no.

Especially given Meyer’s intensity coming in - locking them out of the locker room, making them earn the right to wear Gator gear, the stripe on the helmet that they hard to earn removal, etc. It did a lot of those guys a lot of good, but if they had an easy out, how many might have taken it?

 

[Theologator]

Your point works both ways, though. While a roster can now be stripped bare in a year, it can also be completely re-stocked in a year with a good staff. Welcome to CFB free agency.

As in the 2023 Gators. We’ll see how the talent looks, should be vastly improved, but that is just part of it. Teaching systems and pulling a team together in a short time are huge factors. Billy seems to have all of it built into his plan.

 

[TLB]

My favorite parts of this video is the instant double cut he made to get to the QB. Also, he stops on a dime, changes direction, and explodes. He plays DE/LB at 230 and he makes all of the skill players look slow.

The word RELENTLESS comes to mind. Head is always up, looking at the ball; stoned by an OL he will bide his time to pounce. I like it.

 

[soflagator]

Especially given Meyer’s intensity coming in - locking them out of the locker room, making them earn the right to wear Gator gear, the stripe on the helmet that they hard to earn removal, etc. It did a lot of those guys a lot of good, but if they had an easy out, how many might have taken it?

Tough to put an exact number on it, but I’d say 3/4 of the team got either a rude awakening from the player’s coach mindset they’d enjoyed, or were a terrible fit for his new offense. Leak, Jackson, probably Baker and likely several of the RBs just off the top of my head on offense.

An even greater example of the old locked in era was the 2010 class, largely because of the more national approach we’d used. It already saw a ton of defections, even with the rules. I would venture to say 85% of that class isn’t in Gainesville by 2011 in today’s environment.

 

[Gatorphan]

You know I think highly of you. Easily top 3 message board owners within the 772 area code.

You're reaching here....but definitely in the top 10

 

[NavetG8r]

Oh my. Katie taking a shot at Lane & Simmons with that 'Sip?

 

[Lucius]

Amaris Williams (6-3 270) looks to be an extremely productive SDE prospect.

Playing at DE his junior year he had:

65 Total Tackles, 44 TFL, and 18 Sacks over 12 total games.

Those are video game numbers.


Also of note is the Gators' recruiting this cycle shifting more national. In the 2023 class, UF signed 14 HS prospects from Florida. In 2024, they currently only have 2 committed.

The 2023 class had an average distance per commit of around 200 miles. In 2024, that distance is now almost 700 miles.

(I wonder if that includes the OL from Germany. That would add 4,800 miles for one guy. )

 

[Silverback Gator]

Amaris Williams (6-3 270) looks to be an extremely productive SDE prospect.

Playing at DE his junior year he had:

65 Total Tackles, 44 TFL, and 18 Sacks over 12 total games.

Those are video game numbers.


Also of note is the Gators' recruiting this cycle shifting more national. In the 2023 class, UF signed 14 HS prospects from Florida. In 2024, they currently only have 2 committed.

The 2023 class had an average distance per commit of around 200 miles. In 2024, that distance is now almost 700 miles.

(I wonder if that includes the OL from Germany. That would add 4,800 miles for one guy. )

Hope we round out with some top Florida talent but whatever gets it done.

On Meyer’s recruiting, no doubt two of his classes were stellar but his final class was dump as many of the highly rated never made it to campus. But he was all but gone that cycle anyway. Still, disintegrated like a Mullenzes class.