OLine Recruiting

[GatorJ]

Since that's probably the most critical position right now I thought I'd open a thread to list our targets.

Coach Mac and company just followed an Ole Miss commit:

3* Jack Defoor OT, 6'4, 268

https://sports.yahoo.com/usf/football/recruiting/player-Jack-DeFoor-154996

Also, we are hot and heavy in pursuit of JUCO:

4* Malcolm Pridgeon OT 6'8, 285

He played in a hurry up offense and is supposedly a highly conditioned tackle. The biggest jumps for JUCO transfers is conditioning.

https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Malcolm-Pridgeon-172538?colleges=show

A battle with Tennessee:

3* Marcus Tatum OT 6'6, 254

https://sports.yahoo.com/wku/football/recruiting/player-Marcus-Tatum-164410

 

[Ancient Reptile]

Good thread.

 

[t-gator]

I wonder if the Texas transfer is in play.

 

[Alagator]

Those are some good options. However, I'd like to see us in play for a couple guards and maybe another center. Though we don't know what we have with that center who was a late transfer from NC State...he'll be a redshirt freshman, meaning we have a couple of young centers with he and Jordan. Anyone know if Dillard could be moved to a guard spot?

 

[divits]

Whoever we recruit they had better have a real mean streak. I don't want any of those intellectual linemen or "finesse" linemen. I want big, strong, stupid linemen who do stupid stuff like run head first into walls on a dare. I want guys who have the pain threshold of Rambo. I want guys who like to show off their bent and gnarled fingers as a form of pride. I want guys who's whole life revolves around football and don't give a crap if playing it may shorten their lifespan 20 years.

Is that too much to ask?

 

[GatorJ]

Those are some good options. However, I'd like to see us in play for a couple guards and maybe another center. Though we don't know what we have with that center who was a late transfer from NC State...he'll be a redshirt freshman, meaning we have a couple of young centers with he and Jordan. Anyone know if Dillard could be moved to a guard spot?

We had some bad luck with centers. We routinely had to switch tackles to guards and guards to centers. Maybe that's the reason they're focusing so much on tackles?

 

[ATXGator]

Currently we got 3 guys committed for OL

Brett Heggie - #8 OC 3* on ESPN
Jawaan Taylor #46 OG 3* on ESPN
Stone Forsythe #54 OG 3* on ESPN

According to Gatorcountry twitter last week we are also making a run at two other OL

John Simpson and Landon Dickerson

 

[Kyng]

Those are some good options. However, I'd like to see us in play for a couple guards and maybe another center. Though we don't know what we have with that center who was a late transfer from NC State...he'll be a redshirt freshman, meaning we have a couple of young centers with he and Jordan. Anyone know if Dillard could be moved to a guard spot?

Don't we have a center coming in with the 16' class? Brett Heggie?

 

[ATXGator]

Don't we have a center coming in with the 16' class? Brett Heggie?

Yes... along with 2 Guards... I think you and I posted at the same time... so take a look at my previous post.

 

[Oklahoma Gator]

The thing is that most of our help for next year will not come from this class unless it's a juco kid. Our oline improvement will be inhouse development of redshirt freshman and sophomores

 

[GatorBart]

I'm bored at work, so I'll summarize:

Committed:
Brett Heggie - #8 OC 3* on ESPN
Jawaan Taylor #46 OG 3* on ESPN
Stone Forsythe #54 OG 3* on ESPN

Currently chasing:
4* Malcolm Pridgeon OT 6'8, 285 (visited UF 12/11/15) other players are Baylor, WV and Bucknuts
4* Landon Dickerson 6'5" 297 (#9 OT on ESPN - #3 OG on Rivals) we're not on his visit list, but he still has one he can take (players are Bama, Barn, Holes and Dwags)
3* Marcus Tatum OT 6'6, 254 (#33 OT on ESPN) visiting UF 1/15/16 - other players are scUM (they get his last visit) and Toothless

4* Richard Merritt 6'4" 338 (#11 OG on ESPN - #9 on Rivals) he's visiting UF 1/15/16 (we're his only visit and other players are Arky and some Big10 teams)
4* John Simpson 6'4" 288 (#18 OG on ESPN - #11 on Rivals) not on his visit list - other players are LSU (his only visit), Dwags and Clempson
3* Jack Defoor OG, 6'4, 268 (#28 OG on ESPN - Rivals has him #67 OT) committed to Ole Miss

Interesting that ESPN and Rivals differ on positions for Dickerson and Defoor.
I think we need three more OLinemen in this class, 1 more OG and 2 more OTs, so here's my 'somewhat realistic' wish list:
Pridgeon
Tatum
Merritt

I think we miss on Dickerson as the competition is pretty stiff, Simpson is looking like an LSU lean with his only visit, and Defoor isn't much more heralded than the OG commits we already have in Taylor and Forsythe.

 

[GatorJ]

I'm bored at work, so I'll summarize...

Great post. ESPN is always all over the map on their evaluations. OL is a different animal IMO. I tend to look at offer sheets, measureables, and region of the country.

Kids that are too heavy or under 285lbs tend to take a long time to get their bodies ready.

 

[AlexDaGator]

https://www.burntorangenation.com/2...e-raulerson-texas-longhorns-graduate-transfer

Listed at 6'5", 281. He can play right away (graduate transfer) and he's got 2 years of eligibility. He's clearly looking to go somewhere and start right away. He started a few games at UTexas as a Freshman, and served as a back-up to a Senior this year.

Is he a potential upgrade over Cam Dillard (bless his heart) at Center? Cam didn't look very good this season (to put it charitably). But next season, Cam will be a Redshirt Junior in his 4th year in the program with a bunch of 2015 starts under his belt.

Does Mac want him? Can he play? Would he come to Florida?

If he does come, is he another Max Garcia (transfer from Maryland) or another Mary Tyler Moore (transfer from Nebraska)?

I think Dillard is more of a career back-up than somebody who might develop into a second team All-SEC type Center.

I say bring the kid in if we can get him, and let's see if he's any good. At worst, he'll be a servicable back-up at a position where we have no depth.

Alex.

 

[t-gator]

https://www.burntorangenation.com/2...e-raulerson-texas-longhorns-graduate-transfer

Listed at 6'5", 281. He can play right away (graduate transfer) and he's got 2 years of eligibility. He's clearly looking to go somewhere and start right away. He started a few games at UTexas as a Freshman, and served as a back-up to a Senior this year.

Is he a potential upgrade over Cam Dillard (bless his heart) at Center? Cam didn't look very good this season (to put it charitably). But next season, Cam will be a Redshirt Junior in his 4th year in the program with a bunch of 2015 starts under his belt.

Does Mac want him? Can he play? Would he come to Florida?

If he does come, is he another Max Garcia (transfer from Maryland) or another Mary Tyler Moore (transfer from Nebraska)?

I think Dillard is more of a career back-up than somebody who might develop into a second team All-SEC type Center.

I say bring the kid in if we can get him, and let's see if he's any good. At worst, he'll be a servicable back-up at a position where we have no depth.

Alex.

He's a redshirt sophomore and has already graduated. He would be eligible immediately with 2 years of eligibility.

 

[GatorBart]

He's a redshirt sophomore and has already graduated. He would be eligible immediately with 2 years of eligibility.

He's a smart guy, obviously. Hopefully he sees some opportunity on our OLine and puts those smarts to use.

 

[GatorBart]

Oh, and are we the new CU, or what?
Recent Florida Centers: Maurkice Pouncey, Mike Pouncey, Jon Harrison

 

[AlexDaGator]

Oh, and are we the new CU, or what?
Recent Florida Centers: Maurkice Pouncey, Mike Pouncey, Jon Harrison

And Max Garcia is in the NFL. Broncos drafted him, I think.

Alex.

 

[GatorBart]

And Max Garcia is in the NFL. Broncos drafted him, I think.

Alex.

He's actually listed as a Center at nfl.com. Another CU candidate.
https://www.nfl.com/player/maxgarcia/2552583/situationalstats

 

[Swamp Donkey]

https://www.burntorangenation.com/2...e-raulerson-texas-longhorns-graduate-transfer

Listed at 6'5", 281. He can play right away (graduate transfer) and he's got 2 years of eligibility. He's clearly looking to go somewhere and start right away. He started a few games at UTexas as a Freshman, and served as a back-up to a Senior this year.

Is he a potential upgrade over Cam Dillard (bless his heart) at Center? .

That kids sucks. So does Cam Dillard.

We dont want either. I think McCoy is better than either, today.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

The thing is that most of our help for next year will not come from this class unless it's a juco kid. Our oline improvement will be inhouse development of redshirt freshman and sophomores

I agree but would be surprised to see Heggie get some time at guard.