Tuesday, July 31, 2012

2013 Recruiting: Jordan Sherit


Position:  Defensive End
Hometown/School:  Tampa, FL - Hillsborough
Height/Weight:  6'4/240


Other Offers:  Florida State, Michigan, Notre Dame, USF, Vanderbilt, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Miami, Stanford

Report:  It seemed clear that Sherit would end up as a Gator.  He finally ended the speculation by committing to Florida over the weekend.

Scout, Rivals, ESPN, and 247Sports all agree that Sherit is a 4-star prospect.  How good Sherit is nationally varies from service to service.  Rivals has him in their Rivals100 (94), he is in 247Sports' Top247 at 217, and 254th in the ESPN 300.

According to Scout, Sherit totaled 110 tackles, 14 sacks, and forced 3 fumbles last year for Hillsborough.

Academics were a large part of Sherit's decision which kept the likes of Notre Dame, Stanford, and Vandy in the race.  He was offered a spot in Florida's Honors College, but isn't sure if he will do it or not.

Here is an excerpt from a post by InsideTheGators.com($) that describes Sherit's talents and how they will fit at Florida.
Sherit is perfectly built to play the Buck position that Muschamp utilizes at Florida. In fact, during this stage of his development, he might be better suited out in space rather than mixing it up along the line. During the summer Sherit played a big role in his 7-on-7 teams victory at IMG, displaying the ability to play in coverage.
EliteScoutingServices.com puts Sherit 21st in their Pre-Spring Top-150 for the class of 2013 in Florida.  Here is what they had to say about him:
Our first look at Sherit was at the Under Armor Combine last year. He dominated the combine and came away as one of the best defensive ends that day. He relies on his brute strength to beat the guy opposite him. He is another player who goes hard on every down. Jordan does a very good job of getting off the ball quickly before you can get your hands on him.
Sherit had the chance to compete with some of the best at The Opening in Oregon.  Mike Farrell and Chris Nee of Rivals quickly broke down what they saw from Sherit that weekend($).  First Farrell's take:
 A bit undersized for an end, but he played tough and was physical. At his size, he was sometimes over-matched by the size of the offensive linemen, but other times used his speed and willingness to be physical to beat bigger guys. He will need to get quicker.
Nee:
Sherit is a big frame defensive end who can bulk up a great deal. He has a good first step, active hands, and a variety of moves off the edge that make him tough to stop.
 So it remains a little unclear exactly where Sherit will play at Florida.  Defensive End (strong-side or weak-side), the "Buck" linebacker, or maybe even an outside linebacker.  Time will tell.

Sherit will play in the Army All-American Game which will allow Gator fans to see Sherit play live instead of YouTube videos.

Videos:

Monday, July 30, 2012

WR Chris Thompson Commits to Florida


Chris Thompson isn't going to travel very far to play football on the next level.  The Gainesville WR got his dream offer from Florida and committed quickly after on Monday.  The 3-star WR (according to 247Sports) had an impressive showing at Friday Night Lights this past Friday.  Thompson didn't have many great offers before Florida came knocking.  FAU, Marshall, UMASS, and Utah were his top offers.  This is a dream come true for Thompson, who's biggest asset is his speed.  The Gators continue to roll in recruiting, picking up their fifth commitment in five days.

Here is a quick scouting report from Scout:
Thompson has very good speed. He can get behind a secondary or make defenders miss with his quickness. He can go up and get the ball and has very good leaping ability and body control. Perhaps his strongest attribute is his ability to separate from defenders, especially coming out of his breaks. This is a big play receiver who's likely destined to play in the slot because he lacks ideal size to play on the outside.

Gators Continue to Build Future Defensive Line


In the SEC, the games are won in the trenches especially with great defensive linemen.  The SEC has been the home to stellar defensive linemen in recent years like Nick Fairley, Terrence Cody, Fletcher Cox, Michael Brockers, and many more.

Will Muschamp has taken note.  Muschamp and the rest of the Florida Gators coaching staff has made the defensive line a priority in recruiting and it is starting to pay off.  Over the weekend, the Gators picked up three defensive line commitments.

The weekend got off to a great start when DE Antonio Riles committed to Florida.  Not many saw the 3-star recruit choosing Florida, but I'm sure Will Muschamp is happy that he did.

On Saturday, DE Jordan Sherit finally committed to the Gators.  It was well known that Sherit loved the Gators and it was thought that he was a lock to commit to UF.  He made it official over the weekend.  Scout, Rivals, ESPN, and 247Sports all agree that Sherit is a 4-star recruit and Rivals list him as a top 100 player overall.

Yesterday, the Gators got their second commitment of the 2014 class.  Former Louisville commit, Travonte Valentine, decided Gainesville is the right place for him.  The defensive tackle is a 4-star prospects according to 247Sports.

It was a great weekend for Florida Gators recruiting.  They picked up 5-star Vernon Hargreaves on Thursday and then added three defensive linemen in three days.  The Gators now have four defensive linemen in their 2013 recruiting class.  However, they may not be done with the linemen.

4-star DE DeMarcus Walker has been on Florida's radar for a long time.  He has narrowed down his choice to Alabama and Florida.  According to reports, Walker already has chosen where he is going to play in the future.  His announcement will come in late August.

Another possible future Gator is New York DE Ebenezer Ogundeko.  Ogudenko has narrowed it down to three schools; Florida, Notre Dame, and Syracuse.  He has delayed his announcement a couple times and isn't sure when he'll finally decide.

In a league where defensive linemen might be the most important position, Will Muschamp is doing a great job of recruiting them.

Follow Future Gators on Twitter - @FutureGators

Friday, July 27, 2012

DeMarcus Walker Will Decide Late August



According to several reports from Florida's Friday Night Lights camp, DeMarcus Walker has set a decision date (August 24th).  Walker pushed back his decision date so that the event can be televised.  According to Amy Campbell of FOX Sports NEXT, Walker already has chosen his school.  The battle for the 4-star DE is between two SEC schools; Florida and Alabama.

So what do you think, will Walker end up in Gainesville or Tuscaloosa?  Comment below.

Antonio Riles Commits to Florida

247Sports.com
Seemingly out of nowhere, the Gators picked up their 19th commitment in the 2013 class today.  3-star Georgia DE Antonio Riles called Will Muschamp earlier today to break the news.  Rivals, Scout, and 247Sports all give Riles three stars while ESPN gives him four.  Riles had many other great offers including Clemson, Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, A&M, and Tennessee.

The Gators have now picked up two commitments in the past day (Vernon Hargreaves and Antonio Riles).  Expect another by the end of tonight as Florida hosts their annual Friday Night Lights camp.

2013 Recruiting: Vernon Hargreaves III


Position:  Cornerback
Hometown/School:  Tampa, FL - Wharton
Height/Weight:  5'11/185


Other Offers:  Miami, USF, Alabama, LSU, Clemson, Vanderbilt, USC, Michigan, and many, many more.

Report:  Vernon Hargreaves III has been on Florida's radar for quite some time.  After naming Florida his favorite a week before, VHIII committed to Florida after a visit to Gainesville in July.

The battle for VHIII's services seemed like it was between Florida and the hometown USF.  Florida is the better program, but VHIII's dad is a coach for the USF Bulls.  However, after visiting USC earlier in July, he named them the leader.  But USC was left out his top 5 list and he committed to Florida a week later.

Hargreaves is without a doubt one of the best players in the 2013 class.  All of the four recruiting services all agree that VHIII is a 5-star prospect.  Rivals ranks him 2nd for cornerbacks in the class of 2013 while the others (Scout, ESPN, and 247Sports) all list him as the best.  He is a consensus top 10 overall player in the nation.

Hargreaves racked up 49 tackles last year for Wharton including a sack.  High school quarterbacks tend to not throw VHIII's way.  With that being said, Hargreaves still ended the season with a pair of interceptions.  He also plays a little bit of offense.  He caught 13 passes at receiver last year, averaging 24 YPC and scoring 3 TDs on offense.

Scouting reports?  Scouting reports.

Chad Simmons, one of the main scouts for Scout, had this to say about Hargreaves.
He can cover on or off the line, he really explodes out of his breaks, and he can flip his hips with the best of them. There are not a lot of concerns about his game. He can improve his open field tackling, but other than that, he looks much like a college corner. He is very advanced in technique and he will contribute very early in his college career.
SB Nation's recruiting analyst, Bud Elliott, has put together a great scouting report.  Here is just an excerpt from it.
It's difficult to put together a scouting report for Hargreaves because he does pretty much everything at an elite level. His father is the defensive backs coach for the USF Bulls, and it is clear that he has absorbed much of the advanced coaching he's received since he was a little kid. Hargreaves could start for many BCS programs as a 17-year-old.Hargreaves seems to always be in the right position, thanks to his instincts and years being around the game. He does break on the ball quite well, but if you watch closely, you'll see that he doesn't have as far to go to get to the spot as many corners because he's positioned himself better before the time comes to close on the football. There aren't many false steps in his game.Hargreaves shows the ability to be quite physical and is a very good tackler. He can excel in man or zone coverage, with his smooth hips and quick feet.

One from ESPN($):
It is very difficult to find projected college corners who actually play the position fulltime in high school and possess a vast understanding of both zone and man concepts with the talent to execute them at a premier level. Hargreaves III is that kind of prospect. He has very good speed, great closing burst and range at the position in a well-built frame that is deceptively stronger than it appears, especially when it comes to functional strength; jamming, pressing and supporting the run. Extremely quick to recover, fluid in his change-of-direction and athletic in his ability to play the ball in the air, it will be difficult for Muschamp to keep this young shut-down corner off the field as a true freshman. It’s a position that can hold back even the most talented high school corner prospects from making an impact early at the BCS level due to the learning curve and technique required to succeed at the position, but Hargreaves is ready.

Continuing the praise is Chris Nee of Rivals($).
Hargreaves is arguably the best defensive back in the nation. He is ready to contribute from the moment he steps on a college campus due to both his physical and mental approach to the game of football. Hargreaves possesses good size in both height and build. He has continued to add good weight and strength over past year while continuing to retain his athleticism. He has good speed, handles change of direction very well, and is very good at springing off the ground at full speed. He does an excellent job of getting his hands on balls whether he wins them in the air or shows his range and quickly darts in front of the intended receiver. He has a special aptitude when it comes to playing his position that sets him apart from his peers.
I'm sure that there are more scouting reports out there, but I think the four above do an excellent job of evaluation Hargreaves.

Expect the 5-star cornerback to make an immediate impact for the Gators.  Like ESPN said, it will be hard for Muschamp to not play Hargreaves in his freshman year.

If you don't live in Florida, you will get your chance to see Hargreaves play live in early January.  He will be participating in the Under Armour All-American Game where ESPNU also televises their practices.

This is a huge pickup for Will Muschamp and the Gators.  After it is made official on National Signing Day, Hargreaves will be the prize recruit of the 2013 class.

Videos:

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Hello Marlon Humphrey


Position:  Cornerback
Hometown/School:  Hoover, AL - Hoover
Height/Weight:  6'0/170
  • Humphrey is a 5-star recruit for the class of 2014 according to 247Sports.  They also rank him 2nd at his position and 8th overall in the nation.
  • Has offers from Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Michigan State, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Mississippi State.
  • As of now, Alabama, the nearby school is the favorite.
  • Humphrey's father was once an excellent running back for Alabama.
  • He started varsity last year for the national powerhouse, Hoover Bucs (remember this team being on MTV for that show a while back?).
  • Last year he recorded 33 solo tackles and 5 interceptions.  He also blocked 2 punts and had 3 TD returns according to Scout.
  • Was First Team All-State according to the ASWA.
  • Humphrey is a speedster.  He is a star on the Hoover's track team and won the 110m hurdles AAU National Championship.  On that performance, he broke a national record for the 15-16 age group. Not too shabby.
  • By all accounts, Humphrey is a likeable and coachable kid.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Scott Pagano Chooses Clemson Over LSU And Florida


Today, Scott Pagano decided that he was going to announce today instead of waiting until August like he previously stated.  As the title reads, Scott Pagano chose Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers.  It seemed like the decision came down to LSU and Florida, but Clemson and Alabama were also in his final four.  Most recruiting experts (including me) didn't see this coming at all.  Clemson seemed to be the dark horse candidate.

Pagano said that he grew up a Florida fan and even had a Florida Gators wall photo covering his Facebook page.

Pagano is listed as a 4-star recruit according to everyone but 247Sports (3-star).  The 6'3/280 Hawaii'n DT will play in the Army All-American Bowl in early 2013.

Follow Future Gators on Twitter - @FutureGators

2013 Recruiting: Cameron Dillard


Position:  Offensive Guard
Hometown/School:  Canton, MI - Canton
Height/Weight:  6'3/285


Other Offers:  Arkansas, Clemson, Florida State, Missouri, Virginia Tech, Mississippi State, Oregon

Report:  Dillard committed to the Gators last April.

Dillard started every game at offensive tackle in last year, but he is projected to play either guard or center in college.  Everyone but ESPN lists Dillard as a 3-star recruit (ESPN has him as a 4-star).  Scout, who lists him as a center, says he ranks him 3rd at his position.  The others, who list him as an offensive guard, rank him from 17-23 nationally.

In Dillard's sophomore year, he helped his team finish with an 8-3 record.  Dillard racked up a ton of awards after the season including being named to the Detroit Free Press All-State Dream Team.

Although he lived in Michigan, he is not a native of the state.  He moved in from North Carolina around six years ago.  He has said that he was a Gators fan growing up in the South.  However, he does have strong ties to the Michigan program.  He lived not too far away from Michigan Stadium and worked out with several Michigan players in the offseason.  He visited Michigan, but Brady Hoke and the staff never offered.

Here is a brief excerpt from ESPN's analysis:
Dillard is a tenacious and physical O-Line prospect. He possesses good size and looks to have a thick build and displays good upper and lower body playing strength.
On his ESPN profile, they list run blocking, strength, and physicality as his main strengths.  Here is what Touch the Banner, a Michigan recruiting site, said about Dillard:
Dillard plays in a run-oriented offense that might leave him susceptible to pass protection weaknesses early in his career, but he has a nasty attitude and good enough athleticism to overcome those issues with some work on fundamentals.
 Here is his answer to what his strengths and weaknesses are in an interview with MGoBlog, another Michigan fansite:
I'd say that my aggression on the field, my physicality, you just can't teach toughness. Also, run blocking is a big thing of mine that I believe I'm doing real well at. I'd say my weakness—which isn't really a weakness, it's becoming more my strength now—is my pass protection. I've got to keep working on that and getting better at it.
According to Scout, he can bench over 315 pounds, squat over 465 pounds, and can deadlift over 325.  Also, at the Army Combine, he ran a 5.25 40-yard dash.  Decent measurables.

Besides football, Dillard is very involved with the community.  He likes to volunteer some of his time to help with different organizations.  He also finds academics very important and wants to major in History according to Scout.

Videos:

Monday, July 23, 2012

Penn State Players The Florida Gators May Go After


As you know by now, Penn State got hammered by the NCAA.  The punishment has now made it easy for current Penn State players/commitments to leave the school.  While I do feel bad for bad for the Penn State community, it looks like they are going to lose a lot of players.  Below is a list of players/commitments who were offered by Florida in the last three years.

2013 Class

Adam Breneman - Breneman looks like he is one of Penn State's prized recruit of 2013.  Breneman is a 4-star TE and Rivals lists him as the best at his position.  His family released a statement today saying that they don't have any current comments.  Reading through Twitter, it seems that Maryland will be the biggest player for Breneman.  The Terps supposedly finished 2nd in his recruitment.

Brendan Mahon - Mahon is a 4-star offensive tackle and is 165th in the Rivals250.  Mahon also had no comment about his recruitment.

Christian Hackenberg - 247Sports gives Hackenberg four stars and rank him 3rd among pro-style quarterback.  If Breneman isn't the Penn State's prized recruit, Hackenberg definitely is.  If Hackenberg leaves Penn State, rumors are that Auburn and South Carolina would be the favorites.  Bleacher Report's Full Ride hinted that Will Muschamp would be smart to take a trip to visit Hackenberg.

Garrett Sickels - Rivals ranks Sickels 60th nationally and as the 4th-best weakside defensive end in the class of 2013.  Sickels is the only player in this group that has visited Gainesville.  Sickels took an unofficial visit to Florida July 25th of last year.  Out of these four players, I give Sickels the best chance of ending up at Florida (still a really small chance).  Sickels had no comment when asked about his level of commitment to Penn State.

2012 Class

Jamil Pollard - Pollard is a 4-star defensive tackle.  If Pollard leaves Penn State before playing a down there, Boston College may be his future destination.

Nyeem Wartman - It seems like Wartman never really had any interest in Florida.  The 3-star OLB did take an official visit to Rutgers while being committed to Penn State.

2011 Class

Neither Angelo Mangiro or Bill Belton look like they will even think about Florida if they leave Penn State.

Follow Future Gators on Twitter - @FutureGators

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Why Vernon Hargreaves Will Be A Florida Gator


If you missed it (I did), last night 5-star cornerback Vernon Hargreaves named his top five teams via his Twitter account.
Obviously this is great news for the Will Muschamp and Gator fans.  Offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil and Vernon Hargreaves III (VHIII) are the top targets left on Florida's board.

So why am I already naming Hargreaves a Gator?  Well I may look like a moron if this doesn't happen, but I really like Florida's chances with VHIII.  Here's why.

First, last week VHIII named USC his leader after taking a trip out to Los Angeles.  So VHIII's love with the Trojans was only short-term as he doesn't even have USC in his top 5.  Good news.

Secondly, USF isn't in the list (although he does mention he is still considering them).  Why is this important?  VHIII's father is the special teams coordinator and is also the defensive ends coach for the USF Bulls.  For a long time, it seemed like the race would come down to Florida and USF (and I still believe it will be).  With Hargreaves listing USF out of the top 5 (unless he is playing with us recruitniks), it seems like the Gators will be his choice.

Lastly, Amy Campbell of Fox Sports NEXT, said that "his mind is pretty much made up, expect a final announcement a final announcement within the month" on her Twitter account.  Okay, let me get this straight.  VHIII's mind is "pretty much made up" and he has the Florida Gators at the top of his list.  You can connect the dots.

So who will it be, the Gators or someone else?  Comment below.

2013 Recruiting: Max Staver

Brentwoodhomepage.com
Position:  Quarterback
Hometown/School:  Brentwood, TN - Brentwood Academy
Height/Weight:  6'6/235


Other Offers:  Mississippi State, Memphis, Louisville, Tennessee State, Northern Colorado

Report:  Staver picked OC Brent Pease and the Gators back on the 18th of June.  Here is what he had to say about Coach Pease to the Orlando Sentinel:
“Coach Pease, he’s real straight forward,  not a bull-crapper, not going to tell you that you’re all-this or all-that,” Staver said. “I don’t need someone who is going to lie to my face. I need someone to be honest with me and to help me keep improving.”
No, the word "bull-crapper" is not in the dictionary.

Rivals, Scout, and 247Sports all see Staver as a 3-star recruit and rank him between 19 and 59 at his position (Pro-Style).  On the other hand, ESPN has him as a 4-star recruit and have him in the ESPN300 (262).

Staver put up some excellent numbers last year as he threw for over 1800 yards, 19 TDs, and only threw 4 INTS.  According to the Sentinel, he completed over 63% of his passes.

Now to the scouting reports.

Here is SB Nation's Recruiting Analyst, Bud Elliott's take on Staver:
Staver is a consensus three-star recruit, though ESPN does award him a rating of four stars. The primary reason for this is that Staver has a big arm. Really big. The offense in which he plays appears to be mostly shotgun. Staver can move a little, which one might not expect given his size. Importantly, he shows the ability to avoid the rush inside the pocket, reset his feet, and get rid of the ball. The delivery is a bit low, but at 6'6 it might not matter all that much.
Well, that was about the only scouting report that I could find.  Here is one by ESPN's Tom Luginbill($), but I don't have ESPN Insider.  ESPN lists accuracy, arm strength, and reads as Staver's strengths.

Oh, here is an excellent video($) that includes highlights of Staver with analysis by Rivals.

In this Rivals article($), it states that Staver was talking with many Gator commitments in the process including Tre Bell, Ahmad Fullwood, Nick Washington, and three others.

In the end of the Sentinel article, it states that Staver has no plans to visit any other school.  Also, Staver will be in Gainesville next week for Florida's Friday Night Lights camp.

Videos:

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Dillan Lawson Decommits, What Does It Mean?


Last night, OLB Dillan Lawson announced at a Florida State football camp that he was back on the market.  There have been rumors of this eventual split for a while and it seemed almost inevitable that it would happen.

247Sports grade Lawson as a 3-star prospect and rank him 29th at his position (OLB).

Zach Abolverdi, of Gatorsports.com's Gator Prospectus, described the situation as a "mutual decision" between Lawson and Florida's coaching staff.  Here is an excerpt from the article:
In late May, Crestview coach Kevin Pettis said the UF coaches told Lawson they would honor his commitment as he tried to get back on track academically.
But this week, Muschamp & Co. came to the conclusion that Lawson hadn’t shown enough improvement and the two parties decided it was best to split.
According to sources, Lawson still would like to go to Florida if he can get his schooling straight.  Lawson's coach believe there is a 70% chance that Lawson ends up in Gainesville.  Personally, I don't think it is that high.

So what does this all mean for Will Muschamp and the Florida Gators?

First, this isn't even close to the end of the world for the Gators.  If Muschamp had to lose one commitment, Dillan Lawson would be somewhere at the top of the list (if not first).  The Gators already have three other linebackers that are all 4-star recruits according to Rivals.  Lawson, according to the recruiting services, was the least talented.

I don't see the Gators getting another outside linebacker.  According to Rivals, there are only five OLBs left on the board for Florida and none of them look like they will be committing to Florida.  It really isn't that big of a deal and could turn out to be a blessing in disguise.  Florida didn't really need Lawson (unless he turns out to be a star) and it just opens up another scholarship for somebody in a position of more need.

Overall, not a big loss and Gator fans shouldn't lose sleep over it (you shouldn't lose sleep over any recruit, really).  I mean the guy does have a tattoo of Alabama's logo and called Florida fans "obnoxious".  This decommittment may end up as addition by subtraction.  He is saying that he wants to end back up at Florida but I think it is somewhat clear that Muschamp wants to part ways with Lawson.

Do you want Lawson back with Florida?  Leave a comment below.

Follow Future Gators on Twitter - @FutureGators

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Hello Andrew Brown


Position:  Defensive Tackle
Hometown/School:  Chesapeake, VA - Oscar Smith
Height/Weight:  6'4/290
  • 247Sports give Andrew Brown a 5-star rating.  They also list him as top defensive tackle in the nation along with being the second-best overall player in the country.
  • Brown has dozens of offers from schools around the nation.  Here are the schools that Brown has a "warm" interest in: Clemson, Alabama, Florida, Nebraska, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Penn State, Virginia, and West Virginia.
  • Brown plays DT in high school but has been described as quick enough to play DE at the college level.
  • Ran a 4.9 40 last April but wants to approve on that.
  • Here is a great Rivals.com article including what expert Mike Farrell had to say about Brown.
  • Previously attended Indian River but is transferring to Oscar Smith.
  • Had the second-best performance for defensive linemen at the Rivals100 Challenge.
  • Brown is extremely athletic for his size.  He was a starter last year on Indian River's soccer team.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Updated SEC Recruiting Rankings



I just wrapped up updating the SEC Recruiting Rankings.  I switched up how the rankings worked by using the four recruiting services to rank the teams.  To see them click HERE or click the tab at the top of the page.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Hello Travonte Valentine


Position:  Defensive Tackle
Hometown/School:  Palm Bay, FL - Bayside
Height/Weight:  6'4/295
  • In their 2014 rankings, 247Sports grades Valentine as a 4-star prospect.  They also list him at #3 for DTs and 7th overall in the state of Florida (32nd in the nation).
  • Has offers from Florida, Louisville, Auburn, Florida State, USF, Michigan State, South Carolina, West Virginia, and others.
  • Was originally committed to the Louisville Cardinals, but decommitted over the weekend.
  • After the decommittment, he said he was "an SEC guy" to Rivals.com
  • Auburn, South Carolina, Florida, and Alabama are the highest on his list according to 247Sports.
  • Recorded 80 tackles and 12 sacks last year as a sophomore.
  • Will attend Florida's Friday Night Lights camp at the end of July.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Kain Daub Commits to LSU

2014 LB Kain Daub has committed to the LSU Tigers today after he met with Les Miles.  According to 247Sports, Daub is the best ILB in the 2014 class.  Also, they list him as the top recruit in Florida.  Daub had a monster year for Nease in 2011 as he racked up 108 tackles and 12 sacks.

This commitment came out of nowhere.  Daub's decision seems really premature especially for a top prospect like him.   With over 19 months until Signing Day 2014, I'm going to put the odds at 50-50 that Daub stays with LSU the whole way through.

Does Daub stick with LSU or end up somewhere else?  Comment below.

Friday, July 13, 2012

2013 Recruiting: James Hearns


Position:  Inside Linebacker
Hometown/School:  Tallahassee, FL - Lincoln
Height/Weight:  6'3/235


Other Offers:  Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, USF, Notre Dame, Miami, Louisville, South Carolina, Georgia Tech

Report:  Hearns was the fourth commitment for the Gators in 2013.  Hearns verbally committed to the Gators back on the 2nd of February.

247Sports, ESPN, and Rivals all agree that Hearns is a 4-star prospect and they all list him around the 9th-best ILB in 2013.  On the other hand, Scout only gives Hearns a 3-star rating.  This may have something to do with them listing him as a defensive end instead of an ILB.

The Bull Gator has an excellent scouting report of Hearns:
Hearns is a power defender, meaning he uses his strength to his advantage in almost every situation. Watch just a few moments of his highlights reels and you’ll see him run through most ball carriers and push many blockers out of his way. His raw power builds as he accelerates and he doesn’t always have to use technique to bring offensive players to the ground. Once Hearns gets a full head of steam, he can go up against much of what the offense has to offer. As he fills out and learns improved ways to condition at the college level, his power and strength will only increase, making him a dangerous individual to be hit by.
Hearns is 6'3" and 235. He's an interesting prospect in that his position in college is uncertain. Some think he will play defensive end, others outside linebacker, and other still place him at middle linebacker. At Florida, he will likely play the "buck" linebacker position -- a hybrid between weak-side defensive end and outside linebacker, playing in both a two and three-point stance. It's also entirely possible that he will grow into a strong-side defensive end.
Hearns made some headline news last month at a Florida State camp.  Hearns did the Gator Chomp after making a play which resulted in him getting kicked out of the camp that was ran by Jimbo Fisher.

Videos:

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Vernon Hargreaves Really Likes USC

If you missed it, and I somehow did, Vernon Hargreaves III (#1-CB in 2013) declared via his Twitter account that the USC Trojans are his favorite right now.

This came shortly after he went to Los Angeles for a visit.  He also goes on to tell about the love he is getting from walking around in a USC shirt in Denver.
Just to keep showing how much VHIII likes USC, his avatar now includes a USC logo.

A week ago it seemed like his decision would come down to Florida, USF, and Miami.  Now USC comes in the picture and it looks like they are the team to beat for VHIII's services.

What do you think?  Do you think his love for USC is temporary or will VHIII end up wearing the USC jersey?  Comment below.

Hello Tyler Harris


Position:  Quarterback
Hometown/School:  Blackshear, GA - Pierce County
Height/Weight:  6'3/205
  • 247Sports lists Tyler Harris as the top pro-style QB for 2014 right now.  He is also the 2nd-best prospect in the state of Georgia and 15th nationally.
  • No offers right now.  However, it looks like Bama, Georgia, Auburn, and Florida are the favorites as he has camped at or visited all of those schools.
  • Harris attended Florida's spring game.  Harris said he liked the atmosphere and Brent Pease's offense he said in an interview with Gator Country.
  • He has been described as having a "monster arm" and "howlizer" in this article.
  • Doesn't have great accuracy according to scouts but rather a big-time arm.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Bo Scarbrough Will Decide on July 23rd


Bo Scarbrough, a 2014 running back from Tuscaloosa, will announce his college choice on the morning of July 23rd.  247Sports grades Scarbrough as a 5-star recruit and the 7th-best player overall in 2014.  Scarbrough's will decide between Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, and Florida.  According to al.com, Scarbrough rushed for 928 yards and 13 TDs.  Also, Scarbrough racked up 280 yards and 4 TDs as a receiver too.

It is going to be pretty tough for the Gators to get Scarbrough especially with him being from Tuscaloosa.  I'm going to say Scarbrough ends up at the hometown school.

2013 Recruiting: Kelvin Taylor


Position:  Running Back
Hometown/School:  Belle Glade, FL - Glades Day
Height/Weight:  5'10/215


Other Offers:  South Carolina, Florida State, Alabama, USC, Miami

Report:  Kelvin is the son of former Gator great, Fred Taylor.  Taylor's commitment came down to his father's alma mater and the school that has produced a pair of great running backs recently in Alabama.  Taylor committed to the Gators back on Florida's Junior Day.

The four major recruiting services seem to be split on Kelvin Taylor.  ESPN (4-star) and 247Sports (5-star) rank Taylor as the best running back in the nation for 2013.  On the other hand, Scout and Rivals both agree that he is a 4-star prospect and rank him 9th and 10th.  Interesting.

Kelvin Taylor has been playing varsity football for Glades Day High School since he was in the 7th grade.  Taylor has put up huge numbers and has already broken Emmitt Smith's Florida high school rushing record.  In the 8th grade, Taylor rushed for almost 1700 yards and 27 TDs which helped him being named All-State that year.  Remember, that was just his 8th grade year.

Here is what Chad Simmons of Scout had to say about Kelvin Taylor:
Taylor is built very low to the ground, he has a very strong lower-body, and he is very tough to tackle. He keeps his legs moving after contact, he moves very well laterally, and although he may not have elite speed, he has very quick feet. He hits the hole with quickness and power, and he is a very productive back. He has natural running back instincts and he has a good feel for the game when the ball is in his hands.

Bud Elliott from SB Nation:
He has been a workhorse back, with many games of over 30 carries. Taylor is not big enough to carry the rock that many times in the college game, but he does have a nice blend of power, speed, quickness and natural instincts (thanks, Dad!).
 The main question surrounding Taylor seems to be whether he can last in college or not.  By the time Taylor graduates from high school, he will have played 7 years of varsity football.  Can Taylor stay healthy through his time at Florida?  Hopefully.

Taylor will play in the Under Armour All-America Game next year and Taylor just finished competing at The Opening.

Videos:

Monday, July 9, 2012

Hello Isaiah Wynn

(espn.com)
Position:  Offensive Guard
Hometown/School:  Saint Petersburg, FL - Lakewood
Height/Weight:  6'3/270

  • 247Sports grades Wynn as a 4star.  They also list him as the 10th-best player in Florida and the best offensive guard in the country (2014).
  • Here are his highlights via HUDL.
  • Right now Wynn doesn't hold many big offers, but that will change in the future.  USF, Ohio, and Youngstown State are his only offers.
  • Was All-Conference last year as a sophomore.
  • Was selected as U.S. Army 2014 offensive MVP at a Big County Preps (BCP) combine.
  • Got to go against teammate DE Dante Fowler in drills at practices.


Sunday, July 8, 2012

Reviewing Marcell Harris's Saturday Performance at The Opening


Safety Marcell Harris from Orlando put on a show in the Nike 7ON last night on ESPNU.  According to Rivals, Harris has Florida, Florida State, and Texas as his favorites.  After watching him last night, I believe Marcell Harris would be a great addition to this year's class.  Below are a few quick notes about what he did.
  • First, just looking at his height and weight measurements (6'1/207) doesn't do him justice.  Marcell Harris looked bigger than that on my TV screen.  Saying Marcell Harris has great size for a safety would be an understatement.
  • Harris cut off a long pass from Texas commit Tyrone Swoopes and came down with the interception.
  • He then had another INT later in the half.  Harris almost had a third after he went vertical to break up a pass.
  • Overall, Harris had an excellent day for the Field Generals yesterday.  He was the best defender on a team that made highly touted QB Tyrone Swoopes look awful the whole game.
Rivals ranked him as the second-best defender yesterday($):
Harris has proven time and again that he has great instincts, especially when the ball is in the air. He had two interceptions in one game and nearly a third. What's also impressive is that he has great size for a safety, but moves well and is smooth in coverage.
 Here is what he said when asked($) what he thought about possibility of changing positions to linebacker:
"Now people are looking at me different," said Harris "They're blogging right now about me, so I'm in their head that I'm a free safety all the way. I just want to come out here and prove myself again and not listen to the critics and the haters or whatever you want to call them. I'm out here doing my thing. I always feel that I have to prove I'm one of the best safeties in the nation there's a lot of good guys out here at that position. I feel I'm a wide range safety. I try to come out and be like Sean Taylorthat's my favorite player. Me and him have big size and have people critiquing us saying we're linebackers." 

Friday, July 6, 2012

Hello Kain Daub


Position:  Inside Linebacker
Hometown/School:  Ponte Vedra Beach, FL - Nease
Height/Weight:  6'3/230

  • According to 247Sports, Daub is the best player in Florida and also the best ILB in the nation.  Grades out as a 5-star recruit (247Sports).
  • You can see his HUDL highlight videos here.
  • Alabama, LSU, Florida State, Miami, Florida, and Ohio State are the current leaders according to Daub.
  • Recorded 108 tackles and 12 sacks last year as a sophomore according to Scout.
  • Is home-schooled (sounds like somebody else that was pretty good at Nease) so that he can graduate early.
  •  "I believe I am really good at reading defenses, and applying pressure on the quarterback" was his response to what he does best.
  • Daub may outgrow his current position and might end up as a defensive end.  Rivals is an outlier as they list him at almost 250 pounds.
  • Went to a Florida Gators camp last June.

David Dawson Close To Decommitting For Florida?

David Dawson will be in Florida for camp. (Freep.com)
The #1-ranked offensive guard in the country according to ESPN may be on the brink of decommitting.  David Dawson committed to the Michigan Wolverines back in February but signs are showing that it may not be solid anymore.  Here is what he said to Tremendous, a Michigan football recruiting blog, last Sunday:
What I know about David Dawson: Last Sunday, David told me he was going to camp at Florida. I asked him what the coaches would think. He told me they didn't get upset when he camped at Alabama last month (if you remember, the Cass crew was in the area for a 7v7 tourney) and that he was definitely going to camp down there. It's worth keeping an eye on.
And then today a current Michigan recruit told ESPN that Dawson "has been talking about decommiting".

It will be very interesting to see how this plays out.

Follow Future Gators on Twitter - @FutureGators

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Future Gators Previews The Opening


One of the biggest recruiting events all year will take place this weekend in Oregon.  The Opening will be loaded with talent as it will include 84 players that are in this year's ESPN 150.  Gator fans will have a lot to watch this weekend on ESPNU as seven Florida commits and other targets will be at the camp.  Below is a preview of The Opening for the Florida Gators.

There are three major parts to the Opening; SPARQ Rating National Championship, Nike 7ON, and the Elite Lineman Challenge.  Every player at the camp will compete in the SPARQ Championship which basically measures the athleticism of the recruits.  The players will then break into either the Elite Lineman Challenge or the Nike 7ON depending on their position.

Nike 7ON Preview

Six of the seven Gator commits will be participating in the Nike 7ON.  The list includes three DBs (Nick Washington, Keanu Neal, Tre' Bell), running back Kelvin Taylor, wide receiver Ahmad Fulwood, and LB Quinton Powell.  Gator fans won't have to wait long to see their recruits with six players participating in one event.  As mentioned earlier, there will be also some Florida targets at the camp, but I won't go into too much detail about them.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the three defensive backs fare against top-level talent.  Also, one of Florida's top targets, CB Vernon Hargreaves III, will be at the camp.  Hopefully fans will get to see VHIII go one-on-one with Ricky Seals-Jones, the top ranked receiver in the nation.

Quinton Powell can prove to the experts that they are wrong.  Scout lists pass coverage as a weakness for the OLB, but he'll have his chance to prove himself against the best in the nation.  OLB Alex Anzalone will also be in Oregon this weekend.  He will make his commitment this weekend at the camp (between Penn State, Notre Dame, and Florida).

Ahmad Fulwood is the only WR commit going to the camp representing Florida.  He has a good chance to get a small taste of what is to come in future years if he is guarded by one of his future teammates.  Seeing Fulwood against his friend and fellow UF commit, Nick Washington, would be great.  Is Fulwood's downfield playmaking ability as good as advertised?  We'll have to wait for the weekend.

Elite Lineman Challenge Preview

4-star DT Caleb Brantley will be only Florida commit competing in the challenge.  The Elite Lineman Challenge will contain a lot of one-on-one battles.  This will give Brantley a great opportunity to show off his strength and descriptiveness that he is known to have.

Florida is in the top five for talented DE DeMarcus Walker, who will also be at The Opening.  Walker took a trip to Gainesville just last week.

Future Gators will have more coverage of The Opening throughout the weekend.

Follow Future Gators on Twitter - @FutureGators

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

DT Kelsey Griffin Has Florida Gators As A Finalist

In an interview with GamecockCentral.com ($), 4-star DT Kelsey Griffin listed his top five schools.  The other four schools he named were Florida State, Georgia, South Carolina, and Auburn.  The interesting thing is that Griffin hasn't taken a visit to either Sunshine State school.  Here is what he had to say on Florida and FSU:
"I haven't been to either one yet, but I've talked to the coaches a lot and they are very humble guys. I think I fit in the defense pretty well."
All four scouting services rank Griffin as one of the 12 best defensive tackles in the nation.  If Griffin decides to go with the Gators, he will be the second DT commit for Florida along with Caleb Brantley.

Follow Future Gators on Twitter - @FutureGators

Monday, July 2, 2012

OLB Alex Anzalone To Decide This Weekend

Alex Anzalone, a 4-star OLB from Pennsylvania, announced via Twitter that he will commit this weekend during The Opening.  Anzalone's decision will be between the Gators, Notre Dame, and the home state school; Penn State.

The talented OLB was once an Ohio State commitment, but after a bizarre situation, he decommitted.  The situation involved a convicted sex offender tweeting to Ohio State targets and taking a picture with Anzalone and other targets.  This bothered Alex and his family which resulted in him opening his recruitment back up.

The decision seems like it will ultimately come down between the Golden Domers and the Gators.  Even with Penn State being in his home state, there hasn't been a lot of momentum for the Nittany Lions.  Also, I don't think Anzalone will want to go to the conference that has Ohio State in it.

Anzalone's father is a graduate of Florida and his grandparents reside there.  It was thought that Florida would be the choice after his decommitment.  However, I think Notre Dame will be end up as Anzalone's pick this weekend.  Academics are going to be a big part of his choice and it is hard for any school to top Notre Dame's.

Hopefully I'm wrong.

Follow Future Gators on Twitter - @FutureGators

Sunday, July 1, 2012

2013 Recruiting: Quinton Powell


Position:  Outside Linebacker
Hometown/School:  Daytona Beach, FL - Mainland
Height/Weight:  6'2/200


Other Offers:  Arkansas, Clemson, Miami, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Florida State

Report:  Powell committed to Will Muschamp back in February, on Florida's Junior Day.  Here is what Powell said in an interview with the Orlando Sentinel shortly after word got out:
"Just the fact that I felt at home ... that was the main thing that I was looking for and I feel right at home here. I was looking for a family and I found it right here. ... plus, I've always been Gator fan."
The four recruiting services all give Powell a 4-star rating.  Rivals, Scout, and 247Sports all rank Powell as the 14th-best OLB in the nation, while ESPN lists him in 8th place.  The real interesting thing is that the services all greatly vary on where Powell is ranked nationally overall.  ESPN shows him the most love as they list him in the top 100 overall (83).  247Sports has him at 160, Rivals at 225, and he isn't ranked nationally according to Scout.  From the 83rd-best player according to one service to not even being in the top 300 in another service.  Weird.

Powell racked up 105 tackles, 14 sacks, and registered 50 quarterback hurries on his way to leading Mainland to the 8A Semifinals.

On to the scouting reports.

Elite Scouting Services ranked their top 2013 state of Florida prospects back in April.  Powell came in 22nd in their pre-Spring rankings.  This is what they had to say:
Powell can be used as a pass rusher off the edge or drop back into coverage and go against a receiver or tight end. He is most likely going to end up as a SAM backer in college. His ability to cover a tight end is what will draw the attention of college recruiters. He is effective against the run as well.
Scout also goes into detail about Powell's upcoming move from playing a rush end in high school to an OLB in college or maybe even an ILB:
Powell spends a lot of time with his hand down on the line of scrimmage in high school, but he will drop back to linebacker in college. He is a natural athlete with good size and very good speed. He could play inside or outside linebacker on the next level because of size, speed, and skill-set. He will need work on playing space, reading and reacting to the ball, and dropping into coverage.
And lastly, Rivals:
Powell predominantly plays defensive end and rushes off the edge, but during the spring and summer he has shown an ability to play in space and do things away from the ball that show he is a major prospect at outside linebacker. When working at the line, Powell is quick off the snap and does a good job of shedding blocks and getting into the backfield. In space, he shows good lateral movement and the ability to effectively cover the pass. He is very good at using his length to make the play.
Powell will be one of seven Gator commits to participate in The Opening.  You can watch The Opening July 5th through the 8th on ESPNU.