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.

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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.

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.

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Gator Recruiting News - 6/28

Demarcus Robinson

Florida To Host DeMarcus Walker.  The 4-star DE seems to be down to two schools; Alabama and Florida.  While Alabama seems to be the favorite, Muschamp will have the chance to impress Walker on Friday.  While Florida may be in second place right now, Zach Abolverdi of GatorSports.com points out that Florida has something going for them:

While all signs seem to point to Alabama, the Gators do have one thing going for themselves — ‘The Fantastic Four.’

Comprised of his close friends and fellow Jacksonville products Ahmad Fulwood, Daniel McMillan and Nick Washington, Walker is the only member not committed to UF.

We'll have to wait and see but from what I've read, I'd put my money on Alabama.

Demarcus Robinson.  There are a couple snippets concerning 4-star receiver Demarcus Robinson.  He said in an interview with TigerIllustrated.com($) who his favorite is and when he will likely decide:

"Clemson is one and Florida I'd say is two," Robinson toldTigerillustrated.com over the weekend at the Rivals100, 5-star Challenge. "I want to see each before I make my decision." 
The Rivals250 member now knows his visit schedule for July and has a decision timetable as well.
"I'm going to Georgia for Dawg Night, then visiting Clemson again and then heading to Florida for Friday Night Lights on back-to-back-to-back weekends," Robinson said. "I'll probably make my decision before school starts in late July." 

GatorNation posted a free recruiting mailbag with Derek Tyson (great read, highly recommend it).  In the article, Tyson was asked if Robinson will choose Florida over Bama (probably should have replaced with Bama with Clemson) and here is how Tyson answered the question:

It's too close to call right now. Alabama had been sliding a little before his trip to Tuscaloosa last weekend. The Tide are now right back in it and could possibly be considered the favorite. Walker, however, will visit Florida on Friday with his high school coach. So the Gators will have another shot to impress the talented defensive end. Don't count out Auburn, either. Walker enjoyed his visit to the plains, and the Tigers are still very much in the picture. 

Class Rankings.  ESPN released their new rankings and Florida is still in second nationally behind Michigan.

Marquez North To Florida?  Probably not.  The third-best receiver in the 2013 class according to Rivals listed his favorites right now and Florida came in at fifth (Clemson was first).  This is what he said about the Gators:

"I don't know too much about them. D.J. Humphries promotes them to me. They have good tradition." 

He also says in the article that he hopes to visit Florida soon.

Gator Recruiting News - 6/25

Ebenezer Ogundeko's perfect nickname; The Scrooge.

The Scrooge Coming To Florida?.  Ebenezer Ogundeko, a 4-star DE and the top recruit in the state of New York, (awesome name) says he is down to three schools in an interview with CuseConfidential.com($).  Here is what he said:

"My final three is Syracuse, Notre Dame, and Florida," Ogundeko said. He went on to talk about what put those three over the rest of the schools looking at him.

"What put those three on top was the connection I have with the coaches," Ogundeko stated. "They really take care of the players there and they offer a great opportunity to play."

Roderick Johnson's Recruitment Far From Over.  This story came out Sunday, but I never got around to it.  Florida commit, OT Roderick Johnson, told the Orlando Sentinel that "there are some other schools in the mix."  He listed Auburn and South Carolina as the main two.  This would be a big blow to the Gators because as of now, he is the only projected offensive tackle in the 2013 class.  When asked what are the odds that he sticks with Florida, here is what he said:

“Probably like six out of 10 chance I might [stay committed],” Johnson said.

Uh oh.

DeMarcus Walker Visiting.  DeMarcus Walker, a 4-star defensive end, is going to visit Florida on Friday according to his Twitter account.  Walker has Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, and Tennessee as his top 5.

Georgia Commit Possibly Decommitting for Florida?  Georgia commit, 3-star CB Shaq Wiggins, liked what he saw when he visited Florida recently.  Apparently, Georgia coaches weren't too happy about that.  Here is what Wiggins had to say about it in an interview with UGASports.com:

"Yeah, they asked what was wrong me, things like that," Wiggins said during registration for this weekend's Rivals Five-Star Challenge. "They freaked out a little bit, but I told them face to face I'm still a Dawg."

Here is what he had to say when asked if Bulldog fans should be worried since he said his recruitment isn't finished:

"No, they shouldn't be worried about me too much. I'm still 100 percent to the University of Georgia, that's where my heart is," he said. "But like I said, I'm going to continue to look at other schools, because you never know what can happen up until Signing Day. I just want to keep my options open, just look, but still be 100 percent to Georgia."

The strange thing is that Wiggins, according to Rivals, is still without a Florida offer.