All right, UF finishes top ten as most were hoping for but did CDM do what he needs to do which is upgrade the talent level. The magic 8 ball says all signs point to yes.
For today I will fill in some blanks that I could not discuss before and hopefully answer most of you questions. Just the Offense today.
There is a question on the 2020 class and predictions for it and I can assure you that anything today would be a bit off from the final product. In recruiting the only constant is that things aren't constant. I looked back on some of my notes and who I felt would be in the class and, well the final outcome was just a little bit different.
Lets delve in shall we.
QB:
Jalon Jones: He was the top target for CDM and he was asked to commit and not take visits. He did that and did a lot of recruiting behind the scenes.
Running Back:
Nayquan Wright: The dude should have been a 5*, UM screwed up on this one. UF stayed on Wright from the get go and talked him out of visiting UGA. I love this guys film.
Trey Sanders: UF never got traction with Sanders even though his brother was on campus. The allure of playing together was a mothers pipe dream that never came to fruition. Sanders was always going to Bama despite what UGA thought about a flip. I actually think UF finished 3rd for Sanders. I did late in the process get info that Sanders had a change of heart but it didn't happen. Sometimes people let their heart get in the way of objectivity.
Tight End and WR:
Keon Zipperer: I have it on good authority that UM was a serious contender. In the end UF, CDM and Chucky were too big of a pull. Don't underestimate the power of a pipe line from LW and UF got the commitment. I don't think people know how close this was to going the other way.
Dionte Marks: Go back and look at my early comments on Marks. He is a talent and I'm glad he stuck from the beginning.
Arjei Henderson: Most thought Henderson was a flip candidate. He was asked by the staff to shut it down if he wanted in and he did.
Trent Whittemore: I have been a supporter of the offer and commit from the get go. Trent will start at WR so I have him here. I have been told by people connected to the Bobcats that he is the real deal. I wonder what concentrating on FB and not year round sports will do for him.
Offensive Line:
Mike Tarquin: TBH, I was alerted to the flip by one of your fellow posters. (he can come out of the shadows if he so desires). This poster had a connection to the family and after he contacted me I begin to dig. I had heard some things but didn't think there was much to them. Boy was he right on the money. Anyway, Tarquin did not hit it off with the previous staff. Michael actually contacted UF and told them I am interested. Well, you know the rest of the story. MT will most likely red shirt and rehab. I suggest that he will be a force down the road.
Kingsley Eguakun: I love this guys film. Only a 3* but I don't care. Getting him from UM made it even better. Projected at Center, I was told he was all but commited to UF prior to his visit. The staff did their job and he is all Gator.
Deyavie Hammond: Hammond transferred back to Lake Wales from IGM and UF was not initially interested. I recall several questions about DH and I just didn't know or understand the reluctance of the staff initially. This is one where the staff made their own analysis and decided to offer. I can say I'm glad they did. I think the guy will be a Beast.
William Harrod: He was a Gator before he ever visited. Excellent job of recruiting. Stayed solid from start to finish.
Riley Simonds: TBH I think the staff loves him but wants him to work on S&C. He is an aggressive lineman and should not be under valued.
Wardrick Wilson: The silent Assassin, He was so quiet, people wondered if he would stick. Wardrick never wavered and will be in the 2 deep from day one IMO.
Ethan White: The staff liked him a lot. Some/many posters wanted him processed out. It was never going to happen. It might take a year or two but EW is going to be a starter and hard to deal with by opposing teams.
Ja'Markis Weston: many poster never warmed up to Weston. CDM and crew did. A under appreciated talent IMO.
Other Offensive targets:
QB: UF passed on Sam Howell and Brian Mauer who signed with NC and UT. I do think UF will sign 2 QB's in 2020 if they can get the right 2.
RB: UF never considered anyone seriously except Sanders and Wright.
TE: Jahleel Billingsley and Rae were in the mix. Ethan Rae was never going to choose UF due to distance. However Billingsley gave UF a silent but went to Bama and flipped.
OL: Ira Henry, Kamar Bell, Kieondre Jones, Evan Neal and Dante Lucas. Of the five, UF had the best shot with Lucas. Wrights mom and Lucas moms were friends and Ms. Wright was trying to convince Lucas to play with Nayquan. In the end the end it didn't work in UF's favor.
Jones, although a cousin to Emory, was never truly considering the Gators. Bell, was behind several guys and never got the push. Henry was intimidated by the 7 commits UF already had and saw greater opportunity elsewhere. Neal was a botch by the staff. They got on him too late and no one will know for sure if UF could have got him with earlier contact.
WR: Elijah Higgins, Trey Knox, Darren Jones. Higgins chose the Stanford degree over UF. To Higgins credit, he was up front with the staff during the whole process. If he had not been accepted at Stanford he would have been a Gator. Knox was not what the staff wanted. Jones pretty much the same deal. I always liked Jones film but I will defer to their judgement.
There is more drama on the other side of the ball and the potential mystery recruit.
Coming soon.
Thanks,
Candy
go cheer for the damn slawdogs
