Can you feel it? It’s just about that time ladies and gentlemen. Only a few days remain until the final home game of the season with any real meaning in terms of recruiting. I thought it would never get here, but it’s here and it’s the final time Florida will get to show off in The Swamp front of the some of the top talent (let’s face it, The Citadel is an end-of-the-season practice game). And what a perfect game to end the year on: Steve Spurrier’s own South Carolina. A lot of these kids grew up with Spurrier and the Gators from the 90s and whether you were a Florida fan or not, watching Spurrier’s teams was pretty fun.
With so many subplots this weekend (rise in the BCS standings, Spurrier’s back, recent SEC East champs and a CBS game) Florida will definitely look to put on a show for those sitting in the South End Zone. Deerfield Beach quarterback/athlete Denard Robinson is expected to be in Gainesville for the game. Columbus, Ga., Carver linebacker Jarvis Jones should be as well. From what I’ve heard, Pensacola, Escambia running back Trent Richardson is “trying” to get to the game. However, he’s said a couple times this season that he would “try” to make it to Gainesville, but has yet to actually do it. There was speculation that Memphis, Harding Academy receiver Marlon Brown would make it in, but he told me in a text message that he won’t be here, but could visit in January.
This game won’t be as big for the Gators (in terms of recruiting) as the Miami or LSU game, but the coaches are sure to treat it like one. From all accounts, it looks like this could be a bigger weekend for 2010 kids (the talent level isn’t even close between 2010 and ’09). With only a handful of spots left to fill out this class, Florida should look to wait until December and more importantly, January, to get some of the bigger names on campus for official visits. Even though it’s November, there’s still a lot of time left in the world of recruiting, and things have yet to really heat up.
Blunders
The last few weeks have had some big time recruiting blunders. Weirdly enough, most of it has come from the SEC (see Tennessee). Here are a couple of mistakes I’ve seen of late.
Let’s stay with the Vols and talk about how Hampton, Va., Phoebus quarterback Tajh Boyd committed to Tennessee two days before Phil Fulmer “stepped down.” Word is that he’s still solid to the Vols, but you have to wonder what’s going through his head right now. Or maybe he knew what was coming. Who knows?
I’ll stay with Tennessee because it looks like prized running back Jarvis Giles (Tampa, Gaither) has de-committed from the Vols. He was in wait-and-see mode after Fulmer’s exit, but now the Vols are pretty much out of it. He visited South Carolina over the weekend and the Gamecocks could be the new leader, with Ole Miss not far behind.
Georgia. Yeah it was a week ago, but with all the election talk, I didn’t get a chance to put up my prized picture from my trip to Jacksonville for the Florida-Georgia game. Not only did the Bulldogs get pummeled by one of its biggest rivals, their fans certainly didn’t travel with much class. This picture says it all:
If you can’t read it, the school bus is so elegantly labeled with a sign that says, “Georgia Bulldogs Limo. Aren’t you Jealous!!” – You have no idea. And while I’m talking about Georgia fans. My roommate would like to thank the shirtless Bulldog fanatics who tossed a couple beers at him when he walked through a crowd of red and black while tailgating. They were delicious.
Jheranie Boyd/Florida. OK, this is either a tale of being stubborn or maybe Boyd really did just fall off Florida’s list of top receivers. Every time I spoke with Boyd he always mentioned Florida as one of his top schools. The Gastonia, N.C., Ashbrook prospect even moved his decision back so that he could make it to a game, but down the road, the two parties had a falling out. It looks like Florida wanted him on campus in December to get more time with him, but Boyd was looking for an early commitment. Boyd never took an official to Florida and is now at North Carolina.
Colorado Rockies. Yes, I know. This is a recruiting blog. And yes, I know, the Rockies are a major league baseball team that has nothing to do with anything Florida. But, it looks like my beloved Rockies are about to part ways with the REAL 2007 MVP, Matt Holliday. Holliday is expected to join the Oakland A’s in the next 48 hours and I’m pretty sure my Rockies will mess this up by getting 500 minor leaguers and an average starting pitcher.
Local Color
Shout out to Williston running back Travis Evans who picked up his first scholarship offer. Evans got offered by Georgia State. He’s looked good this season and when I saw him against Trinity Catholic he was an absolute monster. He says he’s still keeping in touch with Georgia Tech and if they offer look for him to join the Rambling Wreck.
