It’s only April, but Florida has already managed to recruit one of the most talented defensive backfields in the country. Of UF’s 10 pledges for the 2010 recruiting season, five of them are defensive backs.
The problem, of course, is that with all the depth the Gators have, keeping all these guys happy will be an issue. Things have already taken a turn for the worse for Lauderdale Lakes, Boyd Anderson commit Demar Dorsey. He said he’s not worried about the other guys coming in with him, he’s worried about the young guns the Gators already have on board.
The Gators could potentially return five cornerbacks next year – two seniors, two sophomores and a junior. At safety, UF could have four guys back – two seniors, a junior and a sophomore. Not to mention incoming freshman Joshua Evans, who figures to play safety at UF.
When I last talked to Dorsey, he said hasn’t decommitted from Florida, and isn’t sure if he actually will. But after the Gators got a huge pledge from Cape Coral athlete Jaylen Watkins, Dorsey changed his status to being a “soft” verbal to the Gators and is planning to visit West Virginia’s spring game on Saturday, not Florida’s Orange and Blue game.
Even if Dorsey decides he’s not a good fit for the Gators, they’ve more than taken advantage of the immense talent in the defensive secondary. The granddaddy of them all has to be West Palm Beach, Dwyer stud Matt Elam. The kid is one of the top players in the country, regardless of position, and he’s even a gem out on the lacrosse field.
Just in case the Gators can’t hold on to some of these guys, here are a couple of players still on UF’s radar:
Lamarcus Joyner – Fort Lauderdale, St. Thomas Aquinas – 5-foot-8, 166 pounds – Joyner has been on the minds of most Gator fans this entire spring. He’s rated as the seventh-best prospect in the country and appears to be the second-best defensive back prospect in the nation behind Elam, though he is more of a true corner and Elam is more of a safety. The problem the Gators face is that they already collected a handful of prospects at the position. Word is that he was interested in UF, but things might have gone south with the lack of interest from the staff recently. He finished his junior season with 112 tackles, four sacks and one interception.
Terrence Mitchell – Tampa, Hillsborough – 5-foot-10, 165 pounds – He plays receiver and corner and is one of those tremendous athletes who can play all over the field. He only had 43 tackles and two interceptions last year, but he’s got the raw athleticism to be a solid corner at the next level. Florida State is the clear leader, but Florida is in his top three schools.
Jordan Haden – Fort Washington, Md., Friendly – 6 feet, 198 pounds – He’s the brother of current Gator corner Joe Haden and has had the Gators on top for some time. Some say that he could be the most athletically gifted of all the Hadens. He had 62 tackles and three picks as a junior, and I would consider him a Gator lock if it weren’t for everyone else currently on board. Like Dee Finley a couple years ago, Haden could come aboard as a linebacker prospect as well if he can gain a little size.
