It would appear that Florida has slowed a bit in the recruiting process. It’s the middle of May and the Gators only have verbals from four athletes, while Alabama has 12 verbals, Florida State has 11 and Georgia has seven. You’d think Florida was way behind.
But Florida’s coaches have been very busy these last few weeks, hitting the road to check out as many prospects as possible during the evaluation period of the recruiting season. Coaches can go to high schools and talk to coaches and teachers, but can only “bump” into prospects and say hello and goodbye to them.
Here’s a list of some of the prospects Florida coaches have checked out in the state of Florida this month (commitments in bold):
QB: Jeff Driskel Florida (Oviedo Hagerty), Jacoby Brissett (West Palm Beach Dwyer), Phillip Ely (Tampa Plant)
RB: Mike Bellamy (Punta Gorda Charlotte), Marlin Lane Clemson (Daytona Beach Mainland), Mike Blakely (Bradenton Manatee)
WR: Sammy Watkins (Cape Coral), Kelvin Benjamin (Belle Glade Glades Central), Ja’Juan Story (Brooksville Nature Coast), Phillip Dorsett (Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas)
TE: A.C. Leonard Florida (Interlachen), Nick O’Leary (West Palm Beach Dwyer)
OL: Kaleb Johnson (Jacksonville Ed White), Bobby Hart (Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas)
DT: Timmy Jernigan (Lake City Columbia)
DE: Curt Maggitt (West Palm Beach Dwyer), Anthony Chickillo (Tampa Alonso), Clay Burton (Venice), Giorgio Newberry (Fort Pierce Central)
DB: De’Ante Saunders Florida (Deland), Nick Waisome (Groveland, Southlake), Marcus Roberson (Ft. Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas), Cortez Davis Florida State (Daytona Beach Mainland)
ATH: James Wilder Jr. (Tampa Plant), Chevelle Buie (Cocoa)
Check out a list of out-of-state prospects soon …
I pray we land ATH James Wilder Jr….he is the real deal.
The Florida recruiting machine will keep on rolling. Quality will beat out quanity, anyday!
We are basically still in on everyone we really want. Recruiting probably won’t start really gaining steam until Friday Night Lights. Gators can be a bit selective this year in relation to numbers needed.
Uf isn’t even interested in Teddy Bridgewater. Brissett from Dwyer will probably look elsewhere since Driskel committed. We will pick and choose this cycle.
Ed,
why didn’t the coaches visit Teddy Bridgewater? and what’s your feeling on ASJ (and his upcoming commitment)?
Actually we are very interested in teddy b and things are looking better with him, but as a wr. And he himself has stated that he wouldn’t mind playing wideout