Advice to Gator Fans: Don't dwell on Recruiting. Everything is going as should have been expected. Recruiting is 18-24 month cycle, the 2 previous seasons is tough to overcome. There's not enough money to overcome that much drag. The 2025 class will have very little impact on the 2025 season. 2026 is too far down the road to worry about. Only 10+ wins in 2024 gets you a pass on the 2025 season, and that's not likely to happen.
Poor/Average 2024 (< 7 wins): Coach likely gone or still on hot seat. Some recruits decommit, could lose experienced players. Portal becomes the priority (new coach or needs to win 2025 to save job)
Good 2024 (7/8 wins); lowers temp, still on hot seat until great season. Needs to win in 2025 , so will have to lean on Portal here too
Given long recruiting cycle, the expectations for flips from a good/great season has to be reasonable. There would be some big ones but unlikely to move a Top 30 class into Top 8. I think we could make some headway with guys who liked us at different points of the cycle (DJ Pickett, Hylton Stubbs, etc), but even a solid season still has uncertainty moving forward and that's not a great environment for mass flips. Other teams are trying to build excitement and sel their futures like UF and their program may be in just as good or better shape. Class size also likely to be small because we need to win 2025. Portal cycle is MUCH shorter so easier to leverage good season into success.
The focus of Recruiting over Portal is a luxury of an established coach that can set aside short term needs for long term gains. We aren't there yet. We can't ignore realities or cut corners. Win the Fall, Portal well then shift focus to 2026 class which already has big time QB on board
FOCUS ON THE 2024 SEASON. If the season works itself out so will the roster.
Poor/Average 2024 (< 7 wins): Coach likely gone or still on hot seat. Some recruits decommit, could lose experienced players. Portal becomes the priority (new coach or needs to win 2025 to save job)
Good 2024 (7/8 wins); lowers temp, still on hot seat until great season. Needs to win in 2025 , so will have to lean on Portal here too
Given long recruiting cycle, the expectations for flips from a good/great season has to be reasonable. There would be some big ones but unlikely to move a Top 30 class into Top 8. I think we could make some headway with guys who liked us at different points of the cycle (DJ Pickett, Hylton Stubbs, etc), but even a solid season still has uncertainty moving forward and that's not a great environment for mass flips. Other teams are trying to build excitement and sel their futures like UF and their program may be in just as good or better shape. Class size also likely to be small because we need to win 2025. Portal cycle is MUCH shorter so easier to leverage good season into success.
The focus of Recruiting over Portal is a luxury of an established coach that can set aside short term needs for long term gains. We aren't there yet. We can't ignore realities or cut corners. Win the Fall, Portal well then shift focus to 2026 class which already has big time QB on board
FOCUS ON THE 2024 SEASON. If the season works itself out so will the roster.
