We have just about arrived to the end of the road of the 2018 recruiting cycle. The Florida Gators are in on several top targets as National Signing Day nears. The GatorBait.net staff predicts the destination of several of those targets.
OL Nicholas Petit-Frere
The Skinny: The closer we get to signing day the less likely it seems to see the five-star big man select Florida. The Gators, Alabama, Notre Dame, and Ohio State have been the main players over the last several months. The Gators felt proximity to home was something in their favor, however that doesn't seem to have as big of a draw as it once did. Ohio State seems to have the most confidence down the stretch.
Luke Stampini’s Prediction: Ohio St. Confidence Level: 90%
Blake Alderman’s Prediction: Ohio St. Confidence Level: 80%
CB Noah Boykin
The Skinny: The four-star defender backed off an early commitment to Maryland following his official visit to Florida last month. Notre Dame's staff made a little late drama in this race, but in the end it would be a surprise to see Florida not be the pick.
Luke Stampini’s Prediction: Florida Confidence Level: 85%
Blake Alderman’s Prediction: Florida Confidence Level: 90%
DE Caleb Johnson
The Skinny: After visits to Georgia, Florida, and Auburn this seemed like a two team race between the Gators and Tigers. Florida had a lot of confidence in their standing a few weeks back, but Auburn has come roaring back into the picture after uncertainty if they would have room. The closeness to home seems to have the needle pointing towards Auburn late.
Luke Stampini’s Prediction: Auburn Confidence Level: 60%
Blake Alderman’s Prediction: Auburn Confidence Level: 65%
DE Caleb Tannor
The Skinny: The former Georgia commit visited Nebraska, Florida, and Auburn leading up to national signing day. This has become one of there interesting recruitments to follow late. Auburn is no longer an option here, making this a Nebraska-Florida battle with both teams having confidence leading up to signing day. This may be one of the tightest races mentioned in this entire update.
Luke Stampini’s Prediction: Nebraska Confidence Level: 55%
Blake Alderman’s Prediction: Nebraska Confidence Level: 51%
WR Jacob Copeland
The Skinny: The former Florida commit used official visits to Tennessee, Texas A&M, Alabama, and Florida in that order. As time winds down it seems to be a battle between Alabama and Florida, however with Florida grabbing his final visit before signing day seems to have things pointing their way.
Luke Stampini’s Prediction: Florida Confidence Level: 65%
Blake Alderman’s Prediction: Florida Confidence Level: 75%
OL Richard Gouraige
The Skinny: The Tampa, Fla. native has been committed to Florida for three months, but he did not sign during the Early Signing Period in December. Clemson, Ole Miss, and Auburn hosted Gouraige on campus as well as the Gators. Clemson seemed to be Florida biggest threat, but in the end the option of being close to home seems to have the biggest pull.
Luke Stampini’s Prediction: Florida Confidence Level: 75%
Blake Alderman’s Prediction: Florida Confidence Level: 75%
DE Dorian Gerald
The Skinny: After visits to Louisville, Texas A&M, Arkansas, and Florida, Gerald will not make his decision on Wednesday and decided to instead announce on Friday. The Aggies and Gators seem to be battling it out as teams with the best chances of landing him. However with junior college prospects you can never count out late drama and with a few extra days left until he announces expect this to go back and forth.
Luke Stampini’s Prediction: Texas A&M Confidence Level: 51%
Blake Alderman’s Prediction: Florida Confidence Level: 51%
DE Andrew Chatfield
The Skinny: Miami, Florida State, and Florida hosted Chatfield on official visits last month with the Gators landing the final trip for the four-star pass rusher. Miami and Florida seem to have the best shot at landing him down the stretch and the two have gone back and forth trading momentum. As we hit the final stretch it seems like it would be a surprise for Florida not to be the pick.
Luke Stampini’s Prediction: Florida Confidence Level: 90%
Blake Alderman’s Prediction: Florida Confidence Level: 90%
DE Malcolm Lamar
The Skinny: The former Oregon commit has long been leaning towards Florida State after the Seminoles hired former Ducks head coach Willie Taggart. Florida hosted Lamar on an official visit in January and made up a lot of ground on the Seminoles and made things close. However after Lamar showed up in Tallahassee last weekend for an unofficial visit it seems to have the momentum trending back to FSU late.
Luke Stampini’s Prediction: Florida State Confidence Level: 75%
Blake Alderman’s Prediction: Florida State Confidence Level: 70%
DT Nesta Silvera
The Skinny: Silvera has long been committed to Miami. However, he took January visits to Florida and Tennessee followed by a visit to Coral Gables the weekend before signing day. The Hurricanes are confident in their chances to hang onto him, but Florida has had some late chatter in their corner as well.
Luke Stampini’s Prediction: Miami Confidence Level: 51%
Blake Alderman’s Prediction: Miami Confidence Level: 51%
DE Malik Langham
The Skinny: Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Florida, and Auburn hosted this four-star defender on official visits leading up to signing day. In most of the later stages in his recruitment Langham was considered a heavy lean to in-state Alabama over finalist Florida and Auburn. However after his visit to UF things began to trend slowly in the Gators favor. That trend has continued to grow the closer we get to singing day.
Luke Stampini’s Prediction: Florida Confidence Level: 55%
Blake Alderman’s Prediction: Florida Confidence Level: 55%
DE Fabien Lovett
The Skinny: Lovett decommitted from Mississippi State last month after the coaching change in Starkville. Ole Miss and Mississippi State hosted Lovett on official visits in January with the Gators getting the final trip last weekend. Despite enjoying much of his time in Gainesville we hear it's unlikely to see Lovett leave the state when the dust settles. The Bulldogs seem most confident in the final hours.
Luke Stampini’s Prediction: Mississippi State Confidence Level: 65%
Blake Alderman’s Prediction: Mississippi State Confidence Level: 70%