Rambling Recruiting 101, for and
by amateurs, for judging any individual teams yearly class-quality.
The Needs of the coach/team are different from how a recruiting service class rating is determined. They often don't match up because the services are rating the
'athlete' on his perceived ability. The coaches have to look at many other factors that have little to do with pure athletic ability.
i.e. Life-long Gator fan, RB Travis Henry, was not even allowed an
'official visit' by UF's Admin. So Travis went to tennis-sea, was issued a tUTor and was an
'academic eligible' star for them.
(plus, some teams seen to have some extra recruiting incentives -$$$/team-rules- available to them)
1. Determine the specific needs, at every position, that are critical needs on your returning roster.
i.e. the OL for 2015 was the most critical position on the entire team, even before QB imo.
While at CB they were solid and 3 deep with 3 that were 5 stars and most of the rest solid 4's.
Make up your position lists to fill:
2. Now list those HS players that are at least
'open to the opportunity' of attending UF and being a Gator.
~ Things to consider while attempting to get the best that's available to come be Gators.
A. Can he qualify academically to visit/enter UF?
(transcrips)
B. Can, and will he stay academically eligible if he comes?
(history)
C. Does he have any
serious 'character' issues?
(Investigate)
D. Has he ever had any
'Law' infractions or any disciplinary actions?
(HS Principle - Coaches)
E. Will he
'gel' with the rest of the current team, especially those at his position? (visit-personality)
F. Do I need him NOW, or can he be a deep backup with a redshirt possible)?
* And this is not even a good beginning to the many things that they must find out, know, or consider.
Go ahead and look at the many different recruiting services
(for fun) and the different ratings that go on, even between those working for the same service. What do they know about the team's needs? Not much usually, because they are just giving their
own opinions on the individuals athletic ability at a given position, which he might not even play at college. UF has what I see as at least a 4 star OLB 6-1 228, that came in as a 3 star QB, recruited to UF as a SS, and now working with Shannon at LB.
(a recruiting steal imo) 
And before anyone goes on about any consensus ratings, just remember that the consensus of the
'Professional and Informed Sports Media' at SEC Media Daze, rated
SECe-C UF no better than a
7-5, #5 in the SECe for 2015. That
'Professional' consensus is wrong 80+ percent of the time in picking the SEC-C.
While the service ratings, both individual and class, do have some meaning, it's just not nearly the last word on the quality of a class for our particular team/school.
Now, that said, I'd be thrilled if UF got the
'consensus' #1 Class for 2017.
(but it's still just 1 piece of the much larger recruiting puzzle)
============
For Gator fans:
2016 team needs, and did any of the UF record 12-EE's (14 Jan. arrivals) fill them?
IMOHO - Most will play, some will even start. Gator Spring Bio Wt/Ht. on EE's
Mc-staff gets an A+ in my books, no matter what a recruit rating service thinks.
QB-PP Austin Appleby rsSr 6-4 235 - Grad-xfer
QB-PP Feleipe' Franks Fr 6-6 216
QB-PP Kyle Trask Fr 6-4 227
WR Freddie Swain Fr 6-0 180
WR Josh Hammond Fr 6-1 184
Slot WR/PR Dre Massey Jr 5-9 183 4.32/40 - JuCo
RB/KR Mark Thompson Jr 6-2 242 - JuCo
OG/OT Stone Forsythe Fr 6-7 314
K Eddy Pineiro rsSo 6-0 183 - JuCo -- ZAM-BOW-WEE!
CB/RB McArthur Burnett Fr 5-9 172
CB Chauncey Gardener Fr 5-11 205 (also playing Nic/S this Spring)
ILB Will Thomas 5-9 226 Fr W-O
(played C & DT in HS, Bench 325, Squat 495) - (Engineering)
ILB David Reese 6-0 239 Fr
DE Jordan Smith 6-5 238 Fr
* Where's the BEEF? All but Franks seem ready, size-wise, to get on the field.
3 QB, 3 WR, RB, OL - K - 2 CB, 2 LB, 1 DL
===================
Signed and arriving soon to add depth, and some will likely see at least some playing time. (Ht/Wt as yet unconfirmed)
WR Tyrie Cleveland Fr 6-2 194
WR Rick Wells Fr 6-0 200
RB Lamical Perine Fr 5-11 218
C/OG Brett Heggie Fr 6-3 314
OL Jawaan Taylor Fr 6-5 347
CB Joseph Putu Jr 6-2 195 - JuCo
CB Jeawon Taylor Fr 6-0 191
CB C.J. McWilliams 5-11 163
FS Quincy Lenton Fr 5-11 207
OLB Vosean Joseph Fr 6-1 215
OLB Jeremiah Moon Fr 6-4 207
DE Jachai Polite Fr 6-2 259
DE Antonneous Clayton Fr 6-3 235
* Where's the BEEF? All but McWilliams seem ready, size-wise, to get on the field.
2 WR, RB, 2 OL - 4 DB, 2 LB, 2 DL
A very good break down and balance between those that arrived early, and those that will be arriving soon.
The only thing missing was a pure, game ready DT or two, but with their stock of DT's, RUSH, and DE's, they have plenty to cover the DL spots. Plus a few of those guys will likely grow into DT's.
Don't Wor-ree,,, be happy.... Cause the Gator coaches are all 5 Stars! 
