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What Florida needs for a 2023 top-5 recruiting class

Jeff from Jax

Jeff from Jax

Gator Great
Dec 2, 2004
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What Florida needs for a top-10 2023 recruiting class, per The Athletic​

The Athletic’s G. Allen Taylor published what the Gators need to finish in the top 10 nationally in the 2023 recruiting class.

Taylor sorted the players Florida needs to vault into the top 10 based on position. The list of players is as follows:

Defensive Line (Need: 0)​

  • Kelby Collins (Gardendale, Alabama), four-star, No. 71 committed to Gators
  • Jordan Hall (Jacksonville, Florida), four-star, No. 120
  • Will Norman (Bradenton, Florida), four-star, No. 143 committed to Gators
  • Kamran James (Orlando, Florida), four-star, No. 188 committed to Gators

Offensive Line (Need: 2)​

  • OT Monroe Freeling (Mount Pleasant, South Carolina), four-star, No. 62
  • OT Caden James (New Orleans, Louisiana), three-star, No. 407
  • OT Zalance Heard (Monroe, Louisiana), four-star, No. 60

Linebacker (Need: 1) assuming Robinson sticks​

  • Kaveion Keys (Richmond, Virginia), four-star, No. 315
  • Stanquan Clark (Miami, Florida), four-star, No. 318
  • Malik Bryant (Orlando, Florida), four-star, No. 61 (Miami commit)
  • Grayson Howard (Jacksonville, Florida), four-star, No. 221 (South Carolina commit)
  • Jaden Robinson (Lake City, Florida), four-star, No. 379 (now a Gator)

Cornerback (Need: 1)​

  • Cormani McClain (Lakeland, Florida), five-star, No. 3
  • Dijon Johnson (Tampa, Florida), four-star, No. 93

Edge (Need: 1)​

  • Jaquavious Russaw (Montgomery, Alabama), five-star, No. 26
  • Samuel M’Pemba (Bradenton, Florida), five-star, No. 25
  • Daniel Harris (Melbourne, Florida), three-star, No. 434
  • Keon Keeley (Tampa, Florida), five-star, No. 8 [Notre Dame commit]

Safety (Need: 1)​

  • Bryce Thornton (Alpharetta, Georgia), three-star, No. 494

Running Back (Need: 1)​

  • Cedric Baxter (Orlando, Florida), four-star, No. 48
  • Christopher Johnson (Fort Lauderdale, Florida), four-star, No. 376
  • Parker Jenkins (Houston, Texas), four-star, No. 388
  • Mark Fletcher (Fort Lauderdale, Florida), four-star, No. 232

Wide Receiver (Need:0)​

  • Daquayvious Sorey (Chipley, Florida), four-star, No. 229

Summary​

It’s important to note the recruits listed are all players the Gators are devoting attention to, not just players Taylor thinks they should go after. Most notably, the quarterback position is absent. There are six quarterbacks on the roster, all of which are either freshmen or sophomores.


https://gatorswire.usatoday.com/lis...iting-how-to-get-a-top-10-class-the-athletic/
 
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If we get 5 star Cormani McClain like the prognosticators say we will and then get 1 of the 2 5 star edge rushers, that will put us in great shape. Will be nice if we could also get 1 or 2 of the remaining DL on the list above and a couple of the OL guys, plus one of the RB's. I'm very impressed with the progress and inroads Napier has made in recruiting in a very short period of time. I'm especially interested to see how his new disciplined philosophy will translate in real games. Really looking forward to the season.
 
Need to give kudos & credit to
G. Allan Taylor
who wrote this article for The Athletic on Aug 2, 2022.

Getting three of these players - in less than 2 weeks - shows that this was not simply a "Wish List."

Kelby Collins & Will Norman has moved us up to #9 on Rivals.

Don't want to overstress recruiting rankings, but IMO, great players want to play for a team that has other great players - it makes doing their jobs easier & WINNING IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN LOSING !

The recruits Taylor listed are all players the Gators are devoting attention to, not just players he thinks they should go after.

Obviously, Taylor is someone with an ear to the ground & connections to our staff !

Hoping we continue to "pay attention to Taylor" - LOL - & get a few more players from his list !
 
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Napier & staff have already worked wonders on the recruiting trail. Especially when you consider our on the field results.

All positions not equally represented; but doubt that ever happens.

Overall a good class but Gators still missing some pieces to the puzzle for a great - Top 5 - recruiting class.

EDIT
"... Every top-tier program in the SEC currently utilizes a deep defensive line rotation. This keeps pass rushers fresh on the field and constantly creates pressure after the quarterback.

Because defensive lines rotate so frequently in the SEC, the next most important group is the offensive line."

https://mikefarrellsports.com/college/lsu-is-on-its-way-to-competing-competitively-with-the-sec-west

Just another way to say - "The SEC is a line of scrimmage league."

OT - only 2 committed OL & both of them are IOL.
Even with 2 OL coaches, OL & especially OT, for whatever reason, has been difficult for us to recruit.
Caden Jones seems to be our only prospect & he is lukewarm to UF.

DT - DE & Edge good - but only 1 DT committed & as Fever often says - we need 2.
We have prospects, but they seem to be fading.

Kayden McDonald - a good one but tOSU now seems to be at the top for him.
His OV for Missouri seemingly counteracted by tOSU HC Ryan Day's in school visit.
https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...another-box-for-ohio-state-four-star-s-vaboue
Xzavier McLeod - only 1 visit to UF; committed to S Carolina; got in late & we don't seem to strike any sparks for him.
James Smith - took an OV for LSU; but we are late to the party; multiple visits to Bama & Auburn.
John Walker - master of recruit speak; numerous visits after his commit to UCF - but still committed to UCF. Don't think a Flip will happen - but will dance naked in the streets if it does.
 
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Jeff from Jax said:
Napier & staff have already worked wonders on the recruiting trail. Especially when you consider our on the field results.

All positions not equally represented; but doubt that ever happens.

Overall a good class but Gators still missing some pieces to the puzzle for a great - Top 5 - recruiting class.

EDIT
"... Every top-tier program in the SEC currently utilizes a deep defensive line rotation. This keeps pass rushers fresh on the field and constantly creates pressure after the quarterback.

Because defensive lines rotate so frequently in the SEC, the next most important group is the offensive line."

https://mikefarrellsports.com/college/lsu-is-on-its-way-to-competing-competitively-with-the-sec-west

Just another way to say - "The SEC is a line of scrimmage league."

OT - only 2 committed OL & both of them are IOL.
Even with 2 OL coaches, OL & especially OT, for whatever reason, has been difficult for us to recruit.
Caden Jones seems to be our only prospect & he is lukewarm to UF.
View embedded media


DT - DE & Edge good - but only 1 DT committed & as Fever often says - we need 2.
We have prospects, but they seem to be fading.

Kayden McDonald - a good one but tOSU now seems to be at the top for him.
His OV for Missouri seemingly counteracted by tOSU HC Ryan Day's in school visit.
https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...another-box-for-ohio-state-four-star-s-vaboue
Xzavier McLeod - only 1 visit to UF; committed to S Carolina; got in late & we don't seem to strike any sparks for him.
James Smith - took an OV for LSU; but we are late to the party; multiple visits to Bama & Auburn.
John Walker - master of recruit speak; numerous visits after his commit to UCF - but still committed to UCF. Don't think a Flip will happen - but will dance naked in the streets if it does.
View embedded media
Click to expand...
Walker is kind of puzzling. How many 4*s does UCF have on their roster?
 
Gator's 2023 #9 Recruit Class

247 #9 - Composite #9 - Transfer #28
21 -- 0 - 17 - 4 - 0 - Ave 91.59, Pts 266.52

Rivals #9 - 21 -- 0 - 15 - 6 - 0 -- Ave 3.71, Pts 2374

What do class rankings or player stars guarantee? -- NADA
They are okay for a starting point, and to generate fan BS'ing.
Otherwise UF is doomed with ZERO 5-stars....

Both Over-rating and Under-rating happen in every class....
Quality coachable athletes are needed.
While outside rankings are just for the rankers making money.
Kyle Trask and Stetson Bennett are recent prime examples of that....
 
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Gator Fever said:
Probably end up about # 8 to #11. I think we are too limited with initial NIL to get a top 5 class. Hopefully those other teams back off some wasting all that money on unproven players after this year's class.
Click to expand...
Fever,

Thoughts from Sports Illustrated -

Big Money Donors Have Stepped Out of the Shadows to Create ‘Chaotic’ NIL Market​

Less than a year into the NIL Era, officials say the college sports landscape is dramatically shifting back into the booster-driven world that plagued it decades ago.

High-level boosters are privately or publicly using name, image and likeness deals to bankroll their teams, attempting to outbid one another for talent and creating a new arms race in college sports.

College football’s biggest donors have orchestrated business ventures that are distributing five-, six- and seven-figure payments to athletes under the guise of endorsement opportunities and appearance fees.

Guess this why having an athlete with a large number of Social Media Followers - real or fictitious - is important - it creates a "fig leaf" for boosters to hide behind.

They are also pooling millions of their dollars in creating exclusive, high-priced clubs—“collectives”—to retain current players, entice high school prospects or poach athletes from other programs.

New Transfer rules - not sitting out for a year - make this possible (easy). How many players did USC's Lincoln Riley "borrow" from Oklahoma ?

All the unemployed college "Bagman" have merely had their job duties redefined.

If at 1st you don't succede (sign them to a schollie out of high school) then you can just poach them later !

This way questionable (3* / low 4*) recruits can "audition" at another school & prove their worth before you invest NIL$.

After the SMU Death Penalty -
"...What Tommy Bowden remembers most are the alligator-skin boots and the shiny new cars, the pricey Rolexes and diamond-studded chains.

One by one, SMU players funneled into the room for individual interviews with dozens of college coaches from across the country, all of them descending upon Dallas to survey the best stock of players money could buy.

“It was like a meat market,” says Bowden, then an assistant coach at Alabama."
What was actually unfolding before Bowden’s eyes back in 1987—the parade of glamorously dressed college athletes visiting with recruiters on their own campus, free to transfer and play elsewhere.

He learned from his Dad ! LOL

"...LSU’s Kayshon Boutte, one of the nation’s top receivers, nearly entered the transfer portal in December until a booster was able to offer him an NIL deal that kept him in Baton Rouge."

Receiving Yards vs Gators​

LSU
K. Boutte 6 REC, 115 YDS

https://www.si.com/college/2022/05/...experts-divided-over-boosters-laws-recruiting
 
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Jeff from Jax said:
Fever,

Thoughts from Sports Illustrated -

Big Money Donors Have Stepped Out of the Shadows to Create ‘Chaotic’ NIL Market​

Less than a year into the NIL Era, officials say the college sports landscape is dramatically shifting back into the booster-driven world that plagued it decades ago.

High-level boosters are privately or publicly using name, image and likeness deals to bankroll their teams, attempting to outbid one another for talent and creating a new arms race in college sports.

College football’s biggest donors have orchestrated business ventures that are distributing five-, six- and seven-figure payments to athletes under the guise of endorsement opportunities and appearance fees.

Guess this why having an athlete having a large number of Social Media Followers - real or fictitious is important - it creates a "fig leaf" for boosters to hide behind.

They are also pooling millions of their dollars in creating exclusive, high-priced clubs—“collectives”—to retain current players, entice high school prospects or poach athletes from other programs.

New Transfer rules - not sitting out for a year - make this possible (easy). How many players did USC's Lincoln Riley "borrow" from Oklahoma ?

All the unemployed college "Bagman" have merely had their job duties redefined.

If at 1st you don't succede (sign them to a schollie out of high school) then you can just poach them.

This way questionable (3* / low 4*) recruits can "audition" at another school & prove their worth before you invest NIL$.

After the SMU Death Penalty -
"...What Tommy Bowden remembers most are the alligator-skin boots and the shiny new cars, the pricey Rolexes and diamond-studded chains.

One by one, SMU players funneled into the room for individual interviews with dozens of college coaches from across the country, all of them descending upon Dallas to survey the best stock of players money could buy.

“It was like a meat market,” says Bowden, then an assistant coach at Alabama."
What was actually unfolding before Bowden’s eyes back in 1987—the parade of glamorously dressed college athletes visiting with recruiters on their own campus, free to transfer and play elsewhere.

He learned from his Dad ! LOL

"...LSU’s Kayshon Boutte, one of the nation’s top receivers, nearly entered the transfer portal in December until a booster was able to offer him an NIL deal that kept him in Baton Rouge."

Receiving Yards vs Gators​

LSU
K. Boutte 6 REC, 115 YDS

https://www.si.com/college/2022/05/...experts-divided-over-boosters-laws-recruiting
Click to expand...

In a way I don't really care that much about the transfers getting paid and the collectives like we have. Maybe have the rule like before for with the in conference transfers to sit a year. What is insane is paying these kids before they show they can even play considering all the blue chipper busts. The NIL should come after they show they can play. I guess the closest thing to that is how many top baseball picks drafted out of high school get big money and end up being busts.
 
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Gator Fever said:
Probably end up about # 8 to #11. I think we are too limited with initial NIL to get a top 5 class. Hopefully those other teams back off some wasting all that money on unproven players after this year's class.
Click to expand...
8ish feels about right. I do think that's about right overall - we'd have to flip like 2 highly-rated guys to get inside the top 8 from the way things look. It's possible but I wouldn't bet the house on it.

I also like that you mention NIL - being conservative by the university hurts this cycle but we should be good moving forward as things settle down.
 
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gatorbuilderorlando said:
8ish feels about right. I do think that's about right overall - we'd have to flip like 2 highly-rated guys to get inside the top 8 from the way things look. It's possible but I wouldn't bet the house on it.

I also like that you mention NIL - being conservative by the university hurts this cycle but we should be good moving forward as things settle down.
Click to expand...

Yep Napier is doing real good considering we apparently aren't giving NIL just for signing. Michigan is operating the same as us and are struggling recruiting top players.
 
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I lost interest in the No Fun League years ago...
Now College football is not far behind.

Less and less interested every day....
College sports are entertainment, with no real importance in the world at large.
And fast becoming a waste of time imo....
 
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Jeff from Jax said:
Fever,

Thoughts from Sports Illustrated -

Big Money Donors Have Stepped Out of the Shadows to Create ‘Chaotic’ NIL Market​

Less than a year into the NIL Era, officials say the college sports landscape is dramatically shifting back into the booster-driven world that plagued it decades ago.

High-level boosters are privately or publicly using name, image and likeness deals to bankroll their teams, attempting to outbid one another for talent and creating a new arms race in college sports.

College football’s biggest donors have orchestrated business ventures that are distributing five-, six- and seven-figure payments to athletes under the guise of endorsement opportunities and appearance fees.

Guess this why having an athlete having a large number of Social Media Followers - real or fictitious is important - it creates a "fig leaf" for boosters to hide behind.

They are also pooling millions of their dollars in creating exclusive, high-priced clubs—“collectives”—to retain current players, entice high school prospects or poach athletes from other programs.

New Transfer rules - not sitting out for a year - make this possible (easy). How many players did USC's Lincoln Riley "borrow" from Oklahoma ?

All the unemployed college "Bagman" have merely had their job duties redefined.

If at 1st you don't succede (sign them to a schollie out of high school) then you can just poach them.

This way questionable (3* / low 4*) recruits can "audition" at another school & prove their worth before you invest NIL$.

After the SMU Death Penalty -
"...What Tommy Bowden remembers most are the alligator-skin boots and the shiny new cars, the pricey Rolexes and diamond-studded chains.

One by one, SMU players funneled into the room for individual interviews with dozens of college coaches from across the country, all of them descending upon Dallas to survey the best stock of players money could buy.

“It was like a meat market,” says Bowden, then an assistant coach at Alabama."
What was actually unfolding before Bowden’s eyes back in 1987—the parade of glamorously dressed college athletes visiting with recruiters on their own campus, free to transfer and play elsewhere.

He learned from his Dad ! LOL

"...LSU’s Kayshon Boutte, one of the nation’s top receivers, nearly entered the transfer portal in December until a booster was able to offer him an NIL deal that kept him in Baton Rouge."

Receiving Yards vs Gators​

LSU
K. Boutte 6 REC, 115 YDS

https://www.si.com/college/2022/05/...experts-divided-over-boosters-laws-recruiting
Click to expand...
PacoGator19 said:
Kearney just flipped from FSU to UF. He’s a really good oline prospect.

We also may have some more very good news when it comes to recruiting later this week as well.
Click to expand...

i just saw that, love getting a top IOL, hoping your news comes through later in the week.

Paco, any word at this point on any transfers we may get? Or even positions we may target in the portal?
 
Michi_Gator said:
i just saw that, love getting a top IOL, hoping your news comes through later in the week.

Paco, any word at this point on any transfers we may get? Or even positions we may target in the portal?
Click to expand...
I think we hit the portal pretty hard but that is about all I know or think I know.
 
Napier and his staff understand the importance of recruiting & the talent acquisition business. Like I said a few weeks ago IMO the worst case is Napier is Ron Zook and loads the roster for the next guy. That is the floor IMO which I would take over anything Muschamp, McElwain or Mullen did here at UF (aside from Mullen’s NY6 bowl wins)
 
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PacoGator19 said:
Napier and his staff understand the importance of recruiting & the talent acquisition business. Like I said a few weeks ago IMO the worst case is Napier is Ron Zook and loads the roster for the next guy. That is the floor IMO which I would take over anything Muschamp, McElwain or Mullen did here at UF (aside from Mullen’s NY6 bowl wins)
Click to expand...

well he is bringing in a ton of bodies on the DL and maybe the best WR class outside of Columbus, OH. And those are both huge areas on need
 
Michi_Gator said:
well he is bringing in a ton of bodies on the DL and maybe the best WR class outside of Columbus, OH. And those are both huge areas on need
Click to expand...
We will have top 3 recruiting class in the country amongst the WR, DL & DB position groups. Need to continue to work OL and LB. The 2024 class has the potential to be awesome. Recruiting is one of the least of my concerns right now.
 
PacoGator19 said:
Kearney just flipped from FSU to UF. He’s a really good oline prospect.

We also may have some more very good news when it comes to recruiting later this week as well.
Click to expand...
Paco,

Great to hear; we need OL.
Kearney's addition to Florida's recruiting class is a massive and warmly welcomed one, addressing one of the Gators' biggest needs remaining in this cycle: Blue-chip offensive line talent. Kearney is considered the No. 9 offensive tackle and No. 96 overall prospect in the class of 2023 by the SI99.

That being said, Florida has pitched Kearney on the ability to play any of the five offensive line positions should he sign with the Gators, and that is now his intention.

https://www.si.com/college/florida/...lip-roderick-kearney-commitment-florida-state
 
Excellent addition to the class. Very interested to see what McClain does on the 27th. I think that's his decision day.
 
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PacoGator19 said:
Napier and his staff understand the importance of recruiting & the talent acquisition business. Like I said a few weeks ago IMO the worst case is Napier is Ron Zook and loads the roster for the next guy. That is the floor IMO which I would take over anything Muschamp, McElwain or Mullen did here at UF (aside from Mullen’s NY6 bowl wins)
Click to expand...
If we get Cormani as expected we'll still be at 8th in the composite, but with him - there's only a 10 point difference between 3rd and 8th.

The point being we're really getting into big boy recruiting territory.
 
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gatorbuilderorlando said:
If we get Cormani as expected we'll still be at 8th in the composite, but with him - there's only a 10 point difference between 3rd and 8th.

The point being we're really getting into big boy recruiting territory.
Click to expand...

That is a great point. I also like that we have a large number of 4* players. While 5* are awesome and boost your class, at this point we really need quantity of talent and that is certainly being delivered. We are in a position to need a large number of quality players and Billy is delivering that.
 
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Michi_Gator said:
let’s be honest Paco, “big day”
Wouldn’t do this one justice. #2 overall player in the nation.
Click to expand...
Yes agreed. #1 player in the nation in some peoples opinions. The current #1 player in the nation is only ranked that high because of his last name.
 
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