Recruiting for 2021: Grading the Florida Gators Early Signing Class
Depending on which recruiting service you consider the most reputable, Dan Mullen’s fourth recruiting class at the University of Florida is either the 7th (by Rivals and ESPN) or 8th (by 247Sports) best in the country. The class is incomplete because the current rankings only reflect the early signing period which began on Wednesday. The usual National Signing Day will be the first Wednesday in February so there is a possibility the Gators could ease a little bit further up the rankings.
Mullen signed a very good class that is loaded up with early enrollees (as many as 15) and will include former 5-star running back Demarkcus Bowman from Lakeland, who is transferring in after spending only a portion of his freshman season at Clemson. Bowman gives the Gators 22 signed players with room for at least five more either by Friday morning or when the next signing opportunity rolls around. We say could be because the NCAA announced on Wednesday that the only greater migration than what we are going to see in all college sports including football is the annual passage on the Serengetti.
In its latest ruling the NCAA made it possible for any athlete in any sport to transfer without having to sit out a year. Add this on top of the organization’s Covid-19 ruling that 2020 will not count as a year of eligibility and the door has been opened wide for wholesale transience and that changes the recruiting game considerably. As of Saturday night, college football’s regular season concludes and you could safely say the transfer season commences.
At his Wednesday press conference when he discussed his early signing class, Mullen made it perfectly clear he’s making a potential transfer list and checking it twice when he said, “I think we have a couple of spots for transfers still on our team,” Mullen said, almost coyly.
Just a couple? One reason the Gators are 29-7 in Mullen’s three seasons on the job and playing in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game is because of judicious use of transfers like Van Jefferson, Trevon Grimes, Jonathan Greenard and Brenton Cox Jr.
Says Jason Higdon of 1standtenFlorida.com and the final authority on all things Florida recruiting, the Gators will be working the transfer lists hard to find the kind of players to plug and play immediately in positions of need.
“I think you will see three to four kids come to Florida from the (NCAA transfer) portal,” Higdon says.
Depending on how the NCAA elects to deal with the numbers issues the Gators might be taking even more than three or four. Whereas Florida will be actively in the market for transfers, the Gators will not be immune to players who see more opportunity somewhere else. That’s an issue that really hasn’t been addressed yet. The numbers are going to be skewed everywhere because every senior who played in 2020 has the option to return for another season due to the Covid-19 ruling.
At some point – probably before January when the spring semester begins nationwide – the NCAA will deal with the numbers issues so that coaches will know exactly how many openings they have. Meanwhile, the Gators have a very solid recruiting class in the works.
Jason evaluates the class like this: “The Gators signed 21 players during the early signing day period, with a great chance to sign a 22nd on Friday when offensive tackle Austin Barber (6-7, 300, Jacksonville, FL Trinity Christian) signs at 11:30 a.m. When Barber picks the Gators, that will bring the total to nine on the offensive side of the ball, 12 on defense, and one on special teams. It's hard to judge the product before its complete, but I like the class where it is today, with a great chance to add a few more pieces prior to the last signing day period in early February.”
Here is the early signing class and Jason Higdon’s grades and quick evaluations, position-by-position.
JASON GRADES THE GATORS
QUARTERBACKS (2): Carlos Del Rio-Wilson (6-2, 215, Cartersville, GA); Jalen Kitna (6-4, 205, Tacoma, WA/Burleson, TX Burleson)
Jason Says: “Florida is bringing in a dual-threat QB in Wilson and a Pro-Style QB with Kitna.”
Jason’s Grade: B+
RUNNING BACKS (1): Demarkcus Bowman (5-10, 200, Lakeland, FL/Clemson transfer)
Jason Says: “Dan got the guy he wanted even if one recruiting class later. He was the number one running back in the country coming out of Lakeland High School.”
Jason’s Grade: A+
WIDE RECEIVERS (2): Daejon Reynolds (6-2, 210, Springfield, IL/Loganville, GA Grayson); Marcus Burke (6-3, 180, Jacksonville, FL Trinity Christian)
Jason Says: “Daejon Reynolds and Marcus Burke are the only two WR's Dan Mullen, and the Gators signed yesterday, and while I love the quality each brings to the table, the quantity misses the mark by two. Neither Charles Montgomery (5-11, 185, Seffner, FL Armwood) nor Trevonte Rucker (6-0, 160, Ocala, FL Vanguard) signed yesterday.
Jason’s Grade: C+
TIGHT ENDS (2): Gage Wilcox (6-4, 225, Tampa, FL Jefferson); Nick Elksnis (6-6, 240, Jacksonville, FL Episcopal)
Jason Says: “Nick Elksnis and Gage Wilcox both signed with the Gators on Wednesday. I like each player and think they have potential. Both of these guys are good players.”
Jason’s Grade: B-
OFFENSIVE LINE (2): Jake Slaughter (6-4, 300, Sparr, FL Trinity Catholic); Yousef Mugharbil (6-5, 300, Murphy, NC)
Jason Says: “Jake Slaughter and Yousef Mugharbil are the only two OL that signed with the Gators on Wednesday. I like each of these players! Javonte Gardner (6-5, 295, Orlando, FL Jones) will sign with the Gators in February, bringing this grade up to a C + and not because the talent isn't there from the group, but because they lack in overall numbers. However, UF has a chance to pull another OL in Tristan Leigh (6-5, 300, Fairfax, VA Robinson) – if the Gators land Leigh the grade goes up to a B; even if Leigh opts out, the Gators will be very active in the portal. Neither Adrein Strickland (6-7, 320, Lynn Haven, FL Mosley) nor Deyavie Hammond (6-3, 330, Lakeland, FL/Independence, KS Independence CC) signed with the Gators on Wednesday.
Jason’s Grade: Incomplete
*The Gators added 3 star offensive tackle Austin Barber late Thursday night
DEFENSIVE LINE (5): Tyreak Sapp (6-3, 265, Fort Lauderdale, FL St. Thomas Aquinas); Desmond Watson (6-5, 380, Plant City, FL Armwood); Christopher Thomas Jr. (6-5, 300, Tallahassee, FL/Fort Myers, FL Dunbar); Chief Borders (6-5, 242, Franklin, GA Heard County); Justus Boone (6-4, 270, Sumter, SC)
Jason Says: “This number varies depending on your thought process. UF signed two players that could end up at OLB or DE in Chief Borders and Jeremiah Williams. The best bet is to split the difference and call one of them for the OLB position (Williams) and the other DL (Borders); this will still keep the overall DL number in the class at 5. I love the DL class UF brought in with Christopher Thomas JR, Desmond Watson, Justus Boone, and Tyreak Sapp. Thomas is 300, Watson 380, Borders 242, Boone 270, and Sapp 265-pounds. This is a big-time group, and the Gators will be very active in the NCAA transfer portal.”
Jason’s Grade: A
INSIDE LINEBACKERS (1): Diwun Black (6-4, 225, Kissimmee, FL/Perkinston, MS Gulf Coast CC)
“The Gators were shooting for two ILB this cycle, but I am not sure they even needed two inside linebackers for 2021. Miller, Diabate, Hopper, Black, Houston, Burney, and Wingo makes seven ILB on the roster in 2021. I think Black has a chance to be an outstanding player for the Gators, and he gets a B- coming in for me.
Jason’s Grade: B-
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (1): Jeremiah Williams (6-3, 225, Birmingham, AL Ramsey)
Jason Says: “I think the Gators have enough OLB types on the roster heading into next season. Still, I do like Jeremiah Williams and think he will be another excellent player, under the radar that many people nationally are not giving enough credit. There is a chance he could end up at ILB, so the Gators will have some options moving forward.”
Jason’s Grade: B-
SECONDARY (5): Corey Collier Jr. (6-2, 170, Miami, FL Palmetto); Jason Marshall Jr. (6-2, 180, Miami, FL Palmetto); Donovan McMillon (6-2, 195, McMurray, PA Peters Township); Jordan Young (6-0, 185, Tampa, FL Jesuit); Dakota Mitchell (5-11, 175, Winter Park, FL)
Jason Says: “I think the Gators killed it at the defensive back position, and they are not done – one more will join this group of Corey Collier, Jason Marshall, Jordan Young, Dakota Mitchell and Donovan McMillon.”
Jason’s Grade: A+
LONG SNAPPER (1): Rocco Underwood (6-4, 220, Lake Mary, FL)
Jason Says: “I am not even going to pretend like I know what makes a great Long Snapper. All I know is Florida used a ship on Rocco Underwood and they believe he is the best in America at his craft, so that is good enough for me.”
Jason’s Grade: A+
BONUS THOUGHTS FROM JASON
Three Most Important Early Signing Day Recruits: Jason Marshall, Desmond Watson, Jalen Kitna
The Three That Got Away: 4-star DE Tunmise Adeleye (6-3, 245, Katy, TX; Signed with Texas A&M); 5-star OLB Xavian Sorey (6-3, 214, Bradenton, FL IMG Academy; signed with Georgia); 5-star WR Jacorey Brooks (6-3, 185, Bradenton, FL IMG Academy; signed with Alabama)
Early Enrollees: Counting Bowman, 15.
THE 2021 SCHOLARSHIP ROSTER: AS IT STANDS TODAY
Note: This roster DOES NOT include any seniors, all of who have the option to come back to Florida for a second final season. Currently, UF has 81 scholarship players. There will be some attrition. Some on this list might declare for the NFL Draft and some might elect to transfer. Count on it. All veterans’ classifications are the same as 2020.
QUARTERBACKS (4): Emory Jones (6-2, 210, RSO); Anthony Richardson (6-4, 234, FR); Carlos Del Rio-Wilson (6-2, 215, FR); Jalen Kitna (6-4, 205, FR)
RUNNING BACKS (5): Malik Davis (5-10, 205, RJR); Dameon Pierce (5-10, 215, JR); Lorenzo Lingard (6-0, 203, RSO); Nay’Quan Wright (5-9, 195, RFR); Demarkcus Bowman (5-10, 200, FR)
WIDE RECEIVERS (9): Jordan Pouncey (6-1, 212, RJR); Jacob Copeland (6-0, 203, RSO); Justin Shorter (6-5, 225, RSO); Trent Whittemore (6-4, 208, RFR); Ja’Markis Weston (6-3, 215, RFR); Xzavier Henderson (6-4, 191, FR); Ja’Quavian Fraziars (6-3, 211, FR); Daejon Reynolds (6-2, 210, FR); Marcus Burke (6-3, 180, FR)
TIGHT ENDS (5): Kemore Gamble (6-4, 248, RJR); Keon Zipperer (6-2, 240, SO); Jonathan Odom (6-5, 238, FR); Gage Wilcox (6-4, 225, FR); Nick Elksnis (6-6, 240, FR)
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (12): Richard Gouraige (6-5, 316, RSO); Griffin McDowell (6-5, 300, RSO); Ethan White (6-5, 335, SO); Riley Simonds (6-3, 303, RFR); Kingsley Eguakun (6-3, 322, RFR); Michael Tarquin (6-5, 312, RFR); Will Harrod (6-5, 330, RFR); Josh Braun (6-6, 340, FR); Richie Leonard (6-2, 347, FR); Gerald Mincey (6-6, 337, FR); Jake Slaughter (6-4, 300, FR); Yousef Mugharbil (6-5, 300, FR)
PLACEKICKER (1): Evan McPherson (5-11, 185, JR)
PUNTER (1): Jeremy Crawshaw (6-4, 190, FR)
LONG SNAPPER (1): Rocco Underwood (6-4, 220, FR)
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (11): Brenton Cox Jr. (6-3, 250, RSO); Dante Lang (6-5, 287, RSO); Jaelin Humphries (6-3, 325, SO); Gervon Dexter (6-6, 308, FR); Princely Umanmielen (6-4, 255, FR); Lamar Goods (6-2, 335, FR); Jalen Lee (6-2, 315, FR); Tyreak Sapp (6-3, 265, FR); Desmond Watson (6-5, 380, FR); Christopher Thomas Jr. (6-5, 300, FR); Chief Borders (6-5, 242, FR); Justus Boone (6-4, 270, FR)
LINEBACKERS (15): Ventrell Miller (6-1, 230, RJR); James Houston IV (6-1, 240, RJR); Lacedrick Brunson (6-2, 236, RJR); Amari Burney (6-2, 230, JR); David Reese (6-2, 241, RSO); Andrew Chatfield JR. (6-2, 248, RSO); Khris (Bogle (6-4, 240, SO); Mohamoud Diabate (6-3, 221, SO); Diwun Black (6-4, 225, SO); Jesiah Pierre (6-2, 242, RFR); Ty’Ron Hopper (6-2, 225, RFR); Lloyd Summerall III (6-6, 236, RFR); Derek Wingo (6-1, 233, FR); Antwuan Powell (6-3, 260, FR); Jeremiah Williams (6-3, 225, FR)
SECONDARY (17): Marco Wilson (6-1, 191, RJR); Kaiir Elam (6-2, 193, SO); Jaydon Hill (6-0, 185, SO); Chester Kimbrough (5-11, 167, SO); Tre’Vez Johnson (5-11, 196, FR); Rashad Torrence II (6-0, 205, FR); Avery Helm (6-1, 170, FR); Kamar Wilcoxson (6-1, 183, FR); Jahari Rogers (5-11, 185, FR); Mordecia McDaniel (6-1, 207, FR); Fenley Graham (5-9, 174, FR); Ethan Pouncey (6-1, 168, FR); Corey Collier Jr. (6-2, 170, FR); Jason Marshall Jr. (6-2, 180, FR); Donovan McMillon (6-2, 195, FR); Jordan Young (6-0, 185, FR); Dakota Mitchell (5-11, 175, FR)
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