Florida Gators 2010 Recruiting Class

[Escambia94]

This was Urban Meyer's last class before officially leaving Florida in January 2011.

This class had 4 five-star, 10 four-star, and 13 three-star athletes. 1 five-star, 3 four-star and 6 three-star athletes transferred out of this class. 3 of the athletes in this class transferred out after graduating.

PLAYER	POS	SCHOOLS	HT​	WT​	GRADE​	NFL​	TRANSFER​
Tyler Moore​	OT​	Clearwater, FL University of Nebraska​	6'6''​	300​	92​	​	​
Ronald Powell ​	LB​	Moreno Valley, CA Rancho Verde High School​	6'4''​	224​	89​	2014​	​
Dominique Easley ​	DT​	Staten Island, NY Curtis High School​	6'2''​	260​	88​	2014​	​
Max Garcia​	OT​	Norcross, GA University of Maryland​	6'4''​	207​	87​	2015​	​
Jonathan Dowling ​	S​	Bradenton, FL Southeast High School​	6'3''​	180​	86​	2011​	​
Matt Elam ​	S​	Palm Beach Gardens, FL Dwyer High School​	5'11''​	205​	86​	2013​	​
Chris Dunkley​	WR​	Pahokee, FL Pahokee High School​	5'11''​	170​	83​	​	​
Gerald Christian​	TE​	Palm Beach Gardens, FL Dwyer High School​	6'3''​	220​	83​	2015​	2012​
Ian Silberman ​	OT​	Orange Park, FL Fleming Island High School​	6'5''​	256​	83​	2015​	2014​
Joshua Shaw ​	CB​	Palmdale, CA Palmdale High School​	6'2''​	181​	83​	​	2013​
Mack Brown​	RB​	Lithonia, GA Martin Luther King High School​	5'11''​	185​	83​	2015​	​
Sharrif Floyd ​	DR​	Philadelphia, PA George Washington High School​	6'3''​	309​	83​	2013​	​
Chaz Green​	OT​	Tampa, FL Tampa Catholic High School​	6'5''​	286​	82​	2015​	​
Jaylen Watkins​	CB​	Fort Myers, FL Cape Coral High School​	6'0''​	171​	82​	2014​	​
Chris Martin​	DE​	Aurora, CO Grandview High School​	6'5''​	240​	81​	​	2011​
Cody Riggs​	CB​	Fort Lauderdale, FL Saint Thomas Aquinas High School​	5'8''​	154​	81​	2015​	2014​
Leon Orr​	DT​	New Port Richey, FL Gulf High School​	6'5''​	315​	81​	2015​	​
Michael Taylor​	LB​	Atlanta, GA Westlake High School​	6'0''​	193​	81​	2015​	​
Solomon Patton​	WR​	Mobile, AL Murphy High School​	5'10''​	175​	81​	2014​	​
Gideon Ajagbe​	LB​	Coconut Creek, FL Ransom Everglades School​	6'2''​	201​	79​	​	​
Neiron Ball​	LB​	Jackson, GA Jackson High School​	6'4''​	200​	79​	2015​	​
Quinton Dunbar​	WR​	Miami, FL Booker T. Washington High School​	6'2''​	168​	79​	2015​	​
Trey Burton​	ATH​	Nokomis, FL Venice High School​	6'3''​	204​	79​	2014​	​
Jordan Haden​	S​	Fort Washington, MD Friendly Senior High School​	5'11''​	195​	78​	​	2011​
Lynden Trail​	DE​	Miami, FL Booker T. Washington High School​	6'7''​	203​	78​	​	2011​
Tyler Murphy​	ATH​	Wethersfield, CT Wethersfield High School​	6'2''​	185​	78​	​	2014​
Robert Clark​	CB​	Palm Beach Gardens, FL Dwyer High School​	5'10''​	175​	77​	​	2012​
Travon Van​	ATH​	Helix Hsl, San Diego, CA Marshall/ Montana​	5'10''​	200​	70​	​	2010​
Damien Jacobs​	DT​	Gray, LA East Mississippi Community College​	6'3''​	295​	70​	2014​	​
Darrin Kitchens​	LB​	Homestead, FL Homestead Senior High School​	6'2''​	196​	70​	2014​	​
Michael McFarland​	TE​	Tampa, FL Howard W. Blake High School​	6'5''​	230​	70​	​	2011​

 

[DRU2012]

...OR is THIS "The One"?!! I'm tellin' ya, this is getting hard to sort out--Is the TRUTH more a matter of "cumulativge failure and attrition", after all? Or maybe I am just not reading between-the-lines on these lists...but it OUGHT to be ONE of those 3 (again: 08-09-10), if there really WAS a "Stupendous Let-Down of a Class"...

 

[Escambia94]

So far I give this class a 1.79 GPA, a D.

These guys get an A for meeting or exceeding expectations set by star rating or known potential:

1. Trey Burton
2. Matt Elam
3. Dominique Easley
4. Shariff Floyd
5. Chaz Green

These guys get a B for sometimes doing well, or overcoming medical issues to some degree without making big impact:

1. Neiron Ball
2. Jaylen Watkins
3. Quinton Dunbar
4. Darrin Kitchens
5. Ronald Powell
6. Cody Riggs

These guys get a C for meeting expectations as lower-rated athletes, doing well on scout team only, or being quiet with rare on-field opportunities:

1. Solomon Patton
2. Ian Silberman
3. Gideon Ajagbe
4. Tyler Murphy
5. Michael Taylor

These guys get a D for underperforming or only getting in minor trouble:

1. Leon Orr
2. Mack Brown

These guys get a big, fat F. These guys transferred out due to discipline problems or inability to adapt.

1. Gerald Christian
2. Robert Clark
3. Jordan Haden
4. Joshua Shaw
5. Adrian Coxson
6. Jonathan Dowling
7. Chris Dunkley
8. Michael McFarland
9. Lynden Trail
10. Travon Ath

 

[DRU2012]

The more I have thought about it, at least "from HERE in time" it is THIS class that appears to have had the largest "disconnect" between "experts' ratings"/"expectation" and "realization"/"the judgment of history"--and your ratings system's statistical "bottom line" seems to have come to support that impression.
I don't think you've been unfair, or overly harsh, either Escambia94, : I might have been tougher on some, especially among those you put in the B-to-C range, and maybe a LITTLE easier on a couple of the Ds--but, all-in-all it probably reflects a general fairness overall. Its IN those Ds and Fs mainly that the many cracks and signs-of-decline, carelessness and general inattention-to-detail (once a hallmark of the Meyer-coached Gators--even if sometimes that "attention" seemed to include a determined LACK of oversight when it came to the weaknesses and selfish short-sighted irresponsibility of a poisonous "inner circle" devoid of loyalty, honor or a sense of "TEAM"--one that was easy to turn-a-blind-eye-to as long as we were winning, and winning BIG) really began to emerge, become clear and obvious.
Recalling how "prized" and admired the class was, and WHEN it was--ie. right after the Meyer "drama-queen flip-flop"--this collection of prospects was characterized as somehow "proof" that Meyer (and hence, the program) had "landed on his feet", like the elite program that we were that we "weren't rebuilding but reLOADing after all". Then we went 7-and-5 in the regular season (and THAT was with a favorable schedule at our backs), only JUST "making it LOOK better" with a win in a "silly-named-who-cares-also-ran-BOWL", Meyer pulls his sadly sneaky "don't tell anyone, I wanna keep my Gator-office as long as possible"-move to tOSU as he tried to take the few good ones he and The Dumpster Diver had gathered WITH him--leaving Muschamp with having to scramble to hold what he had to trust included SOMETHING valuable in what he must have quickly recognized was the result of at best a half-hearted chase to fill a list his predecessors had compiled mostly from watching ESPN and following the online "expert services". Also in retrospect, in light of it all (including defection, misbehavior, and injury) I now find it amazing Chomp was able to bring in a winning record at ALL his first year here--and a damn MASTERPIECE of coaching having us back in the BCS after the schedule we faced his SECOND season, just past.
He and his staff will face new challenges in 2013, and I don't want to over-do it as far as expectations early on, but if this class comes even CLOSE to realizing the signs it shows as far as potential, and IF that "potential" is then even close to being REALIZED--big "ifs", but ones that this Coach, and the kinds of people he surrounds himself with, has already shown a strong penchant for realizing--then, matched with the experienced players we have left now, with jucos and the various good ones we redshirted for any number of reasons LAST season, I anticipate strong and steady improvement as the season progresses, and with a schedule that at least appears to more lend itself to giving us that opportunity to "round into shape" before we go on the road to face the better SEC teams, we could be hitting our stride just when we need to--and find ourselves "a force to be reckoned with" nearing the end-of-the-season, and BEYOND.

 

[Escambia94]

Actually I am curious what everyone thinks of my grades. I am purely looking at it from a high school to college point of view. Some say the complete rating should include NFL Draft selection.

 

[DRU2012]

I'm not so sure...the relationship between college and pro-success, STARTING with draft-position, is often so hit-or-miss. For the Gators, nowhere has this been more true than with regard to our QBs.

 

[Escambia94]

Former Gator DE Lynden Trail was named the 2013 FCS Defensive Performer of the Year, 2013 FCS All-American, and 2013 MEAC Defensive Player of the Year.

 

[Escambia94]

Now that the 2014 NFL Draft is over, let us take one last look at that 2010 class, which was ranked #1 by all that recruiting services.

Drafted (5):

Matt Elam, S: 1st round of the 2013 draft by the Baltimore Ravens

Sharrif Floyd, DT: 1st round of the 2013 draft Minnesota Vikings

Dominique Easley, DT/DE: 1st round of the 2014 draft New England Patriots

Jaylen Watkins, CB/S: 4th round of the 2014 draft Philadelphia Eagles

Ronald Powell, LB: 5th round of the 2014 draft New Orleans Saints.

Free Agents (3):
Darrin Kitchens, LB

Trey Burton, TE/WR: free agent with Philadelphia Eagles

Solomon Patton, WR/KR: free agent with the Tampa Bay Bucs.

Seniors for 2014 (6):

Neiron Ball, DE/ LB: Returned from illness to challenge for starting position in 2013. May not fit DE or LB at current size, but could be good situational player.

Gideon Ajagbe, FB: Will compete with Hunter Joyer for playing time at fullback. FB not featured in Roper offense.

Mack Brown, RB: Will get playing time and carries, but unlikely to start.

Quinton Dunbar, WR: Could have a breakout season after three good but not spectacular seasons.

Chaz Green, OT: Coming back from an injury that caused him to miss all of 2013. He’s expected to start at right tackle. Should do well under Coach Summers.

Michael Taylor, LB: Will start or at least be on the field as much as the starters whether the Gators are in a 3-4 or 4-3.

Transferred/Released (13):

Gerald Christian, TE: Surprising mid-year transfer in 2011. Went to Louisville where he started and caught 28 passes in 2013.

Robert Clark, WR: Transferred along with Christian to Louisville, where he caught 25 passes in 2013.

Jordan Haden, S: Transferred to Toledo before he ever played a game. Two-year starter at safety.

Joshua Shaw, S: Redshirted in 2010, got one start in 2011 and transferred to Southern Cal. Has started two years and will start either at corner or safety in 2014.

Adrian Coxson, WR: Transferred to Maryland before the 2010 season, caught four passes at UM in 2011. Transferred to Stony Brook where he has caught 41 passes in two years.

Jonathan Dowling, S: Played two games as a freshman in 2010, then transferred to Western Kentucky where he redshirted in 2011, then started two years at safety. Drafted in the seventh round by the Oakland Raiders in the 2014 draft.

Chris Dunkley, WR: Redshirt in 2010, transferred to USF in 2011 where he caught four passes in 2012. Was suspended from the team for domestic violence but was reinstated in 2013 where he excelled as a kickoff and punt returner. Listed as a senior on the 2014 roster.

Michael McFarland, TE: Redshirted in 2010, transferred to USF in 2011. Made second team All-American Athletic Conference in 2013 after catching 23 passes. Senior in 2014.

Lynden Trail, DE: Redshirted in 2010, didn’t play in any games in 2011. Transferred to Norfolk State where he made first team All-MEAC in 2012 and national defensive player of the year for Division IAA in 2013.

Travon Van, WR/RB: Never got in school. Went to Marshall where he led the team in rushing, then, after being moved to defense three games into 2012, transferred to Montana where he gained 566 yards in 2013. Senior in 2014.

Tyler Murphy, QB: Carried a clipboard for three years, then started seven games after Jeff Driskel went down with an injury in 2013. Graduated from UF then transferred to Boston College in December and won the starting QB job in the spring.

Cody Riggs, S: Starter at nickel and at safety, surprised everyone by graduating in December then transferring to Notre Dame.

Ian Silberman, OT: After a redshirt in 2010, backed up mostly at guard for three years. Graduated in December, transferred to Boston College and won the starting job at right tackle in the spring