Florida Gators 2018 Recruiting Class

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The Gator finished the 2018 recruiting season ranked #18 in Dan Mullen's first year as head coach of the Gators.

Ranking: #8 as of October 29, 2017 (Jim McElwain fired)
Ranking: #12 as of November 26, 2017 (Dan Mullen hired)
Ranking: #18 as of December 10, 2017 (4 de-commitments after releasing Randy Shannon et al)
Ranking: #36 as of December 17, 2017 (2 de-commitments before early signing)
Ranking: #25 as of December 20, 2017 (Early Signing Day)
Ranking: #17 as of January 10, 2018
Ranking: #15 as of January 20, 2018
Ranking: #18 as of February 7, 2018 (National Signing Day)
Ranking: #9 as of July 10, 2018 (unofficial, adjusted ranking after considering transfers)

This class has 14 four-star athletes (plus 2 four-star transfers inbound), and 5 three-star recruits.

First	Last	Pos	Ht	Wt	High School	College	Rating	Notes
Jacob​	Copeland​	WR​	6-0​	192​	Pensacola, Fla. / Escambia​	n/a​	0.9651​	Transfer to Maryland 12/9/21
Richard​	Gouraige​	OL​	6-5​	310​	Tampa, Fla. / Cambridge Christian​	n/a​	0.9603​
Emory​	Jones​	QB​	6-2​	201​	LaGrange, Ga. / Heard County​	n/a​	0.9587​	Transfer to Arizona St 5/5/22
Justin​	Watkins​	WR​	5-11​	172​	Clermont, Fla. / East Ridge​	n/a​	0.9567​	Dismissed
Kyle​	Pitts​	TE​	6-5.5​	235​	Warminster, Pa. / Archbishop Wood​	n/a​	0.9334​	2021 NFL Draft, Rd 1 (Atlanta Falcons)
Amari​	Burney​	LB​	6-2​	236​	St. Petersburg, Fla. / Calvary Christian​	n/a​	0.9293​
Trey​	Dean III​	S​	6-3​	201​	Hampton, Ga. / Dutchtown​	n/a​	0.9222​
Dameon​	Pierce​	RB​	5-11​	205​	Brainbridge, Ga. / Bainbridge​	n/a​	0.9209​	2022 NFL Draft, Rd 4 (Houston Texans)
Andrew​	Chatfield​	DL​	6-2​	221​	Fort Lauderdale, Fla. / American Heritage​	n/a​	0.9180​	Transfer to Oregon St 9/22/21
David​	Reese​	LB​	6-2​	236​	Fort Pierce, Fla. / Vero Beach​	n/a​	0.9000​	Graduated Spring 2022
Malik​	Langham​	DL​	6-5.5​	269​	Huntsville, Ala. / Lee​	n/a​	0.8975​	Transfer to Vanderbilt 6/17/19
Iverson​	Clement​	RB​	5-11​	199​	Mount Holly, NJ / Rancocas Valley​	n/a​	0.8958​	Transfer to Temple 1/9/21
Noah​	Banks​	OL​	6-7​	305​	Council Bluffs, Ia.​	Iowa Western CC​	0.8871​	Medically retired 2019
John​	Huggins​	S​	6-0​	200​	Daytona, Fla. / Mainland​	n/a​	0.8858​	Dismissed
Chris​	Bleich​	OL​	6-6​	305​	Plymouth, Pa. / Wyoming Valley West​	n/a​	0.8817​	Transfer to Syracuse 12/18/19
Randy​	Russell​	S​	5-10​	180​	Opa Locka, Fla. / Miami Carol City​	n/a​	0.8789​	DNQ - medical
Dante​	Zanders (Lang)​	DL​	6-5​	261​	Boca Raton, Fla. / Boca Raton​	n/a​	0.8709​
Griffin​	McDowell​	DL​	6-4​	283​	Leesburg, Ga. / Lee County​	n/a​	0.8342​
Evan​	McPherson​	K​	6-0​	165​	Fort Payne, Ala. / Fort Payne​	n/a​	0.8339​	2021 NFL Draft, Rd 5 (Cincinnati Bengals)

The following are transferring in and do not count as part of the recruiting class, but they will affect the number of recruits that Florida can take in this year and next year.

1. WR Trevon Grimes 6-3 202 of St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 4*. Ohio State University. 2020 UDFA.
2. WR Van Jefferson 6-2 181 of Ravenwood High School, Brentwood, Tennessee. 4*. Ole Miss. 2 years of eligibility. 2020 NFL Draft, round 2, Los Angeles Rams.
3. TE Luke Krull 6-7 255 of Shawnee, Kansas. 4*. Jefferson College. 2 years of eligibility. Transferred to Pitt at the end of 2019.
4. SDE Adam Shuler 6-5 255 of Lyman, Florida. 3*. West Virginia. 1 year of eligibility. 2020 UDFA, Arizona Cardinals.

The Gators have the following preferred walk-ons:

1. LS Marco Ortiz 6-5 230. Benedictine High School, Richmond, Virginia.
2. QB Jaylin Jackson 5-9 160. Cambridge Christian High School, Tampa, Florida.
3. LB Umstead Sanders 6-2 240. Port St. Joe High School, Port St. Joe, Florida by way of Hinds C.C., Raymond, Mississippi. 3*. (Older brother of RB Trey Sanders).
4. OL/DL Tanner Rowell 6-2 298. Melbourne Senior High School, Melbourne, Florida. NR. (Walk-on since 2016, son of Gator OL/DL Tony Rowell (1989-1990).
5. LB/ ST Danny Weldon 6-0 225. Tampa Catholic, Tampa, Florida. NR. (Walk-on since 2016. Father was national champion swimmer at UF, mother graduated from UF and worked on George W. Bush campaign.)
6. RB Tyriek Hopkins 5-8 177 of Lakewood High School, St. Petersburg, Florida.
7. OL Nick Villano 6-3 312 of American Heritage High School, Wellington, Florida.

Here are the de-commitments:

• OT Jalen Goss 6-7 265 of Lowndes High School, Valdosta, Georgia. 3*. De-committed 6.14.2017.
• WR Ja'Marr Chase 6-2 195 of Archbishop Rummel High School. Metairie, Louisiana. 3* 7.23.2017 Commitment. De-committed 11.5.2017. 2021 NFL Draft, round 1, Cincinnati Bengals.
• DE Taylor Upshaw 6-5 245 of Braden River High School, Bradenton FL. 3* 6.10.2017 Commitment. De-committed 11.24.2017. (Michigan).
• CB Divaad Wilson 6-0 185 of Northwestern High School, Miami FL. 4* 2.3.2017 Commitment. De-committed 11.30.2017.
• WR Jalynn Williams 5-11 183. St. Petersburg High School, St. Petersburg FL. 3* 1.12.2017 Commitment. De-committed 12.4.2017.
• ATH Nigel Bethel 6-1 165 of Northwestern High School. Miami, Florida. 3*. 11.4.2017 Commitment.
• OL Curtis Dunlap, Jr. 6-5 362 of IMG Academy, Bradenton FL. 4* 7.18.2017 Commitment. De-committed 12.5.2017. Minnesota.
• S Deontai Williams 6-0 185 of Jones County JUCO, Ellisville MS. Trinity Christian Academy, Jacksonville FL. 3* 6.12.2017 Commitment. 1.19.2014 Original Commitment/ 7.21.2015 De-commitment.
• QB Matt Corral 6-2 196 of Polytechnic High School. Long Beach, California. 5* 7.22.2017 Commitment. 12.15.2017 De-committed. Ole Miss.
• WR Tyquan Thornton 6-3 165 of Booker T. Washington High School. Miami, Florida. 4* 7.24.2017 Commitment. 12.16.2017 De-committed. Baylor.
• WR Corey Gammage 6-2 188 of Atlantic High School, Delray Beach FL. 3* 4.8.2017 Commitment. 1.10.2018 De-commitment.

 

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Dan Mullen and his new staff are currently trying to lure his former Mississippi State recruits to Florida:

• WR Malik Heath
• WR Stephen Guidry
• OT Kwatrivous Johnson

The Gators have added the following to their new list of preferred recruits:

• DE Eyabi Anoma
• DE Micah Parsons
• QB Terry Wilson
• QB Justin Fields
• DL Dorian Gerald
• DL Noah Jefferson
• LB Chauncey Manac
• OL Christian Meadows

 

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Here is the reported list of targets and visits for the final recruiting drive for early signing season:

• December 8-10
  • LB Amari Burney - 4* Florida commit
  • S Randy Russell - 3* Florida commit
  • OL Christian Meadows - 4* FSU commit
  • OL Chris Bleich - 3* UF commit
  • RB Dameon Pierce - 4* UF commit
  • K Evan McPherson - Mississippi State commit
• December 14-17
  • S Trey Dean - 4* Tennessee de-commit
  • CB Brendan (Bookie) Radley-Hiles - 4* uncommitted
  • WR Marquez Ezzard - 4* former FSU commit
  • WR Kevin Johnson Jr. - 2*
  • OL Jerome Carvin - 3* uncommitted
  • OL Noah Banks - 3* JUCO player committed to Arkansas
  • TE Glenn Beal - 3* uncommitted
  • QB Terry Wilson - 3* JUCO player
  • TE Kyle Pitts - 4* UF commit
  • RB Iverson Clement - 4* UF commit

 

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Here is the reported list of targets and visits for the final weekend of recruiting before early signing:

• S Trey Dean - 4* Tennessee de-commit
• CB Brendan (Bookie) Radley-Hiles - 4* uncommitted
• WR Marquez Ezzard - 4* former FSU commit
• WR Kevin Johnson Jr. - 2*
• OL Jerome Carvin - 3* uncommitted
• OL Noah Banks - 3* JUCO player committed to Arkansas
• TE Glenn Beal - 3* uncommitted
• QB Terry Wilson - 3* JUCO player
• TE Kyle Pitts - 4* UF commit
• RB Iverson Clement - 4* UF commit
• QB Matt Corral - 4* UF commit (rumored Ole Miss lean)
• WR Tyquan Thornton - 4* UF commit

 

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Heading into the final days before early signing day, here is where we sit: 10 de-commitments since Jim McElwain was fired, 2 commitments since Dan Mullen was hired, and a class ranking that has dropped from #8 before the firing of Jim McElwain.

Commitments since hiring Dan Mullen:

1. OT Chris Bleich 6-6 305 of Wyoming Valley West High School, Plymouth, Pennsylvania. 3*. 11.29.2017 Commitment.
2. K Evan McPherson 6-0 165 of Fort Payne High School, Fort Payne, Alabama. 3*. 12.10.2018 Commitment.

De-commitments since hiring Dan Mullen:

1. WR Ja'Marr Chase 6-2 195 of Archbishop Rummel High School. Metairie, Louisiana. 3* 7.23.2017 Commitment. De-committed 11.5.2017.
2. DE Taylor Upshaw 6-5 245 of Braden River High School, Bradenton FL. 3* 6.10.2017 Commitment. De-committed 11.24.2017. (Michigan).
3. WR Jacob Copeland 6-1 192 of Escambia High School, Pensacola, Florida. 4*
   8.2.2017 Commitment. De-committed 11.25.2017.
   
4. CB Divaad Wilson 6-0 185 of Northwestern High School, Miami FL. 4* 2.3.2017 Commitment. De-committed 11.30.2017.
   
5. WR Jalynn Williams 5-11 183. St. Petersburg High School, St. Petersburg FL. 3* 1.12.2017 Commitment. De-committed 12.4.2017.
6. ATH Nigel Bethel 6-1 165 of Northwestern High School. Miami, Florida. 3*. 11.4.2017 Commitment.
   
7. OL Curtis Dunlap, Jr. 6-5 362 of IMG Academy, Bradenton FL. 4*
   7.18.2017 Commitment. De-committed 12.5.2017. Minnesota.
8. S Deontai Williams 6-0 185 of Jones County JUCO, Ellisville MS. Trinity Christian Academy, Jacksonville FL. 3*
   6.12.2017 Commitment.
   1.19.2014 Original Commitment/ 7.21.2015 De-commitment.
9. QB Matt Corral 6-2 196 of Polytechnic High School. Long Beach, California. 5*
   7.22.2017 Commitment. 12.15.2017 De-committed. Ole Miss.
10. WR Tyquan Thornton 6-3 165 of Booker T. Washington High School. Miami, Florida. 4* 7.24.2017 Commitment. 12.16.2017 De-committed. Baylor.

Potential flips since hiring Dan Mullen:

• S Trey Dean - 4* Tennessee de-commit
• CB Brendan (Bookie) Radley-Hiles - 4* uncommitted
• WR Marquez Ezzard - 4* former FSU commit
• WR Kevin Johnson Jr. - 2*
• OL Jerome Carvin - 4* uncommitted
• OL Noah Banks - 3* JUCO player committed to Arkansas
• TE Glenn Beal - 3* uncommitted
• QB Terry Wilson - 3* JUCO player
• QB Emory Jones - 5* Ohio State commit
• WR Stephen Guidry - 4* JUCO, Mississippi State commit
• WR Malik Heath - 4* Mississippi State commit
• OT Kwatrivous Johnson - 3* Mississippi State commit
• DE Eyabi Anoma - 5* Alabama commit
• DE Micah Parsons - 5* Penn State lean
• QB Terry Wilson - 3* JUCO, Kentucky commit, Nebraska lean
• QB Justin Fields - 5* Georgia commit
• DL Dorian Gerald - 4* JUCO, Tennessee commit
• DL Noah Jefferson - 3* JUCO
• LB Chauncey Manac - 3* JUCO, Cincinnati commit
• OL Christian Meadows - 4* FSU commit

 

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If I had to guess which 10 players Dan Mullen and his staff will sign on early signing day and national signing day, it would be these 10:

1. S Trey Dean - 4* Tennessee de-commit
2. OL Jerome Carvin - 4* uncommitted
3. QB Emory Jones - 5* Ohio State commit
4. WR Stephen Guidry - 4* JUCO, Mississippi State commit
5. WR Malik Heath - 4* Mississippi State commit
6. OT Kwatrivous Johnson - 3* Mississippi State commit
7. DL Dorian Gerald - 4* JUCO, Tennessee commit
8. DL Noah Jefferson - 3* JUCO
9. OL Christian Meadows - 4* FSU commit
10. Silent commit

 

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Here are the top targets Dan Mullen and his staff have been hosting on campus for official visits and their status

1. Amari Burney Signing
2. Randy Russell Signing
3. Christian Meadows TBD
4. Chris Bleich Committed
5. Dameon Pierce Signing
6. Evan McPherson Committed
7. Jamaree Sayler no
8. Richard Gouraige TBD
9. Dante Lang Signing
10. Emory Jones TBD
11. Trey Dean TBD
12. John Huggins Committed
13. Noah Banks Committed
14. David Reese Signing

The in-home visits without on-campus official visits seem to show less success, e.g. Matt Corral.

 

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[TWEET]https://twitter.com/CoachDanMullen/status/943524891298590721
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