Florida Gators 2018 Recruiting Class

[Escambia94]

LOI's officially received:

1. DB John Huggins
2. RB/ATH Iverson Clement
3. OL Chris Bleich
4. DB/ATH Amari Burney
5. RB Dameon Pierce
6. TE Kyle Pitts
7. OL Noah Banks
8. K Evan McPherson
9. TE Dante Lang
10. DB Randy Russell
11. QB Emory Jones
12. LB David Reese
13. DB Trey Dean

 

[Escambia94]

ESPN Recruiting class ranking:
Rk Team Trend Commits

1. Georgia +3 22
2. Ohio State -1 22
3. Texas -1 20
4. Penn State +1 22
5. Clemson +4 15
6. Alabama +4 18
7. Miami -4 20
8. Oklahoma -2 20
9. Auburn -1 20
10. Notre Dame -3 20
11. Michigan +1 20
12. LSU +1 21
13. Oregon -2 20
14. Virginia Tech +2 28
15. Washington -1 18
16. Baylor +3 23
17. Louisville - 24
18. South Carolina +4 24
19. TCU -4 19
20. Mississippi State - 22
21. Maryland - 24
22. Minnesota +1 26
23. NC State +1 22
24. Oklahoma State +6 22
25. Florida +1 16
26. Texas A&M -8 15
27. UCLA +2 11

 

[Escambia94]

247 Sports Recruiting Class rankings:
The Chase for the Recruiting Champion powered by 247Sports Composite
Last updated on 12/20/17 at 9:40 PM CST

• 1. Georgia
  • Total: 23, 5: 6, 4: 11, 3: 6, Avg: 93.02
• 2. Ohio State
  • Total: 21, 5: 2, 4: 16, 3: 3, Avg: 93.97
• 3. Texas
  • Total: 20, 5: 1, 4: 16, 3: 3, Avg: 93.24
• 4. Penn State
  • Total: 22, 5: 3, 4: 9, 3: 10, Avg: 91.10
• 5. Miami
  • Total: 20, 5: 1, 4: 13, 3: 6, Avg: 91.39
• 6. Alabama
  • Total: 17, 5: 1, 4: 11, 3: 5, Avg: 92.44
• 7. Clemson
  • Total: 15, 5: 4, 4: 6, 3: 5, Avg: 92.81
• 8. Notre Dame
  • Total: 20, 5: 0, 4: 10, 3: 10, Avg: 90.49
• 9. Oklahoma
  • Total: 20, 5: 0, 4: 9, 3: 11, Avg: 90.15
• 10. Auburn
  • Total: 20, 5: 0, 4: 14, 3: 6, Avg: 90.12
• 11. Washington
  • Total: 18, 5: 0, 4: 8, 3: 10, Avg: 89.84
• 12. Michigan
  • Total: 19, 5: 0, 4: 8, 3: 11, Avg: 89.01
• 13. Oregon
  • Total: 20, 5: 0, 4: 9, 3: 10, Avg: 88.12
• 14. Florida
  • Total: 15, 5: 0, 4: 8, 3: 7, Avg: 90.26
• 15. LSU
  • Total: 20, 5: 0, 4: 10, 3: 10, Avg: 88.75

 

[Escambia94]

11 of 13 commitments signed on early signing period, day 1 of 3. Gouraige and Gammage remain committed, but unsigned. The Gators picked up two signees who were not committed before this day.

The Gators still need offensive linemen and linebackers. The following prospects are still on the board uncommitted, but interested in Florida:

High probability:

• OL Nicholas Petit-Frere 6-6 272 of Berkely Prep School, Tampa, Florida 5*
• OL William Barnes 6-4 312 of Apopka High School, Apopka, Florida 4*
• WR Jacob Copeland 6-0 192 of the Fightin' Gators of Escambia High School, Pensacola, Florida 4*
• DL Noah Jefferson 6-6 330 of Arizona Western College via Desert Oasis High School, Las Vegas, Nevada 3* JUCO transfer

Medium to low probability:

• OL Tank Jenkins
• OL Verdis Brown
• OL Ed Montilus
• DB Patrick Surtain Jr
• DB Tyson Campbell
• DB Isaiah Bolden
• DB Ken Montgomery
• LB JJ Peterson
• LB Andrew Chatfield
• LB Nik Bonitto
• WR Justin Watkins
• WR Anthony Schwartz
• WR Warren Thompson
• WR Tommy Bush
• WR Marquez Ezzard
• WR Antoine Green
• DL Jayson Oweh
• DL Rick Sandidge
• DL Malcolm Lamar
• DL Dennis Briggs
• DL Jamarcus Chatman
• DL Caleb Johnson
• DL Malik Langham
• DL Dorian Gerald

Low probability

• OL Christian Meadows (FSU commit)
• OL Brad Cecil (USF commit)
• OL Devin Jordan (UCF commit)
• DB Anthony Lytton (FSU commit)
• DB Jonathan Gipson (South Carolina)
• DB Aaron Brule (Georgia)
• LB Quay Walker (Alabama)
• LB Channing Tindall (Georgia)
• LB Otis Reese (Michigan)
• LB Xavier Peters (Kentucky)
• LB Richard Jubinor (Auburn)
• LB Matthew Flint (Tennessee)
• WR Matthew Hill (Auburn)
• WR D'Marcus Adams (FSU)
• DL Coynis Miller (Auburn)
• DL Nesta Silvera (Miami)
• DL Trevor Trout (USC)
• DL Caleb Tannor (Georgia)
• DL D'Andre Litaker (Tennessee)
• DL Jordan Davis (Georgia)
• DL Tramel Withour (Georgia)

 

[Escambia94]

Fun fact: Emory Jones climbed up to #27 in player ranking, but Matt Corral dropped to #74. Just in case some of you still have buyer's remorse.

 

[Escambia94]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/GatorsFB/status/945770173310660613?s=09
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[Escambia94]

As of January 10th and heading into the final weeks of open recruiting the Gators' recruiting ranking has jumped from #25 to #17, and their ranking counting only blue chip players is #12.

Gators Breakdown thinks that if certain, key blue chip players sign on national signing day, this class could finish between #5 optimistically and #10 realistically.

 

[Escambia94]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/laamar_05/status/954869961394212865
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4* athlete Justin Watkins has committed to Florida and is now the highest rated recruit in the class! The class of 2018 is now ranked #15 in the nation, up two spots. #AllBite18

 

[Escambia94]

Here are the top projections for the remainder of the Gator recruiting class of 2018. Florida will take 7 to 10 of these prospects (ranked in order of likelihood):

• OT Nicholas Petit-Frere (6’6 – 260) – 5 Star (FL)
• WR Jacob Copeland (6’0 – 192) – 4 Star (FL)
• DT Nesta Silvera (6’2 – 308) – 4 Star (FL)
• DE/OLB Andrew Chatfield (6’2 – 221) – 4 Star (FL)
• DB Noah Boykin (6’2 – 170) – 4 Star (DC)
• DE/OLB Caleb Johnson (6’3 – 245) – 3 Star (GA)
• OL Griffin McDowell (6'4 - 280) - 3 Star (GA)
• SDE Dorian Gerald (6'3" - 260) - 3 Star Transfer (SC by way of CA)
• OT Richard Gouraige (6'5" - 270) - 4 Star (FL)
• SDE Fabien Lovett (6'3" - 285) - 3 Star (MS)
• SDE Malcolm Lamar (6'5" - 250) - 4 Star (FL)
• OT William Barnes (6'4" - 320) - 4 Star (FL)
• OG Ed Montilus (6'2" - 288) - 3 Star (FL)
• SDE Caleb Tannor (6'3" - 225) - 4 Star (GA)

These prospects are probably off the board, but they may include Florida in the hat drill:

1. Noah Jefferson --> Ole Miss
2. Glenn Beal
3. Malik Langham

 

[Escambia94]

This weekend is the final opportunity for recruits to take official visits before National Signing Day. Here is where the Gators' top targets are spending their final, official visits:

• OT Nicholas Petit-Frere (6’6 – 260) – 5 Star (FL) - Ohio State. Greg Schiano seems to really want NPF. 247 Sports has him 64% to UF, 14% Notre Dame, 14% Alabama, but Ohio State could move up in crystal ball percentages.
• WR Jacob Copeland (6’0 – 192) – 4 Star (FL) - Florida. Nick Saban had his final in home visit, but the Gators get the final official visit. He is about 50/50 between Florida and Alabama by most crystal balls.
• DT Nesta Silvera (6’2 – 308) – 4 Star (FL) - Miami. Silvera is definitely a Miami lean at 50%, but the Gators and the Buckeyes each have about a 25% chance of flipping him. His official visit to Florida on January 19 went well, and his OV to Tennessee the following week did not seem to move the needle. The Fort Lauderdale product may choose Miami or Florida next week.
• DE/OLB Andrew Chatfield (6’2 – 221) – 4 Star (FL) - Miami. Chatfield basically has the same story as Silvera. His OV to Florida was January 26, then he traveled to Oklahoma.
• DB Noah Boykin (6’2 – 170) – 4 Star (DC) - TBD. Boykin de-committed from Maryland after his OV to Florida on January 19 and is considered to be a very heavy lean to UF despite last minute overtures from multiple schools.
• DE/OLB Caleb Johnson (6’3 – 245) – 3 Star (GA)
• OL Griffin McDowell (6'4 - 280) - 3 Star (GA)
• SDE Dorian Gerald (6'3" - 260) - 3 Star Transfer (SC by way of CA) - Florida. Gerald was reported to flip a coin between Ole Miss and Florida for his final OV and is reported to be in Gainesville this weekend.
• OT Richard Gouraige (6'5" - 270) - 4 Star (FL) - Auburn. Gouraige is hard to read, despite being committed to Florida during his visits to Clemson, Ole Miss, and Auburn.
• SDE Fabien Lovett (6'3" - 285) - 3 Star (MS) - Florida. Lovett is about 50/50 between Florida and Mississippi State after being 50/50 between Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
• SDE Malcolm Lamar (6'5" - 250) - 4 Star (FL)
• OT William Barnes (6'4" - 320) - 4 Star (FL)
• OG Ed Montilus (6'2" - 288) - 3 Star (FL)
• SDE Caleb Tannor (6'3" - 225) - 4 Star (GA)

 

[Escambia94]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/Griffin_mcdow62/status/958498174968180736
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[Escambia94]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/m_ortiz24/status/953440348432420864
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[Escambia94]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/CoachDanMullen/...share|twsrc^m5|twgr^email|twcon^7046|twterm^3
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[Escambia94]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/CoachDanMullen/...share|twsrc^m5|twgr^email|twcon^7046|twterm^3
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[Escambia94]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/CoachDanMullen/...share|twsrc^m5|twgr^email|twcon^7046|twterm^3
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[Escambia94]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/Florida_Zone/st...share|twsrc^m5|twgr^email|twcon^7046|twterm^3
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[DRU2012]

@Escambia94,
What's the latest you have recruiting-wise? I ask now of course because it is turning out we MAY well be just ONE good recruiting haul (plus transfer-ins) away from beginning our "RETURN" after all...
Moreover, between various comments on the CFB shows about Mullen's supposed prospects for "one of the top-ranked recruiting classes appearing to be on the way" (which I tend NOT necessarily to trust), and the quietly confident (bordering on "I can't discuss it"-smug) attitude of my one longtime contact inside our athletic dept. recently when I pressed him on the matter--and who finally ended the discussion by saying simply' "You'll see and know soon enough--and no matter what, it should land somewhere between 'real good' and 'AMAZING!', I'm not kidding..." Apparently there are still some potential headline-producing "homestretch additions" that are in the works, at critical stages right now.
Anyway, it's been some time since I've seen or heard anything concrete--and though it's still relatively early, I found myself wondering what YOU had heard in this regard.

 

[Escambia94]

@Escambia94,
What's the latest you have recruiting-wise? I ask now of course because it is turning out we MAY well be just ONE good recruiting haul (plus transfer-ins) away from beginning our "RETURN" after all...
Moreover, between various comments on the CFB shows about Mullen's supposed prospects for "one of the top-ranked recruiting classes" appearing to be on the way" (which I tend NOT necessarily to trust), and the quietly confident (bordering on "I can't discuss it"-smug) attitude of my one longtime contact inside our athletic dept. recently when I pressed him on the matter--and who finally ended the discussion by saying simply' "You'll see and know soon enough--and no matter what, it should land somewhere between 'real good' and 'AMAZING!', I'm not kidding..." Apparently there are still some potential headline-producing "homestretch additions" that are in the works, at critical stages right now.
Anyway, it's been some time since I've seen or heard anything concrete--and though it's still relatively early, I found myself wondering what YOU had heard in this regard.

I have been updating the 2019 recruiting page: http://www.gatorenvy.com/threads/florida-gators-2019-recruiting-class.19599/

The last change was September 9th.

 

[Escambia94]

Looking back at Dan Mullen's first Gator recruiting class in 2018 it is easy to see why he was fired in 2021. Of the 22 scholarship players and 1 preferred walk-on player, here is where they ended up:
- 5 players were drafted into the NFL (including 1 transfer that Mullen recruited)
- 4 players were undrafted free agents
- 2 players were kicked off the team
- 10 players transferred out

PLAYER​	POS​	High School​	GRADE​	CLASS​	ORIG CLASS​	NFL​	NFL 24​	TR OUT YR​	NOTES​
Trevon Grimes​	WR​	St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, FL​	95​	2018​	2017​	2021​	(PHL 2021)​	​	2021 NFL UFA​
Van Jefferson​	WR​	Ravenwood, Brentwood, TN​	95​	2018​	2015​	2020​	LAR​	​	2020 NFL Draft - 2nd Round - Los Angeles Rams​
Adam Shuler​	DL​	Lyman, Longwood, FL​	88​	2018​	2015​	2020​	​	​	Transferred from West Virginia 2018; 2020 NFL UFA​
Justin Watkins​	ATH​	East Ridge, Clermont, FL​	87​	2018​	​	​	​	2018​	Dismissed after felony arrest before 2018 season​
Jacob Copeland ​	WR​	Escambia, Pensacola, FL​	86​	2018​	​	2023​	LAR​	2022​	Transferred to Maryland 2022; 2023 NFL UFA​
Amari Burney​	DB​	Calvary, Clearwater, FL​	85​	2018​	​	2023​	LV​	​	2023 NFL Draft - 6th Round - Las Vegas Raiders​
Emory Jones ​	QB​	Heard County, Franklin, GA​	85​	2018​	​	​	​	2022​	Transferred to Arizona St 2022; Transferred to Cincinatti 2023​
Richard Gouraige ​	OL​	Cambridge Christian, Tampa, FL​	85​	2018​	​	2022​	BUF​	​	2022 NFL – UFA​
Dameon Pierce​	RB​	Bainbridge, Bainbridge, GA​	84​	2018​	​	2022​	HOU​	​	2022 NFL Draft - 4th Round - Houston Texans​
Andrew Chatfield​	DE​	American Heritage, Plantation, FL​	83​	2018​	​	​	​	2021​	Transferred to Oregon St 2021​
Kyle Pitts​	TE​	Archbishop Wood, Warminster, PA​	83​	2018​	​	2021​	ATL​	​	2021 NFL Draft - 1st Round – Atlanta Falcons​
Trey Dean III​	S​	Dutchtown, Hampton, GA​	81​	2018​	​	2023​	NYJ​	​	2023 NFL UFA​
Chris Bleich​	OL​	Wyoming Valley West, Plymouth, PA​	80​	2018​	​	​	​	2020​	Transferred to Syracuse 2020​
Iverson Clement​	RB​	Rancocas, Mount Holly, NJ​	80​	2018​	​	​	​	2021​	Transferred to Temple 2021; Transfer to Bethune Cookman 2023​
Johnathan Huggins​	S​	Mainland, Daytona Beach, FL​	80​	2018​	​	​	​	2018​	Dismissed after felony arrest before 2018 season​
David Reese​	LB​	Fort Pierce Central, Fort Pierce, FL​	79​	2018​	​	​	​	2023​	Graduated Spring 2022 (BA in Education Sciences); Grad transfer to California 2023​
Malik Langham​	DE​	Lee, Huntsville, AL​	79​	2018​	​	​	​	2019​	Transferred to Vanderbilt 2019​
Noah Banks​	OL​	West Florida Tech, Pensacola, FL​	79​	2018​	2015​	​	​	​	JUCO transfer 2016; Medical retirement 2018; Graduated Fall 2019 (BA in Sociology)​
Dante (Lang) Zanders​	TE​	Boca Raton Community, Boca Raton, FL​	78​	2018​	​	​	​	​	Graduated Summer 2022 (BA Education Sciences)​
Evan McPherson​	PK​	Fort Payne, Fort Payne, AL​	77​	2018​	​	2021​	CIN​	​	2021 NFL Draft - 5th Round – Cincinnati Bengals​
Jaylin Jackson​	QB​	Cambridge Christian, Tampa, FL​	75​	2018​	​	​	​	2021​	Transferred to Western Illinois 2021​
Griffin McDowell​	OL​	Lee County, Leesburg, GA​	72​	2018​	​	2024​	​	2023​	Graduated Spring 2022 (BA in Sociology); Grad transfer to UT Chattanooga 2023; 2024 NFL UFA​
Marco Ortiz​	LS​	Benedictine, Richmond, VA​	70​	2018​	​	​	​	2023​	Transferred to Nebraska 2023​