re: **2017 Football Recruiting Thread**

The state of college athletics is terrible. So many teams take a chance like this because there is so much money involved. The need to start fining the coaches who break the rules accordingly and this will stop. Actually no it won't, the boosters will pay the fines.

Its easy to fix the cheating problem....just do the same punishment as in the mid 1980s...2 years no TV...reduce schollys and no bowls....but know WHY it aint happening? Its fricking TV thats why. The SEC and TV learned that by banning us from TV for two years in 1985-86 it cost a lot of revenue. Its a crying shame we were tarred AND feathered back then and they slap teams on the wrist nowadays.

LINK /

Recruiting article from SDS. Interesting points are since NSD 54 of 58 recruits offered are not from Florida and 118 out of 179 current offers are out of state as well. 27 of 37 2018 offers are out of Florida as well.

Seemed odd that since he said he had to win the state we are focusing a lot out of the state. I did some digging wondering why and some say we are just getting beat in Florida.

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Interesting points are since NSD 54 of 58 recruits offered are not from Florida and 118 out of 179 current offers are out of state as well.

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i don't necessarily think that's a bad idea. i personally think that florida isn't that great of place for UF to be recruiting. it seems as if the players in the state don't seem to fit the size coach mac is looking for anyway. maybe that's why we used to break so easily.

sure there are exceptions to the rule like derrick henry and trent richardson.

Limited spots this year. As long as we stay in the top 10ish annually, and build depth, everything will be fine. I'm sold on the fact that we have coaches that actually know what they are doing.

A big statement could be made with James Robinson this year. Maybe Trevon Grimes.

I think the overall product will be good. Mac is a helluva ball coach IMO. But will we have the atheletes to truly maximize his potential is the question. I just don't think he is great at recruiting. Hopefully its something he can get better at.

UF to visit several committed prospects

Thursday will be the first time Florida coaches enter the Panhandle and South Florida during the spring evaluation period. Once again, several top prospects are expected to get visits from the Gators coaching staff.

The biggest name on Thursday’s list of stops is Pensacola (Fla.) Washington top-50 offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood, a current Alabama commit. Despite his pledge to the Crimson Tide, the 6-foot-6, 315-pound Leatherwood is giving Florida, as well as LSU, a hard look. Leatherwood might be the top overall prospect on Florida’s board at this time.

Summers will also visit one of the nation’s No. playmakers in the 2018 class in Pensacola (Fla.) Pine Forest four-star receiver Jacob Copeland. The Gators are in a dog fight for the No. 2 wide receiver in the 2018 class as Florida State and Georgia are also serious contenders.

Duke 2017 wide receiver commit Damond Johnson of Pensacola (Fla.) West Florida Tech is the third key visit of the day for Summers. The Gators are evaluating the 6-foot-1, 170-pound prospect for a possible offer.

Defensive coordinator Geoff Collins will stop by Sebastian (Fla.) River for top-100 defensive end Jarez Parks. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound Parks is considered to be one of the top edge rushers in the Sunshine State. Parks is considering Alabama, Florida State, Miami as well as Florida.

Defensive back coach Torrian Gray continues his assault on the state’s top defensive backs with a stop to see Latavious Brini at Hialeah (Fla.) Mater Academy. Most feel the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Brini has Florida and Miami at the top of his list, but it is a lengthy list of schools that would love to secure his commitment.

Gray will also swing by Miami (Fla.) Carol City for safety Natron Culpepper and linebacker Deandre Wilder.

Linebacker coach Randy Shannon, a Miami native, will visit national power Miami (Fla.) Central on Thursday. There he will check out Miami Top247 offensive tackle commit Navaughn Donaldson, Miami four-star linebacker commit Waynmon Steed, Florida State 2019 running back commit James Cook and wide receiver Carmoni Green.

Shannon will also head to another powerhouse program Miami (Fla.) Booker T. Washington. There he will see Florida offensive tackle commit Kadeem Telfort, Auburn 2018 defensive end commit Robert Hicks, and Syracuse wide receiver commit Sharad Johnson.

Running backs coach Tim Skipper and wide receivers coach Kerry Dixon will also be working Dade County with a stop by Miami (Fla.) Southridge for Florida tight end commit Kemore Gamble, Miami running back commit Bentavious Thompson, and cornerback Shawn Davis.

Dixon will also visit Killian, Homestead and South Dade High Schools as well.

Offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier and defensive line coach Chris Rumph will be working Palm Beach County. Both plan to see West Palm Beach (Fla.) Oxbridge Academy defensive end Jonathan Garvin for a possible offer. Nussmeier will also visit Palm Beach Gardens for safety Amari Carter and Suncoast for outside linebacker K’Jakyre Daley. Rumph will visit Glades Central, Pahokee and others near Lake Okeechobee.

Greg Nord will be working his area with stops by Wakulla, Columbia and Taylor County High Schools.

CB Shawn Davis on commit watch next weekend.