Florida Gators Recruiting Mailbag: August 21st Edition
The Florida Gators coaching staff has had a busy summer, and with the 2024 football season set to kick off in just over a week against Miami in the Swamp, the momentum is building. Billy Napier and his team are gearing up to host several top prospects on campus for the game, offering a prime opportunity to make headway with key targets.
Recruiting Questions: The 2025 Class and Beyond
Floridagatorman: Which positions are expected to be the thinnest next season? Given the goal of consistently stacking the roster with 4-star and 5-star players, and landing 3-5 superstar players, how much progress has been made so far? How are we looking for 2025 and 2026?
AS: The coaching staff has done a commendable job of building depth across most positions, which is why there’s optimism this year. Besides the lines of scrimmage, depth seems solid. Regarding superstar players, Florida is making strides, but they’ll need to show results on the field to secure those top-tier talents.
ThePlayer: What are the chances of signing a 5-star player by signing day?
AS: Currently, there isn’t a five-star player in the class, but there’s a chance they could flip five-star Florida State offensive line commit Solomon Thomas. It won’t be easy, but they’re still in the mix.
The Player: Is there a chance that any of Gasper, Johnson, Jones, Mbatchou, or Craig might get an additional star?
AS: Micah Jones, Myles Johnson, and Joseph Mbatchou have strong potential. Johnson just needs to prove his knee is fully healed, and Mbatchou could see his ranking rise significantly once he gets on the field.
Elix: How does our offensive line (OL) board look at this point?
AS: The top names Florida has a shot with include Auburn offensive line commit Tavaris Dice and Nelson McGuire. They’ll also keep in touch with FSU commit Solomon Thomas and Oregon commit Ziyare Addison. Expect the list to expand as senior tape becomes available.
Gatorzfan: What does the defensive line (DL) and linebacker (LB) board look like? Are there any players you’re hearing good buzz about likely becoming Gators?
AS: On the defensive line, Ohio State commit Jarquez Carter and JUCO DL Zavion Hardy are names to watch closely. Both are monitoring Florida this fall. At linebacker, Ty Jackson is the key target, but he won’t decide until December.
Gatordadx2: Who might UF flip later in the season? And why does UM out-recruit UF despite a poor record—Is it strictly NIL, or is Cristobal that much better of a recruiter?
AS: Cristobal’s job security helps, and he’s always been known as a good recruiter. As for potential flips, Ohio State DL commit Jarquez Carter is a local talent to watch. Auburn OL commit Tavaris Dice is another to keep an eye on; he’ll be visiting for the Miami game.
UFMBA14: What’s going on with the offensive line?
AS: There’s no sugarcoating it—the situation with OL recruiting isn’t great. Florida’s top targets have committed elsewhere, and the staff now needs to try to flip them or hit the transfer portal hard, likely requiring substantial NIL deals.
Gatorntuscaloosa: When will you list OL transfer portal prospects, seeing as how that might be our main path for offensive tackles?
AS: After this season, Florida needs to aggressively pursue OL in the portal, but it’s tough as these players are in high demand and require significant NIL deals. In recent years, there haven’t been many top linemen in the portal.
Pan: Why is the 2026 class committing, but the 2025 class seems hesitant and is committing elsewhere? While recruiting isn’t final until the LOI is signed, I’m skeptical that we can flip all our targets based on a good season alone.
AS: The 2026 class knows they have time and can commit while keeping their options open. For the 2025 class, flipping everyone they want will be tough, but a strong season could lead to several flips.
Gator126: Our recruiting has been solid across most areas except the offensive line. What’s the real issue with our coaches in that group? Are they just poor recruiters? Some commits say they’re good coaches, so why can’t we land top-tier linemen?
AS: It’s largely an NIL issue. Offensive linemen command significant NIL deals, which Florida hasn’t been as willing to provide. However, the staff needs to be more aggressive in this area.
Juggernautz: Do you think we can break the top 10 in recruiting for the 2025 class?
AS: Cracking the top 10 will be difficult, but a stellar season on the field could push them close. It would require several flips, but as of now, they’re more likely to break the top 20.
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