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| Originally posted by Zewad lock it then...  |
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| Originally posted by chach jeez bro I was joking don't be a bitch. |
Why wouldn't he? No one wants to go in to the draft as a 6th round tight end. Really im not sore about florida winning even though oklahoma choked as always florida def has one of the best teams in the nation. I would've much rather seen them play usc but everyone knows the bcs is flawed. Floridas time is now every school has there time at the top it won't last forever. I've heard a lot about how next year will be CUMs last year at UiF.
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| Originally posted by chach Why wouldn't he? No one wants to go in to the draft as a 6th round tight end. |
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| I've heard a lot about how next year will be CUMs last year at UiF. |
Coach Urban Meyer = CUM 
Big 3 Recruiting Grades
MIAMI
QUARTERBACK
Miami targeted landing one quarterback in this class, and they got an athletic one in A.J. Highsmith. Highsmith put up big numbers as a senior with 28 touchdowns and only four interceptions, and he ran for 500 yards in addition to 2,100 passing yards. A big question is his height - at barely 6 feet tall he is a quarterback who may have trouble seeing over bigger offensive linemen. UM passed over talented local quarterback Denard Robinson and Eugene Smith to grab Highsmith, so they certainly believe in Highsmith's ability. GRADE: B
RUNNING BACKS
Mike James is an athletic power back who can run by and through people, and Lamar Miller has earned Clinton Portis comparisons from those that have seen him play. Both put up big numbers as high school seniors: James ran for 1,200 yards and 12 scores; Miller ran for 1,749 yards and 22 touchdowns. With Graig Cooper and Javarris James the only proven tailback weapons on the team, and with James a constant injury risk, don't be surprised if one or both get immediate playing time. Also waiting in the wings is Bryce Brown, the nation's No. 1 recruit who did not sign anywhere Feb. 4 but remains a Hurricane commitment. If he comes, bump the grade up to an A+. GRADE: A
WIDE RECEIVERS
Miami had hoped to land a receiver in this class despite having solid depth at the position. But the Canes struck out with two major national targets: Andre Debose and Rueben Randle. Debose considered taking a Cane visit the weekend before signing day with teammates Ray Ray Armstrong and Dyron Dye, but visited Florida State instead. While it was disappointing UM didn't land a receiver, it also was smart of coaches not to ink a Plan B guy when you have so many talented pass catchers already on campus. GRADE: INCOMPLETE
TIGHT ENDS
UM has a couple of capable tight ends in this class. Stephen Plein is a physical run blocker with solid hands, and Billy Sanders is a rangy pass catcher in the mold of a Jeremy Shockey. Miller had committed to UM last February before decommitting to UCLA last month, and he came back on board with the Canes on Signing Day. Sanders had 32 receptions and three touchdowns as a senior; Plein only played defense this past season due to his team's needs. Plein currently weighs 250 pounds, and if he gets too heavy he could move to the offensive line - that is the official position he is listed at in UM's Signing Day release. Cory White could begin as a tight end at UM as well, but he is more likely to play offensive line. Assuming Plein stays at tight end, the combination of a solid run blocking tight end like Plein who can also run well - he's been timed at 4.8 seconds in the 40 - combined with more of a pass catcher like Sanders is a nice mix. UM missed out on the nation's top tight end, Sheldon Richardson, when he committed to Missouri over Miami on Signing Day. GRADE: B
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Miami missed out on a lot of targets here, but also landed five recruits, two of whom are four-star players - Jermaine Johnson and Brandon Washington. Both are prep school players who arrived in January, which means they could both be in line for immediate playing time. Three-star linemen Jared Wheeler, Malcolm Bunche and Cory White (who could begin as a tight end but projects as a linemen down the road) round out the offensive line class. This position will be remembered for the ones that got away, though. UM was in it with several highly regarded linemen until the final two days of recruiting. Quinton Washington chose Michigan, Andrew Tiller picked Syracuse, Peter White headed to Maryland and Bobby Massie chose Ole Miss. A week earlier Marcus Hall chose Ohio State over Miami. While it's frustrating that the Canes were in the final two or three for so many other top linemen, the final haul is still fine. It just could have been better. GRADE B-
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Miami filled its needs here with ends Dyron Dye and Olivier Vernon and tackles Curtis Porter and Luther Robinson. Robinson, Vernon and Dye are four-star prospects who get rave reviews. With UM's depth at end, it will be tough for Dye or Vernon to break in right away, but Robinson or Porter could see immediate action. And Porter and Vernon are already on Miami's campus and will participate in spring ball, which gives them an additional advantage. This was a solid haul. GRADE: A
LINEBACKERS
Early-on in recruiting UM targeted Jelani Jenkins as the one linebacker they wanted in this class. But as high school seasons began the Canes went in a different direction and offered Sam Barrington and Shayon Green, who could also play defensive end depending on how much weight he adds in college. Green chose the Canes, but Barrington announced the night before signing day that he was going with South Florida instead. Well, as the saying goes, one out of two ain't bad. Green had 15 scholarship offers after amassing 120 tackles his senior season. This was not a position of need, so landing one solid linebacker works just fine. GRADE: B+
DEFENSIVE BACKS
A late defection by Kayvon Webster to South Florida hurt UM at a position where the team doesn't have much depth. While Webster decommitted to USF on Signing Day, four other players stuck by their word: five-star safety Ray Ray Armstrong, four-star cornerback Jamal Reid, three star cornerback/safety Prince Kent and four-star cornerback Brandon McGee. And don't be surprised if McGee emerges as the best cover corner on the roster as a true freshman. Miami would have liked to have more numbers here, but at least the four the Canes landed are high quality players. Look for all four to be in the mix for immediate playing time given Miami's weak depth in this area. GRADE: A-
FSU
SIGNED LETTER OF INTENT
Justin Bright DB 6-0 184 4.51 5.6 Duncan, SC
Gerald Demps DB 5-10 190 4.6 5.7 Valdosta, GA
Willie Downs ATH 6-2 192 - 6.0 Tallahassee, FL
Jajuan Harley DB 6-2 190 4.4 5.8 Tallahassee, FL
Willie Haulstead WR 6-3 210 4.55 5.8 Titusville, FL
Dan Hicks TE 6-4 242 4.6 5.4 Oxford, MS
Dustin Hopkins K 6-2 174 4.58 5.5 Houston, TX
Brandon Jenkins DE 6-2 218 4.7 5.8 Tallahassee, FL
Demonte McAllister DE 6-3 263 - 6.0 Tampa, FL
Jacobbi McDaniel DT 6-0 267 4.83 6.1 Greenville, FL
C.J. Mizell LB 6-2 212 4.51 5.8 Tallahassee, FL
Henry Orelus OL 6-2 292 5.48 5.7 Belle Glade, FL
Aubrey Phillips OL 6-6 310 5.1 5.8 Olive Branch, MS
John Prior OL 6-6 283 - 5.6 Portsmouth, OH
Lonnie Pryor RB 6-1 195 4.5 5.9 Okeechobee , FL
Greg Reid DB 5-9 175 4.5 6.1 Valdosta, GA
Xavier Rhodes WR 6-2 187 - 5.6 Miami, FL
Will Secord QB 6-3 204 4.66 5.6 Frisco, TX
Rodney Smith WR 6-6 202 4.7 6.0 Miami, FL
Bryan Stork TE 6-4 260 - 5.6 Vero Beach, FL
Chris Thompson RB
FLORIDA *puke* lol
Mark Wheeler
GatorBait.net Assistant Editor
In the first of a series of articles wrapping up the signing class of 2009, GatorBait.net takes a closer look at some of the significant events from the just finished recruiting process with this Signing Day Notebook. Included is a look at some wins and losses, what might have been, what could happen next year, a class breakdown and much more.
Win some, lose some
Signing Day played out pretty much the same way as the 2009 recruiting cycle as a whole - it was clearly a roller-coaster ride, complete with ups-and-downs and ins-and-outs.
The day started off according to plan. Letters of Intent began rolling in right around their scheduled time for the most part. There were a couple that took a little longer then expected - Xavier Nixon comes to mind - but no big road bumps.
Though there was some message board chatter of possible defections, both Andre Debose and Gary Brown provided very little drama as both signed and sent in their LOI's before their respective signing ceremonies.
It must have seemed a little like watching the returns during an election night landslide.
Florida was getting holding on to what they had and right around 10:30, UF received the first LOI from a prospect who hadn't previously been publicly committed when four-star safety Joshua Evans chose the Gators over Pitt and Oklahoma.
Roughly 37 afterward - 12 minutes later then his scheduled announcement time - five-star linebacker Jelani Jenkins announced for that he was going to sign with the Gators over Penn State.
That was the high point of the day.
Not long afterward it became known that four-star athlete [dd]Marsalis Teague[/db] had sent in his signed LOI to Tennessee. Not entirely unexpected, but a jolt of bad news for the Gator Nation none-the less.
That was to be the first of three items that would bring an end to the day.
If the second one - linebacker Jarvis Jones committing to a college other than UF - would have happened a month ago, it likely would have made more of an impact. However, the reports of Texas and Southern Cal making a push had already began sinking in with the UF fan base.
The last one item on the agenda, well it was a doozy. At right around 1 o'clock the recruiting roller-coaster known as the Nu'Keese Richardson Express began loading riders for the day's final run.
There were at least five different scenarios laid out in a hour time period - from his leaning slightly to Florida, to ESPN calling him for the Gators, to him perhaps putting off his signing until a later date, until finally, his decision to sign with the Tennessee Volunteers.
That was as wild a Signing Day ride as has been seen around GatorBait.net in years and certainly befitting of the days events.
What might have been
The Gators started Wednesday ranked 11th in the Rivals.com Team Recruiting Rankings. They moved up as far as 7th, before finally dropping to 10th at the end of the day.
Not bad at all for a class that was so limited by numbers.
Very early in the recruiting cycle it appeared as though the Gators would be only be signing between 17 to 18 prospects in the class of 2009.
Then as talk of early departures to the NFL and attrition by those who are unable to play (or unable to stay out of trouble) began to surface, it looked as though the number might actually grow to the 22-23 range.
In the end though, players such as Brandon Spikes and Tim Tebow returned for another year and some of the expected attrition hasn't taken place (yet).
That left Florida right where they were to begin with - in the 17 to 18 range with the ability to add one or two more if needed.
Though the Gators finished 10th overall, some might still be day dreaming about what might have been.
Over the last month of the recruiting cycle, the Gators lost three Rivals100 commitments.
Five-star cornerback Greg Reid - the first to commit, and decommit - decided that the Gators secondary was a bit too crowded with younger players at his position of choice and instead ended up signing with Florida State.
Depending on which version is closest to the truth, four-star defensive end Nick Kasa decommitted either because of his comfort level with Colorado as compared to Florida, or his desire to remain on the defensive line - while believing UF would move him to offense.
And then today, the departure of Rivals100 wide receiver Richardson and 4-star athlete Teague to Tennessee.
If the Gators were to of held those four players - they would have certainly of reeled in their fourth straight top-three rated class and might just have topped Alabama for top class overall.
Star power
While Florida may have come up short in their quest for their fourth straight top three rated class, the Gators did wind up on top in perhaps the most important category�
Quality over quantity.
With a 3.94 average star rating per prospect, the Gators led the nation in that extremely important breakdown.
That star average is the single biggest indicator on the network of the quality of prospect a program is signing.
Only twice in the history of the rankings (which go back to 2002) has a team been able to manage a 4.0 star average. Both times it was accomplished by Southern Cal.
The Gators came close this time around.
Actually closer than you might think.
Had three-star Palmetto (Fla.) defensive end Kedric Johnson sent in his highlight tape into Rivals.com headquarters a week earlier, he would have been eligible to be included in the positional reran kings. Had he been able to (both Jeremy Crabtree and Barry Every informed GBN that he missed a staunch deadline) - according to the talent evaluators on the network, he would have been awarded four-stars - a 5.8 ranking.
Johnson receiving that extra star, would have given the Gators a 4.0 average on the year.
Wait til next year
Wait until next year just isn't the battle cry of beleaguered football fans who always believe a better day is on the horizon.
It is instead when football programs have been able to fully take advantage of winning the National Championship along the recruiting trail.
Three of the last four National Champions went on to win the Rivals.com Team Recruiting Ranking Title, not the year they won the title, but rather the year afterward.
2004 National Champion USC / 2005 No. 1 Signing Class USC
2005 National Champion Texas / 2006 No. 1 Signing Class USC
2006 National Champion Florida / 2007 No. 1 Signing Class Florida
2007 National Champion LSU / 2008 No. 1 Signing Class LSU
With four highly rated prospects already committed, the Gators are already off to a fast start to the class of 2010.
As an added bonus, instate areas where the Gators traditionally recruit well are loaded. Jacksonville, down through Daytona, across the corridor through Orlando and over to Tampa features some of the top talent in the Sunshine State.
Take into consideration that the next signing class will be bigger numbers wise, and if the Gators aren't at the very top when it's all said and done, they should at least be very close.
Efficiency experts
In these tough economic times, Meyer and staff did their part to help the University of Florida save a buck. Though the Gators have one of the largest recruiting budgets among BCS Conference programs, the football staff may not have had to utilize every available dollar this year.
Programs are permitted 56 official visits to bring in potential prospects for a weekend getaway. Florida utilized but 36 of them.
Then again, maybe not much money was saved at all. From the way the signees are spread out across the map, perhaps the money saved on official visits instead went to pay for coaches travel expenses to travel to faraway places for talent.
Of the 16 players signed who signed a Letter of Intent on Wednesday, only eight were from the Sunshine State. The other eight were spread across eight separate states.
The out-of-state signees listed below by order of who lives closest to furthest away according to Mapquest:
Dee Finley Auburn, Ala. (313.80 miles)
Desmond Parks Greer, S.C. (459.71 miles)
Xavier Nixon Fayetteville, N.C. (462.61 miles)
Jelani Jenkins Olney, Md (799.22 miles)
Joshua Evans Irvington, NJ (1,005.03 miles)
Jordan Reed New London, CT (1137.70 miles)
Edwin Herbert Fairfield, Calif. (2,729.23 miles)
If Kasa, Reid and Teague had followed through on their commitment and signed with the Gators - members of the class of2009 would have represented 11 different states.
Georgia not on their mind
While Florida spread out across the country to bring in one of the top classes in the nation, they didn't fare so well in the state just across the Florida border.
"Georgia is great high school football," said Meyer during last year's Signing Day press conference "We landed two at the end, T.J. (Pridemore) and Omar (Hunter), but Georgia is going to be an area we hit much harder than we have. I'll put one coach in the south and that's his only job and one in the north and we're going to hammer Georgia really hard."
Meyer followed through with the plan of action he laid out, placing assistant coach Kenny Carter in north Georgia and John Hevesy in the southern part of the state.
However, despite Meyer's attempt to focus on the border state, for the first time since 1999 Florida failed to sign a prospect from the Peach State.
While it may not have been for a lack of effort, that effort didn't produce many results.
Of course the very first commitment of the class of 2009 was Reid and the Gators of course were a finalist for Jones.
The only other Georgian to officially visit Gainesville was five-star cornerback Branden Smith out of Atlanta (Ga.) Washington.
Coming up
Signing Day may have come and gone, but this is hardly the end of the analysis the class of 2009 will receive on GBN. Over the next week there will be several features recapping this class - including a Hot 11, signing class superlatives, a recruiting roundtable and more. We'll break down those we expect to make an instant impact as well as have former NFL Scout Chris Landry provide his expert opinion on the signees.
The breakdown
The most logical way to look at any class is really to instead combine two classes. That is the way to get a feel for where there may be holes in the future that need to be addressed in the next recruiting cycle.
With that in mind, here is a look at the last two UF classes combined.
Note: Dee Finley was counted only in the class of 2009.
Class QB RB TE OL WR DT DE LB/S CB 3-star 4-star 5-star Rivals100 Rivals 250
2008 0 2 0 3 4 2 3 3 3 4 11 4 6 12
2009 1 1 1 5 1 2 1 3 1 4 9 3 5 7
total 1 3 1 8 5 4 4 6 4 8 20 7 11 19
Overall Rankings likely to change
School TOTAL
Commits
Commits
Commits Avg Stars
Points
1 Alabama 27 4 14 9 3.81 2,786
2 LSU 24 4 11 9 3.79 2,581
3 Ohio State 25 2 15 8 3.76 2,478
4 USC 19 4 11 2 3.89 2,410
5 Texas 20 3 11 6 3.85 2,375
6 Florida State 21 2 10 8 3.62 2,154
7 Michigan 22 1 13 6 3.59 2,124
8 North Carolina 29 1 13 10 3.34 2,084
9 Georgia 18 1 13 4 3.83 2,053
10 Florida 16 3 9 4 3.94 2,017
11 Miami 20 2 9 8 3.60 1,968
12 South Carolina 29 0 14 11 3.34 1,952
13 Oklahoma 23 0 11 11 3.43 1,830
14 UCLA 27 0 11 14 3.33 1,752
15 Arkansas 30 1 8 20 3.30 1,689
16 Michigan State 23 0 10 10 3.30 1,675
17 Tennessee 19 1 8 10 3.53 1,663
18 Ole Miss 37 1 8 22 3.11 1,628
19 Auburn 28 0 9 16 3.21 1,599
20 Stanford 22 0 8 12 3.27 1,583
21 Notre Dame 17 1 9 4 3.47 1,508
22 Texas A&M 28 1 4 21 3.14 1,403
23 Mississippi State 27 0 7 17 3.15 1,395
24 Virginia Tech 22 0 5 14 3.09 1,357
25 Penn State 27 0 7 12 2.96 1,335
p.s Bryce Brown can go else where I don't want him at the U
im surprised by fsus ability to still recruit at such a high level. probably doesnt mean shit, but ill try and look at it as a positive sign.
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| Originally posted by PatMcGroin im surprised by fsus ability to still recruit at such a high level. probably doesnt mean shit, but ill try and look at it as a positive sign. |
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| Originally posted by chach A lot goes into it. You gotta factor in location academics parties lol. Or gangster kids like Preston Parker that it takes 3 arrests to be finally kicked of the squad. |
what a moron.
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| Originally posted by PatMcGroin lolz at preston parker. what a moron. |
in the fing drive through at McDs
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