Spring Evaluation Period: UF Coaches on the Road
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FRIDAY 5/17
Florida defensive line coach Brad Lawing stopped by the school of Mc Calla (Ala.) McAdory defensive end Cory Thomas. The Gators have recently offered, but this was the first time Lawing seeing Thomas this spring.
Florida was also expected to observe a practice of Orlando (Fla.) Timber Creek 2015 running back Jacques Patrick.
[Related: 2015 back has two on top]
The Gators were also expected to have coaches at the Immokalee (Fla.) spring game Friday evening to watch Florida State four-star cornerback commit J.C. Jackson and South Florida fours-tar commit Jimmy Bayes.
THURSDAY 5/16
Per the teams Twitter account Florida was one of the coaching staffs that stopped by Miami (Fla.) Booker T. Washington. It is the home of Rivals250 defensive end Chad Thomas and Rivals250 athlete Treon Harris. Both of them hold offers from UF.
Florida offensive coordinator Brent Pease and wide receivers coach Joker Philips took in practice at Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas to watch Rivals250 wide out Corey Holmes. While there UF also offered 2015 wide receiver Devante Peete.
[Related: Gators check in on four-star wide out]
Newly appointed Gator special team and linebacker coach Jeff Choate visited Rivals100 linebacker Christian Miller on Thursday. Miller also decomitted from the Gators on Friday.
Travaris Robinson stopped by Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) University School, home of cornerback Quincy Wilson and linebacker Richard Yeargin III.
D.J. Durkin and Brad Lawing made stops by Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade Maddona to observe Rivals100 defensive tackle Khairi Clark.
WEDNESDAY 5/15
Both D.J. Durkin and Brad Lawing stopped by Milledgeville (Ga.) Georgia Military Academy to see JUCO defensive lineman DaVonte Lambert, who has set an official visit to Florida.
Florida offensive line coach Tim Davis stopped by Florissant (Mo.) Hazelwood Central to see Rivals250 offensive tackle Roderick Johnson. On Thursday Will Muschamp offered him.
Travaris Robinson stopped by to check on and offered Coconut Creek (Fla.) Monarch 2015 athlete Shawn Burgess-Becker.
TUESDAY 5/14
Florida defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin stopped by the practice of Ponte Vedra (Fla.) Rivals100 linebacker Dillon Bates.
Florida running backs coach Brian White spent some time in Tuscaloosa (Ala.) and went to the practices of Rivals100 Alabama running back commitment Bo Scarbrough and athlete Torrence Brown. This was White's second visit this spring to both prospects.
[Related: UF checks in on athlete once again]
Florida defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson and defensive line coach Brad Lawing both visited Winter Park (Fla.) defensive end Trent Harris. The Sunshine State end will no longer make his commitment next week as expected, though Florida still leads.
Florida also sent out an early offer to 2016 Dade City (Fla.) Pasco wide receiver Nate Craig, who has been one of the up and coming names this spring.
MONDAY 5/13
Much like last Monday, the Florida coaching staff had their weekly staff meeting and were not out on the road for the most part.
There was some recruiting news however as 2013 signee's Marcell Harris and Trenton Brown, as well as walk-on quarterback Chris Wilkes enrolled in Summer A classes.
FRIDAY 5/10
On Friday the Gator coaching staff dropped in on one of the biggest names in the Class of 2015 when they went to see Lexington (N.C.) North Davidson defensive tackle Shy Tuttle. This is the second time this spring the Gators have dropped by his high school.
Florida running back's coach Brian White spent some time at St. Petersburg (Fla.) Admiral Farragut Academy to check on three-star running back Cortavious Givens. The two did not get a chance to speak, but Givens still is has high interest in the Gators and will work out at UF on June 4th.
THURSDAY 5/9
On Thursday the Gators observed two of the top pass catchers in the state of Florida.
Coach Travaris Robinson and Brian White went by Homestead (Fla.) Rivals100 wide receiver Ermon Lane's practice.
Florida wide receiver coach Joker Phillips also spent some time in South Florida and went by the school of West Palm Beach (Fla.) Dwyer Rivals250 wide receiver Johnnie Dixon. At one point the Gators looked like the team to beat, but now it seems there are a few other schools that are taking the lead. Still with Florida's success in the past at Dwyer high, you can't count out UF.
WEDNESDAY 5/8
On Wednesday Florida tight ends coach Derek Lewis spent some time in the state of Louisiana and checked in on two defensive lineman. One was Covington (La.) three-star defensive tackle Garrald McDowell. This was the first visit this spring that the Gators have given to this talented tackle.
[Related: Florida has interest in three-star tackle]
Lewis also dropped in to observe Plaquemine (La.) Rivals250 defensive end Davon Godchaux. The Gators offered this four star earlier this spring and are a school that is in a good shape to sway this Bayou big man.
Also on Wednesday the Gators coaching staff spent some time checking in on a few top names in the Sunshine State.
Florida defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson spent some time in south Florida and dropped in on Plantation (Fla.) three star athlete Chris Lammons. He visited Gainesville earlier this spring and continues to show interest in the Orange and Blue.
While in South Florida, Coach Robinson and Florida running backs coach Brian White went by Miami (Fla.) Central high school to check in on two big names. One of which was Rivals100 running back and Florida commit Dalvin Cook. Another interesting name that UF evaluated was Rivals250 offensive tackle Trevor Darling, a Miami commit. Though he is committed to the hometown Hurricanes, he still has interest in the Gators and has stated that he may take a visit to Gainesville in the future.
While in Miami the Gators also stopped by to check on Miami (Fla) Coral Reef Rivals250 wide receiver Jacob McCrary.
Florida defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin was in the Palm Bay area and dropped in on former UF commit and Rivals100 defensive tackle Travonte Valentine. The Miami Hurricanes are Valentine's current leader, but Florida is still a school that is in the picture.
TUESDAY 5/7
After being off the recruiting trail on Monday, the staff hit the road on Tuesday.
Travaris Robinson was in the southern part of the state. He stopped in on Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) University School to check in on Rivals250 cornerback Quincy Wilson and three-star linebacker Richard Yeargin III.
Robinson also visited Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas. Among the players Robinson dropped in to see was Rivals250 wide receiver Corey Holmes.
[Related: Gators visit four-star wide out]
In the northern part of the state, Brent Pease stopped by Perry (Fla.) Taylor County high school on Tuesday where he saw Rivals250 Wide out Moral Stephens.
Pease also had a chance to stop in and see Cross City (Fla.) Dixie County four-star cornerback commitment Duke Dawson.
[Related: Dawson solid despite big offer]
MONDAY 5/6
This was basically a day off of the recruiting trail for the Florida coaching staff as they attended meetings on campus for most of the day.
One prosect UF did see though is Rivals100 linebacker Raekwon McMillan.
SATURDAY 5/4
While Wednesday was the first day of spring football in the state of Florida, Saturday was the first day that teams were allowed to practice in full pads (though many schools waited until Monday).
Florida used this opportunity to see three of the top offensive linemen in the nation.
First, UF offensive line coach Brad Davis was in Deland (Fla.) at the stroke of midnight in order to see Florida three-star commit Benjamin Knox and his Bulldogs teammates celebrate their own version of Midnight Madness with a night practice.
[Related: Florida visits with committed tackle]
A little later on Saturday Florida hit Jacksonville - checking in on Providence three-star tackle David Sharpe as well as Raines offensive guard commit Travaris Dorsey.
FRIDAY 5/3
On Friday the Gators checked in on some big time names in the upcoming junior class of 2015. One of the biggest names was Glenn St. Mary (Fla.) Baker County 2015 defensive end CeCe Jefferson. This lifelong Gator fan has been racking up offer after offer and just recently named Alabama as his leader, but maintains extremely high interest in the Gators.
Joker Phillips continued his work in the state of Georgia on Friday checking in on Columbus (Ga.) Carver 2015 Alabama defensive line commit Mekhi Brown. Despite his commitment to the Crimson Tide, this talented Peach State big man has plans to visit Gainesville in the future.
[Related: Florida offers Bama commit]
Also on Friday, Florida tight ends coach Derek Lewis stopped by Seffner (Fl)a. Armwood to observe 2015 defensive end Byron Cowart.
[Related: UF checks in on 2015 defensive end]
THURSDAY 5/2
On Thursday Florida wide receiver coach Joker Phillips continued to hit the state of Georgia checking out some of the top prospects in the Peach State.
Buford (Ga.) Rivals100 linebacker Korie Rogers was one of the biggest stars Phillips observed. The Gators are not among the stated leaders for Rodgers and have not been to involved in recruiting him much to this point. If Florida wants to get a serious look they must win an uphill battle. Georgia and Clemson are the two teams catching his eye early on.
Philips also stopped by Marietta (Ga.) Walton to check up on Rivals250 cornerback D.J. Smith. The Gators have been a team that Smith has shown interest in, but have not been mentioned by him recently.
Also on Thursday, Florida defensive line coach Brad Lawing stopped by Orangeburg (S.C.) Wilkinson to see 2015 defensive end Albert Huggins. Huggins has an impressive offer list early on, but he claims to have no leaders or standouts at this point.
WEDNESDAY 5/1
On Wednesday Coach Philips spent yet another day in the state of Georgia. Stopping by the school of Monroe (Ga.) Area athlete Stanton Truitt. The Gators offered Truitt as a slot receiver when he visited early in the spring, but really haven't been much of a factor for his recruitment.
Florida offensive coordinator Brent Pease spent some time in Utah on Wednesday, checking on the nation's number two rated tight end, South Jordan (Utah) Bingham Rivals250 tight end Dalton Schultz. Pease must have left impressed because the Gators became the 19th team to offer him a scholarship.
[Related: UF offers Rivals250 tight end]
Wednesday also marked the first day of spring football in the state of Florida, and Immokalee (Fla.) Rivals250 cornerback J.C. Jackson was one of the first prospect to receive a visit from the orange and blue. During the day D.J. Durkin stopped by his high school, followed by a visit to Jackson's practice from UF defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson. Florida continues to be the leader for this soft FSU commitment.
TUESDAY 4/30
On Tuesday Lawing spent some time in the state of North Carolina looking at some of the biggest names in the state - including Havelock (N.C.) Rivals250 running back Derrell Scott. Lawing was Scott's main recruiter while he was at South Carolina, and the two have built a pretty solid relationship. Scott currently does not have an offer from the Gators, but has a chance to earn on during camp this summer.
[Related: Rivals250 back has UF in his top five]
Also on Tuesday the Gator coaching staff had a coach go by Durham (N.C.) Hillside high school, home of Rivals250 members Trevion Thompson and Donte Thomas-Williams. The Gators have offered both of these talented Tarheel State athletes, but don't seem to be big players for their services at this time.
Gator wide receiver coach Joker Philips spent some time in the state of Georgia on Tuesday. Stopping by to see Cedartown (Ga.) Rivals100 running back Nick Chubb. The Georgia Bulldogs are still the team to beat at this time and Chubb plans on making his announcement soon.
Another Peach State prospect that Coach Philips observed on Tuesday was Riverdale (Ga.) wide receiver Rashad Canty. This unranked wide receiver currently doesn't hold a UF offer, but said that he has been in talks with the Gators for some time and added he mostly talks with tight ends coach Derek Lewis. The Gators are recruiting him at the H-back position.
Also on Tuesday Coach Philips observed a throwing work out from Kennesaw (Ga.) North Cobb 2015 quarterback Tyler Queen.
To round out the day, Florida defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin stopped by the high school of Lehigh Acres (Fla.) East Lee County three star cornerback Kendall Sawyer. After the visit from Durkin Sawyer has claimed a Florida offer.
MONDAY 4/29
On Monday Florida defensive line coach Brad Lawing spent some time checking in on one of the top defensive linemen in the country when he dropped by O'Fallon (Ill.) Rivals250 defensive end Dewayne Hendrix. The Gators are listed among standouts for this four star rated prospect, and he has plans to visit Gainesville sometime this summer. However the Tennessee Volunteers are his current leader.
[Related: Gators see top defensive end]
THURSDAY 4/25
The Gator coaching staff only had two coaches out on the road recruiting compared to earlier in the week. Still Thursday was one of the more memorable days of the evaluation period with two offers going out.
Offensive line coach Tim Davis was in Philadelphia to see Germantown high school three-star lineman Dontae Angus. Davis offered this talented athlete on Thursday to play defensive line, and then on Friday Muschamp called to make the offer official.
Though he did not visit on Thursday, Florida defensive line coach Brad Lawing got in touch by phone with one of the top pass rushers in Alabama, when he extended a scholarship to Mc Calla (Ala.) McAdory two-star defensive end Cory Thomas.
WEDNESDAY 4/24
On Wednesday Florida running backs coach Brian White spent some time in Tuscaloosa checking in on two big names in the state of Alabama. The first that White went to see was Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Northridge Rivals100 athlete Bo Scarbrough. Though he remains committed to the hometown Crimson Tide, the Gators are a school that continues to stay in talks and are still one of UF's top targets at running back.
The other prospect that White saw on Wednesday was Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Academy two-star linebacker Torrence Brown. On film Brown is very talented and is likely only ranked a two star due to playing multiple positions for his high school. Coach White did tell Brown's coach that the Gators would be a school that is stopping by during their spring football season.
[Related: Gators look in on underrated prospect]
TUESDAY 4/23
On Tuesday Florida running backs coach Brian White made a trip to see Imperial (Cali.) four star running back Royce Freeman. The Gators offered Freeman this last week and wasted no time in stopping by his school. While the Gators seemed interested in Freeman, his recruitment is still very young and it will take time to see if Florida is a real option.
[Related: UF checks in on four-star back]
The running back position has been one of emphasis thus far in the contact period for the Gators, as well as the tight end position.
That being said the Gators checked on two tight ends on Tuesday. The first was Somerset (Wisc.) three star tight end Gaelin Elmore. Florida has not offered this Midwest pass catcher at this time.
Florida offensive coordinator Brent Pease saw the other tight end that the Gators observed on Tuesday when he stopped by to see Houston (Tx.) Kinkaid three-star tight end Mavin Saunders. Inside the Gators was told by Saunders coach that the Pease was impressed with what he saw, but did not offer Saunders.
Perhaps the biggest recruiting storyline on Tuesday was Florida offensive line coach Tim Davis stopping by to see the nations top offensive guard, Fort Worth (Tx.) All Saints Episcopal prospect Demetrius Knox. Florida has offered this Rivals100 member, and recent Texas decommit.
[Related: Knox opens things up]
With a few of Florida's current offensive line commitments talking about taking visits elsewhere, expect the coaching staff to keep their options open as well, and offer and continue to recruit top tier prospects such as Knox.
For the second time in as many weeks the Florida coaching staff dropped in to visit Memphis (Tenn) University Christian School 2015 offensive tackle Drew Richmond. This junior to be projects to be one of the top offensive linemen in the nation for his respective class, and the Gators have made him a priority so far.
[Related: Gators offer 2015 offensive tackle]
MONDAY 4/22
On Monday the Florida coaching staff was busy on the recruiting trail, making the long trip all the way to the left coast in order to check in on several top targets in the Golden State.
Florida running backs coach Brian White and defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson were yet again paired on the recruiting trail and made a stop on Monday at Gardena (Cali.) Junipero Serra high school.
Coach Robinson stopped in to see five star Rivals100 cornerback Adoree' Jackson. Though it is unusual for the Gators to be in play for a prospect in California in the Muschamp Era, Jackson has high interest in the Gators, and has named them as one of the schools that is recruiting him the hardest. One factor that is going into this two sport athlete's decision is whether or not a college also has a top tier track program, with UF being one of the best in the nation, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Gators snag an official visit.
The Gator coaches also looked in on 2015 stand Junipero Serra standouts linebacker John Houston and defensive tackle Rasheem Green, both of which have offers from the Gators.
Florida offensive coordinator Brent Pease also spent some time on Monday in California and checked in on a few top prospects. One of the more interesting names that Pease checked out was La Miranda (Cali.) Rivals250 Oklahoma wide receiver commit Dallis Todd. This four-star wide out just recently pledged his commitment to the Sooners.
While at La Miranda high school Pease also checked on Rivals100 tight end Tyler Luatua.
That was not the only tight end that Pease observed on Monday, he also saw Ventura (Cali.) St. Bonaventure Rivals250 tight end Bryce Dixon. The opportunity to play ball in the Sunshine State is something that has Dixon's attention.
This week the Gators have spent an inordinate amount of time working on tight ends - with Dixon being just one that the staff was on the road evaluating.
FRIDAY 4/19
Coach Brad Lawing, who had a busy first week out on the trail, stopped in to check on JUCO defensive tackle Davonte Lambert. The Gators recently offered Lambert and he says that UF will receive an official visit.
THURSDAY 4/18
Tim Davis made a stop in the morning to attend an early morning workout by Cincinnati (Ohio) Colerain 2015 tight end George Brown. According to Brown Coach Davis was impressed with seeing him workout, and that he will likely to a visit to Gainesville sometime in May.
WEDNESDAY 4/17
After barnstorming several states on Monday and Tuesday, UF only had a couple of coaches on the road on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
The number of days coaches can actually be out on the road is limited and spread out over the seven week evaluation period. Therefore, of course there won't be a full contingent of coaches (seven allowed maximum) on the road each day.
Plus, the coaches aren't just stopping in to check on Class of 2014 targets. They are also looking in on up and coming 2015 and 2016 prospects as well as just stopping by schools where there may not be a prospect, but to maintain open lines of communication.
Florida tight ends coach Derek Lewis spent some time in Alabama and stopped by to visit Opelika (Ala) three-star tight end Jakell Mitchell. UF currently sits in Mitchell's top three along with LSU and Auburn. Mitchell and his father visited UF over the spring for the Gators lone junior day and came away impressed.
Tim Davis made a stop on Wednesday to visit with Chicago (Ill.) De La Salle Rivals100 offensive tackle Jamarco Jones. Florida hasn't wavered in their recruitment of Jones and will likely receive a visit from him sometime this summer.
Brian White continued his quest to observe a bigger style running back on Wednesday when he stopped by to see Westville (N.J.) West Deptford three star fullback Gerald Owens. The Gators have yet to offer Owens at this time.
TUESDAY 4/16
On Tuesday the Florida Gators extended an offer to one of the biggest names in the state of New York when running backs coach Brian White stopped in to talk with Brooklyn (N.Y) Erasmus Hall three star athlete Curtis Samuel. Lately this Empire State athlete has seen his recruitment skyrocket picking up offers from Ohio State, Southern California, as well as a few others. When the Gators offered it didn't seem to really impact Samuel much, but he noted UF as a school he is interested in. The Gators will have to keep in constant contact with Samuel as there will likely be many more schools to offer as his recruiting process continues.
[Related: Gators offer Empire State athlete]
While in Brooklyn, both Travaris Robinson and Brian White stopped in to see three star defensive tackle Thomas Holley of Abraham Lincoln high school. In the beginning of Spring the Gators were on of many schools to offer him and are one of a few schools that have been named as one that he talks with two or three times a week.
[Related: First to stop in to see top defensive tackle]
Florida offensive line coach Tim Davis spent some time in Louisiana on Tuesday.
Making a stop in New Orleans (La.) St. Augustine to see offensive guard commit Joseph Paul. Not only did the Gators stop by to visit with Paul but also their in state rival, the Miami Hurricanes. Though he told Inside the Gators that he is solid with Florida, he still plans to take visits this summer and fall.
Paul wasn't the only Bayou State lineman seen on Tuesday.
The other top Louisiana lineman that Davis dropped by to see is Baton Rouge (La.) University Laboratory Rivals250 offensive guard Garrett Brumfield. The Gators were one of the first schools to offer this top interior lineman and have always been named among his leaders. Currently Brumfield has the Gators in his top three.
[Related: Four-star lineman has a top three]
Florida defensive line coach Brad Lawing made a huge visit on Tuesday, when he stopped by to check on Woodbridge (Va.) Senior five star defensive end Da'Shawn Hand. The Gators have been named in the nation's number one overall players top five schools and made the cut mostly because of Coach Lawing.
MONDAY 4/15
On Monday the Florida Gator coaching staff spread out across the nation checking in on many top name high school football prospects on the first day of the spring evaluation period.
One of the biggest names that the UF coaches stopped by to see was Washington (D.C) Friendship Collegiate Academy Rivals100 cornerback Jalen Tabor. Early on Tabor holds a top five of Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt. This four star defensive back took notice to the fact that the Gators were the only coaches to make the stop by his school on the very first day they were allowed to. The Gators have been a team that Tabor has always named among his leaders. Expect Florida to nab an official visit in the fall.
[Related: Tabor talks Florida visit]
Florida defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin was in Illinois Monday morning and checked in on two of the Gators biggest targets. First Durkin stopped by Joliet (Il) Plainfield South Rivals100 linebacker Clifton Garrett to check in and evaluate. Durkin observed a team workout and according to Garrett he left "fired up". Early on Garrett says that Ole Miss, LSU, and USC are schools standing out. Of course that list can continue to grow after a few more visits are taken. This weekend he will visit Alabama and LSU.
[Related: Two stand out to Rivals100 linebacker]
Durkin then later went in to check on Bolingbrook (Ill.) Rivals250 cornerback Parrker Westphal. About a month ago Westphal told Inside the Gators that he would take a visit to UF in April sometime, but has year to make it down yet. The Gators already have this four star's 2012 teammate Antonio Morrison on campus and on the field.
Defensive line coach Brad Lawing and the Gators continue to push hard for Fayetteville (N.C.) Pine Forest three-star defensive tackle Lamont Gaillard. After visiting the University of Georgia this past weekend Gaillard has strayed away from naming any leaders outright, just has the Gators and the Bulldogs are tied on top. Georgia is a team that has infatuated him for some time, so this is not good for the Gators, who were in a great shape for him right after he visited Gainesville two weekends ago for their final spring practice.
[Related: Top defensive tackle talks SEC East programs]
Florida wide receivers coach Joker Phillips made stops in Texas to check in on two big time pass catchers.
First he made a quick stop by Texas City (Tx.) Rivals250 wide receiver Armanti Foreman. The Gators were his favorite team growing up, so to get a visit from his childhood favorite was very big for him.
Philips later made a stop by Houston (Tx.) Alief Taylor Rivals250 wide receiver Keenen Brown. This is the first time the Gators have spoken with Brown, and he said he is very interested in the Gators. Coach Philips told Brown's head coach that they are looking for a tall wide out, and think that he can fit that role.
[Related: Gators making a play for four-star receiver]