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Published Feb 2, 2017
The Day After Breakdown
Mark Wheeler  •  1standTenFlorida
Publisher

Normally The Day After Breakdown is reserved for Inside the Gators to look back on the previous day's football game. We're going to switch up somewhat today and use it to take a more in-depth look at Florida's Class of 2017.

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* McElwain turns attention to staff, quarterbacks

* Signing Class Grades: Offense

* Redshirt Report: Wells looks to rebound after shaky start

* Anonymous Florida Football player Q&A (ask anything UF related)

* Florida's furious finish is one for the ages

* Player switches positions ahead of spring ball

* Florida coaches share signee evaluations

* GET TWO FREE MONTHS OF INSIDE THE GATORS

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GRADING THE GATORS
POSCOMMENTGRADE

QB

Putting aside recruiting service rankings and any personal opinions the rest of us may have, in Jake Allen the staff got the quarterback they targeted early on in the process. Based on their own evaluation, this grade is likely much higher then my own. He has okay size, a decent but not great arm and doesn't' make a ton of mistakes. I don't see him being a difference maker, but he isn't terrible either. Though he may start out at quarterback this spring - Kadarius Toney probably ends up at another position at some point.

C

RB

There are several things to like about the pair of running backs Florida added in this cycle. Both Malik Davis and Adarius Lemons have good size and speed. Both are capable of making the big play and their rankings aren't just based on potential, they have both been productive players. If not for Lemons off-the-field issues this would be a solid A.

B+

WR

It isn't often that you get two Rivals250 wide outs but the position group still feels a bit like a letdown. Daquon Green is solid, but not fast or athletic enough to be spectacular. While Jame Robinson has the tools to be spectacular, but when you carry the baggage he does, you have to worry about his mindset and a potential slip-up. Florida may not have hit on any of the very elite receivers they were in the running for (Donovan People-Jones and Jerry Jeudy), but they have to feel like they received two very nice consolation prizes.

B-

TE

In Kemore Gamble Florida nabbed the top tight end in the state. A former wide out who converted to tight end as a senior, he is still learning his way. It is interesting to see that Florida listed him at 243-pounds yesterday. What Florida has here is a player with wide receiver hands and athleticism who looks like he is gaining tight end size. This early enrollee will be one to watch over the spring.

B+

OL

While they probably didn't get the numbers that they had hoped for here, you have to give the staff credit for not reaching for another body or two that wasn't up to the level they wanted. Go ahead and let Kadeem Telfort and TJ Moore compete this year and then adjust your recruiting and numbers accordingly next cycle. A wild card here is what happens with former Clemson starting tackle Jake Fruhmorgen.

C+

OFF

You would have liked to have seen more skill position firepower added. Instead Florida has some kids who look like they could be upgrades over current players (Telfort and Gamble), but no one really stands out as someone who can come in and immediately upgrade an offense that is in desperate need of being upgraded.

B-

DL

Yes, Florida would have liked to have taken another lineman or two, but there's no way anyone can realistically be unhappy with the four that they nabbed. What is impressive is that not only is the quartet talented, there are no 'tweeners' or projects to wait on while they reach their potential or the right size. All four are big and strong enough to at least make a run at playing time as freshmen. Three of them - Kyree Campbell, Tedarrell Slaton and Elijah Conliffe - are over 300-pounds and the fourth - Zachary Carter - has enough size to maybe see some action outside. Though he looks like he needs to gain some muscle. Keep an eye on Conliffe. He looks like he moves well for someone his size.

A

LB

It is hard to get excited about this bunch when you compare what Florida ended up with to what they were in the running for earlier in the recruiting cycle. Ventrell Miller looks like the best of the bunch. If history has taught us anything, it is to beware of linebackers coming off knee injuries - which should somewhat temper the enthusiasm for James Houston. It will be interesting to follow the development of the two - Nicholas Smith and Lacedrick Brunson. Putting fandom aside, forget rankings or personal opinions, going by their recruiting timelines, they were back-up options to back-up options. This was a down year in the state at linebacker, so you have to give the staff somewhat of a pass here.

C-

SEC

Even with signing six defensive backs in this class you still get the feeling that Florida could have used at least one more cornerback. They didn't get some of the top kids they were after - Devon Hunter, Shaun Wade and Elijah Blades - but this is still a top notch group. He has a slighter build, but I think Marco Wilson is more athletic than his brother Quincy. To me, C.J Henderson is potentially the steal of the class. He is the one I think has a chance to come in and crack the starting lineup. To me Brad Stewart is the wildcard. His interest level and offer list from other Power 5 Conference teams doesn't match his tape. That can be scary. There has to be a reason. Shawn Davis projects to safety more-so than corner at this point.

A

DEF

Though another signee or two would have been icing on the cake, Florida needed not only numbers but impact players at defensive tackle and cornerback and I think they filled those two needs. The linebacker and safety group is a bit of a letdown, but overall what is being brought in is still a huge positive not just for the future, but the coming season.

A

OVER

ALL

If you are rating this class compared to the Urban Meyer, Ron Zook or Will Muschamp years, on paper it doesn't' look quite so favorable. If you are comparing it to McElwain's first class, it is spectacular. The truth lies somewhere in-between. Florida didn't get everyone they wanted, but no one does - including Alabama. However, they signed enough impact players and filled enough needs - especially on defense - to warrant a high grade.

B+

DEFINING MOMENTS   

Come on, could it be anything other than Signing Day where Florida's furious finish is one for the ages.

HOT & NOT  

* Hot: Florida recruiting in the southern part of the state. In this cycle Florida signed 10 prospects from South Florida - six of them were rated as a four-star. Is this the Gators best south Florida signing class ever?

* Not: Nothing can rain on the Florida fan-base's parade today.

BY THE NUMBERS  

1 - Florida was able to land but one Rivals100 member - Zachary Carter - this recruiting cycle. If there is an area where the Gators need to improve it is in signing the very elite prospects. The guys at the top of the rankings who are true difference makers.

4.3 - This is Florida's average recruiting class finish in the 10 non-coaching transitional classes during the Rivals era prior to McElwain and staff taking over. To be clear, while a 9th place finish is certainly better than what happened in 2016, and looks good compared to where Florida was a couple of days prior to National Signing Day, it still isn't up to the standards of past Gators' classes.

9 - Florida was as low as No. 35 in the Rivals team recruiting rankings with just over a week remaining in this recruiting cycle. However, the Gators added 10 commitments -six of which were rated as four-stars - to make up an incredible amount of ground and wound up finishing in the No. 9 spot in the final team rankings.

13 - The number of five-star rated prospects signed by teams Florida will face in the 2017 season (FSU, 4, UGA - 2, Michigan - 3, LSU - 3, Texas A&M - 1). You can go ahead and make it an even 20 if the Gators see Alabama (7) in the SEC Championship Game again.

25 - As in 25% or 1/4 of the four and five-star rated prospects in the Sunshine State signed with Florida. That's right, after getting beaten up in-state during the last cycle, the Gators rebounded in a big way to sign 11 of the 44 in-state prospects who were rated four-stars or above by Rivals.

35 - The low-point for Florida as far as recruiting rankings are concerned this cycle happened a week ago. The Gators dropped to No. 34 with the defection of Elijah Blades and then fell an additional spot later on when another team gained a commitment. In the end that means Florida moved up 26 spots in the last week of this recruiting cycle.

65.2 - The percentage of this Florida signing class ranked as four and five stars. Though, again, Florida didn't land the elite of the elite prospects, they did rebound in a big way in that 65.2% of the signees were four-stars. In the 2016 cycle only 40% of Florida's signees were four and five stars. Though he came in late, in the 2015 cycle only 33.3% of the Gators' signees were four and five stars. UF almost doubled that percentage this time around.

THE BOTTOM LINE  

Is this class as good as those we saw under Urban Meyer, Ron Zook and Will Muschamp?

No it isn't.

However, to look at it in just those terms is a bit short sighted.

What it is is much better than what Florida was able to land last year and one hell of a lot better than it looked like it would be just one short week ago.

Basically, what you see here is a staff finding their footing. If this had been another so-so signing class, there would have been legitimate cause for concern.

But it wasn't, so now there isn't.

What I see is progress to build upon.

I see enthusiasm both in the staff and fanbase that I didnt' see at this time last year.

That could be, should be, and will be a building block over the spring and summer.

Oh yeah, also keep in mind Florida did all this down two full time assistants. It will be interesting to see what they can do going forward playing with a full deck.

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