On Wednesday evening the University of Florida’s recruiting class took the biggest hit of the 2017 cycle when Pasadena (Calif.) Muir Rivals100 cornerback Elijah Blades decommitted from the Gators in order to reopen his recruiting process.
Just yesterday Blades told Inside the Gators that his commitment to Florida was at 85-percent, but he wouldn't make his final decision until Signing Day.
What’s Next: Blades says that he will be making his final decision next week on National Signing Day February 1st. He says the Gators are still in the picture along with Nebraska, Oregon, USC, and Georgia. However, you have to feel like he will end up at a school west of the Mississippi.
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* FEARLESS FORECAST: PREDICTING WHERE FLORIDA TARGETS SIGN
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* Florida falls to 34th in team recruiting rankings
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Blake’s Take: This coming with less then a week left to signing day does not bode well for Florida. The Gators used their in-home visit with Blades to see his parents on Tuesday in California while their son is in Orlando for the North American Championship, where coaches are not allowed to visit. Nebraska has felt very confident in their chances to land Blades coming off their official visit last weekend and should be the team to watch here going forward. USC is also lingering in this picture as well, but the buzz for a while has been pointing towards Nebraska being the team with the best shot to sway him from the Gators.
[RELATED: Discuss Blades decommitment in the Alley]
Possible Replacement: Not long after the Blade's news became public – you can assume he told the Florida coaches earlier before announcing it – Bellaire (Tx.) three-star defensive back Donovan Stiner informed ITG that he had set up an official visit with the Gators for this weekend. Stiner, a Houston commit, has yet to be offered.
[RELATED: Discuss Stiner in the Alley]
Remaining Targets: What was once a very promising defensive backs board now basically boils down to what happens with Brian Edwards, Brad Stewart and CJ Henderson. Florida is leading for Stewart, but the other two are trending to other programs. Perhaps that will change now that Florida is even more desperate to sign players in the secondary?
