All but one of the twelve recruits in the class of 2012 has been cleared for fall football. Given the depleted scholarship roster, we can assume these new recruits may see plenty of action early on. Unfortunately, with the passing of the July 2nd deadline for academic clearing Florida has suffered one setback with four-star defensive lineman Dante Phillips. Dante has been denied admission by the University of Florida, purportedly over the university's stricter academic requirements. Whether or not this is the reason, this may spark some debate over the University of Florida's recruiting practices and may become a dark mark on Muschamp if the media gets a hold of this story. We should hope the best for Dante, wherever he goes next, and hope that Will Muschamp addresses this issue with Dante, his parents, and potential recruits in the Venice area before his reputation as a recruiter gets tarnished. Dante has the size of a gap stopper, unlike hybrid players like Lerentee McCray and Ronald Powell, and could have challenged for an immediate starter role.
Here is a recap on the recruiting class of 2012. The Gators signed 22 of the 25 players allowed (NCAA allows 28, but SEC limits to 25) including 7 early enrollees.
Final class tally: 22.
"Lost commitments": 3
Academically ineligible: 1 (Dante Philips)
In order for the 3-4 scheme to work, some of these 2012 recruits will need to step in quickly at linebacker or in new positions amongst the defensive line.
Florida had 57 scholarship players out of 85 maximum without this incoming class, leaving 28 scholarships available for the incoming class (actually, 25 due to SEC restrictions). With this class taking 22 of those 28 scholarships, there are still only 79 players on scholarship, leaving room for 6 walk-ons, 6 EEs in 2013 (not counting more graduations, transfers, or miscellaneous losses of scholarships) or else those 6 go unclaimed in 2012. For historical sake, the Gators only had 77 on scholarship without walk-ons in 2007, 82 in 2009, but had a full complement of 85 in 2010 (27 recruits in 2010 versus 17 in 2009, thanks to Urban Meyer staying on). In 2011 there were 70, with four of them being walk-ons. That drop-off from 2010 to 2011 is the equivalent of losing an entire recruiting class in one year!
Compare the 2012 class to the 2011 class. The 2011 class is much smaller and it does contain two QBs, but no notable WRs and RBs. Driskel or Brissett will need to emerge as the clear leader, Kyle Christy will need to be more consistent at punter, and A.C. Leonard needs to keep out of trouble.
2006: 27 (estimated 80 scholarship players on opening day) [+2, -5, +1]
2007: 27 (26 minus Cam Newton) (77 scholarship players) [+1, -8, -3]
2008: 23 (84 scholarship players) [-2, -1, +7]
2009: 17 (82 scholarship players) [-8, -3, -2]
2010: 27 (with 9 transfers out, leaving 18) (82 scholarship players) [-9, -3, 0]
2011: 19 (subtract two transfers out, leaving 17) (70 scholarship players) [-8, -15, -12]
2012: 22 (add one JUCO transfer in, for total of 23) (79 scholarship players) [-3, -6, +9]
2013: 21 (pending NSD in April 2013 and addition of more players)(add one D1 transfer)(4 added after FNL in July 2012)
The 2011 and 2012 recruiting classes will need to step up quickly, and they will need to get along with the 2009 and 2010 classes in order to form a cohesive team in order to climb back to the top of the SEC. Right now, it looks like 2013 will be the Gators' strong year, but they will need to build up a strong foundation of experience and toughness in 2012 in order to get the most out of this odd mix of youngsters and veterans.
Here is a recap on the recruiting class of 2012. The Gators signed 22 of the 25 players allowed (NCAA allows 28, but SEC limits to 25) including 7 early enrollees.
Final class tally: 22.
"Lost commitments": 3
Academically ineligible: 1 (Dante Philips)
In order for the 3-4 scheme to work, some of these 2012 recruits will need to step in quickly at linebacker or in new positions amongst the defensive line.
- WR - Latroy Pittman (EE, C: 8/7/10)
- RB - Matt Jones (C: 2/14/11, OV 1/21/12)
- OLB - Jeremi Powell (C: 2/19/11)
- OG - Jessamen Dunker (EE, C: 3/21/11)
- DT - Jafar Mann (C: 3/25/11, OV 1/21/12)
- SDE - Quinteze Williams (EE, C: 3/30/11)
- CB - Willie Bailey (EE, C: 4/5/11)
- TE - Colin Thompson (C: 5/5/11, OV 1/21/12)
- CB - Brian Poole (C: 6/13/11, OV 1/21)
- K - Austin Hardin (C: 6/22/11)
- SS - Rhaheim Ledbetter (C: 7/15/11)
- FS - Marcus Maye (C: 7/18/11)
- ILB - Antonio Morrison (EE, C: 8/3/11)
- OT - DJ Humphries (EE, C: 8/5/11)
- TE - Kent Taylor (C: 10/27/11)
- DT - Damien Jacobs (EE from East Mississippi Junior College, C: 12/21/11, LOI)
- SDE - Jonathan Bullard (C: 1/7/12, USA)
- SDE - Bryan Cox Jr. (C: 1/21/12)
- WDE - Alex McCalister (C: 1/23/12)
- QB - Skyler Mornhinweg (C: 1/28/12, switched from Penn State)
- WR - Raphael Andrades (C: NSD)
- WDE/LB - Dante Fowler Jr. FSU C: 1/28/12 - UF C: NSD
Florida had 57 scholarship players out of 85 maximum without this incoming class, leaving 28 scholarships available for the incoming class (actually, 25 due to SEC restrictions). With this class taking 22 of those 28 scholarships, there are still only 79 players on scholarship, leaving room for 6 walk-ons, 6 EEs in 2013 (not counting more graduations, transfers, or miscellaneous losses of scholarships) or else those 6 go unclaimed in 2012. For historical sake, the Gators only had 77 on scholarship without walk-ons in 2007, 82 in 2009, but had a full complement of 85 in 2010 (27 recruits in 2010 versus 17 in 2009, thanks to Urban Meyer staying on). In 2011 there were 70, with four of them being walk-ons. That drop-off from 2010 to 2011 is the equivalent of losing an entire recruiting class in one year!
Compare the 2012 class to the 2011 class. The 2011 class is much smaller and it does contain two QBs, but no notable WRs and RBs. Driskel or Brissett will need to emerge as the clear leader, Kyle Christy will need to be more consistent at punter, and A.C. Leonard needs to keep out of trouble.
Mike Blakely, RB, transferred out- Clay Burton, DL
- Kyle Christy, PK
- Jeff Driskel, QB
- A.C. Leonard, TE, team suspension
Javares McRoy, WR, transferred- De'Ante "Pop" Saunders, falling down depth chart
- Jabari Gorman, DB
- Chris Johnson, DB
- Tommy Jordan, OL, may gain playing time
- Hunter Joyer, FB, shows promise as FB
- Loucheiz Purifoy, DB, looks to gain playing time
- Marcus Roberson, DB, up-and-down player
- Valdez Showers, DB, looks very promising
Graham Stewart, LB, transferred to UConn- Ja'Juan Story, WR
- Trip Thurman, OL
- Tevin Westbrook, DL
- Jacoby Brissett, QB
Neiron Ball, DE/LB, medical issues- Trey Burton, QB/TE/WR/RB, look for good things at the hybrid RB position
Gerald Christian, TE/LB, transferredRobert Clark, WR/KR, transferred- Matt Elam, S, anchors the defense
Jordan Haden, S, transferred- Leon Orr, DT, needs to stay out of trouble
- Solomon Patton, WR, shows promise
Josh Shaw, CB, transferred- Ian Silberman, OL
- Jaylen Watkins, CB
- Gideon Ajagbe, LB
- Mack Brown, RB
Adrian Coxson, WR, transferJonathan Dowling, S/WR, transfer- Quinton Dunbar, WR
Chris Dunkley, WR, transfer- Dominique Easley, DT
- Shariff Floyd, DT
- Chaz Green, OL
- Darrin Kitchens, LB
Michael McFarland, TE, transferred- Tyler Murphy, QB
- Ronald Powell, DE/LB, injured
- Cody Riggs, CB
- Michael Taylor, LB
Lynden Trail, DE, transferTrayvon Van, ATH (did not academically qualify, transferred to Marshall)
- Nick Alajajian, OL
- Jon Bostic, LB, the anchor of the linebacker corps and potential All SEC
- Gary Brown, DT
- Andre Debose, WR, potential star on offense needs a breakout year
- Josh Evans, DB
Dee Finley, S, transferred- Mike Gillislee, RB, needs to have a breakout year and prove he does not fall short of expectations, like Moooody
- Jon Halapio, OG, needs to stay healthy and live up to expectations...no more grading out as champion without on-field production
- Jonothan Harrison, OL, dependable veteran
Edwin Herbert, DT, transferred in JUCO, graduated- Jelani Jenkins, LB
- Kedric Johnson, DE
- Kyle Koehne, OL
- Xavier Nixon, OT
Desmond Parks, TE, injuries, not on roster- Jordan Reed, QB/TE
2006: 27 (estimated 80 scholarship players on opening day) [+2, -5, +1]
2007: 27 (26 minus Cam Newton) (77 scholarship players) [+1, -8, -3]
2008: 23 (84 scholarship players) [-2, -1, +7]
2009: 17 (82 scholarship players) [-8, -3, -2]
2010: 27 (with 9 transfers out, leaving 18) (82 scholarship players) [-9, -3, 0]
2011: 19 (subtract two transfers out, leaving 17) (70 scholarship players) [-8, -15, -12]
2012: 22 (add one JUCO transfer in, for total of 23) (79 scholarship players) [-3, -6, +9]
2013: 21 (pending NSD in April 2013 and addition of more players)(add one D1 transfer)(4 added after FNL in July 2012)
The 2011 and 2012 recruiting classes will need to step up quickly, and they will need to get along with the 2009 and 2010 classes in order to form a cohesive team in order to climb back to the top of the SEC. Right now, it looks like 2013 will be the Gators' strong year, but they will need to build up a strong foundation of experience and toughness in 2012 in order to get the most out of this odd mix of youngsters and veterans.