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This at least the second former-5-star we’ve grabbed through the transfer-portal in the last less-than-a-week (the other was that RB, also out of the SEC)...This says a LOT of things—about the uncertainties of recruiting and rankings and the importance of “fit” every bit as much as inherent talent coming out of high school. But what we REALLY need is to grab some “5-Stars” off the lines (offense AND defense!) on first crack at ‘em if we wanna move up to the highest level; you hardly EVER see those guys move from the teams that they originally commit to: They are that rare, and commensurately valued.
This at least the second former-5-star we’ve grabbed through the transfer-portal in the last less-than-a-week (the other was that RB, also out of the SEC)...This says a LOT of things—about the uncertainties of recruiting and rankings and the importance of “fit” every bit as much as inherent talent coming out of high school. But what we REALLY need is to grab some “5-Stars” off the lines (offense AND defense!) on first crack at ‘em if we wanna move up to the highest level; you hardly EVER see those guys move from the teams that they originally commit to: They are that rare, and commensurately valued.
They get to go to the schools of their choice—and they PLAY.
You may well be ON to something there, E—...though exactly WHAT (as in how that works and all it implies) is open to some extensive thought, analysis and/or debate: Therein may lie answers regarding all the questions raised BY the very “recruiting limitations” all UF Head Coaches but Meyer have found (and we have had to face) in the “most-modern era” (as in, “Post-Spurrier”).Oddly enough, Gilbert is one of the highest rated players the Gators have ever recruited from any source. Mullen either dislikes recruiting high school kids or just has better luck in the transfer portal out of necessity.
Yeah, but a big deal was made of this “portal grab” when it seemed to drop in our laps a little while back—“immediate recharge of ‘Kyle Pitts quality’, another 5-star no-less—just when we needed it, at a position we just took a big step-down in quality at”, supposedly...Depending on which garbage story you believe, either he failed to make the grades or Dan Mullen sucks at recruiting. It is always nice to collect a 5-star, but the Gators are fine at TE.
Yeah, but a big deal was made of this “portal grab” when it seemed to drop in our laps a little while back—“immediate recharge of ‘Kyle Pitts quality’, another 5-star no-less—just when we needed it, at a position we just took a big step-down in quality at”, supposedly...
As for this being “one more eg of Mullen’s lack of recruiting savvy”, I just don’t know WHAT to think—only that knowing as little as I do from a stark “outside-looking-in” viewpoint, it strikes ME as being just as likely as much a sign of this kid’s immaturity as more evidence of our COACH’S weakness in this regard.
But it IS disappointing, no matter what. More than ever now, I guess we’re left having to “just wait and SEE”: what HAD begun to TIP towards “guarded optimism” has for me now returned to “Uh oh—Who-the-f-KNOWS???!!!”
If Emory comes through and our D makes it at least past “the Mendoza-line” on its way to not-quite-greatness from the abject-zero-level CRAP-FEST that was last year’s onfield product, then all in all beyond that we should be ok...That is, have some idea of where we’re headed and how likely we are to get there, and how soon.
That’s the most (and frankly, the BEST) I can honestly say in clear-eyed judgement of our team and program for now.
I was STARTING to dare to feel better, more hopeful, but yes, now must admit this latest has thrown me some.
It strikes me that if our talent, elusive at best once more, therefore continues to lag, more than ever it will be coaching that makes the difference—or does NOT.
It certainly failed us on defense last season—all the more reason drastic change seemed required. Regardless of how all THAT, its problems AND to what degree it has and/or WILL BE addressed, fair or not, judgement, credit or blame, will now more than ever rest on Dan Mullens’ shoulders.
It seems to all be coming to a tense and dangerous threshold faster and sooner than I felt was or would be the case not so very long ago.
I would caution Gator Nation to try to find and maintain a certain balance of patience and realism as to the things that are and aren’t, have been and may or may not REMAIN within his control over the coming months. This very kind of thing, in this case what seems immature emotional “flip-flopping” on the part of what by all accounts is a talented young athlete whose apparent INNER balance may be lagging far and confusedly BEHIND his physical development—and the very nature of college football is therefore promoting its effects out of all reasonable proportion. Frankly (and personally), at this point I wish we’d never even HEARD of this kid!