Florida Gators 2011 Recruiting Class

[Escambia94]

Here is the Florida Gator recruiting class of 2011, ranked number 11 in the country, and was probably the best class under Will Muschamp. The Gators took in 19 recruits. As of December 2012, six have transferred out, three have not yet accrued any statistics, and one has barely registered any stats. Both QBs transferred out, and the star of this class was All American punter, Kyle Christy. This class had 9 ESPN top 150 athletes, with 6 on offense. Only 2 of them finished football careers with the Gators. The remainder transferred at some point.

This class had 1 five-star, 16 four-star, and 11 three-star athletes. 9 athletes transferred out of this class (1 five-star, 6 four-star, and two three-star), and one player medically retired.

1. CB Pop Saunders 5-11 170 from Deland High School, Deland FL 4* EE
   • Transferred to Tennessee State 12/15/12
2. WR A.C. Leonard 6-3 220 from Interlachen High School, Interlachen FL 4* EE
   • Transferred to Tennessee State 7/18/12
3. QB Jeff Driskel 6-4 225 from Hagerty High School, Oviedo FL 5* EE
   • 16/34 148 yds, 7 TD, 2 INT in 2011
   • 140/216 1471 yds, 11 TD, 3 INT in 2012
   • Missed most of 2013 due to injury
   • Transferred to Louisiana Tech in 2014 after graduation
4. WR Javares McRoy 5-9 165 from Lakeland High School, Lakeland FL 4* EE
   • Transferred to Texas Tech 4/1/11
5. FB Hunter Joyer 6-0 245 from Tampa Catholic High School, Tampa FL 3*
   • 18 att, 82 yds, 2 TDs in 2011
   • 2 att, 1 yd, 0 TD in 2012 (mainly used in blocking)
   • increased role with Skyler Mornhinweg at QB in 2013
6. OL Tommy Jordan 6-5 285 from Ridgefield High School, Ridgefield CT 4*
   • Medical RS in 2011. No stats accrued in 2012.
   • Medical scholarship 2013, no longer plays football
7. WR Ja'Juan Story 6-3 190 from Nature Coast Technical High School, Brooksville FL 4*
   • Transferred to TCU 8/17/12
8. K Kyle Christy 6-2 175 from Brownsburg High School, Brownsburg ID 3* EE
   • Named to 2012 AP All American team
   • Lost starting job in 2013 after being placed on Ray Guy watch list
9. OT Trip Thurman 6-6 305 from Dover High School, Dover DL 3*
   • Medical RS in 2011
   • Legal issues in 2012
   • Increased playing time 2013
10. CB Loucheiz Purifoy 5-11 170 from Pine Forest High School, Pensacola FL 3*
    • 27 tackles in 2011, played on special teams
    • 51 tackles in 2012, played on special teams and offense
    • 2014 NFL Draft
11. DB Valdez Showers 6-0 180 from Madison Heights High School, Madison Heights MI 4*
    • no stats in 2011
    • 2 tackles in 2012
    • moved to RB as jet sweep specialist in 2013
12. S Chris "Juice" Johnson 5-11 205 from Ocala Catholic High School, Ocala FL 3*
    • 1 KO ret/ 8 yds, 3 tackles in 2011 on ST
    • 35 yards rushing, 1 fumble return, 5 tackles in 2012 on ST
    • Transferred 1/6/2013
    • Died in 2014
13. LB Clay Burton 6-3 230 from Venice High School, Venice FL 4* EE
    • RS in 2011
    • 2 rec/ 12 yds as TE, misc ST plays in 2012
    • 1 TD as TE in 2013
14. RB Mike Blakely 5-9 194 from Manatee High School, Bradenton FL 4*
    • Transferred to Auburn 5/25/11
15. CB Jabari Gorman 6-11 175 from Monsignor Pace High School, Miami FL 4*
    • 1 INT, 8 tackles in 2011
    • 1 INT, 2 tackles in 2012
    • Undrafted in the NFL, plays arena football
16. OLB Graham Stewart 6-4 225 of Xavier High School, Middletown CT 4*
    • Transferred to Connecticut 5/31/11
17. DE Tevin Westbrook 6-5 260 of North Broward High School, Coconut Creek FL 3*
    • no stats in 2011
    • no stats in 2012
    • moved to TE in 2013
18. S Marcus Roberson 6-0 180 of St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Fort Lauderdale FL 4*
    • 1 INT, 22 tackles in 2011
    • 2 punt ret/ 81 yds, 2 INT, 20 tackles in 2012
    • Undrafted free agent for St. Louis Rams
19. QB Jacoby Brissett 6-5 225 of Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer High School, Palm Beach Gardens FL 3*
    • 18/39 206 yds, 2 TD, 4 INT in 2011
    • 23/35 249 yds, 1 TD, 0 INT in 2012
    • Transferred to NC State 1/6/13

 

[DRU2012]

Let's see, 2011...That's the first year Muschamp came--and a recruiting-class that was just a couple of weeks after his hiring! While he did have some honorable folks here already to help him and his OWN considerable talent and insight with which to work, he HAD to more or less rely on the legwork done by MEYER'S staff--with Meyer himself working against him, covertly even before he got here (in trying to cull the best--as in "most-talented/least-trouble-making"--of those prospects and woo them to tOSU with HIM instead), then OVERTLY once he was run outta here (and I don't want to start that argument again, but it remains a FACT that, though Foley and the rest put as good a face on it as they could for the sake of their own and the program's image, behind-the-scenes and in any practical assessment "run outta here" is no exaggeration as to the sudden change-in-attitude, practical shutting-off-of-access, and basic "Don't let the door hit you-in-the-ass-on-your-way-out" way that contact between Meyer and UF was ultimately managed--because MEYER had shown himself to have abused the trust everyone up-'til-then thought he'd deserved).
All things considered, that we did as well as we did out of that class borders on amazing...Even more than was appreciated at the time, we weren't NEAR as damaged by that experience as we well might have been. When you consider the 1/2 dozen individuals that were "lost"/"didn't work out", it is clear by standards of quantity OR quality that NOT "getting screwed up badly by 2011" may have been as important as how WELL we did in 2012, and in (what looks to be an amazingly even BETTER) 2013 as well.

 

[Escambia94]

Sheesh. Every thread. It's getting old. I need a break.

 

[DRU2012]

Escambia94, OK--'nuff said (sorry).
In truth, I really appreciate your threads, columns and comments, E-, and am certain everyone else does here as well--even those "silent guests" I've referred to--maybe ESPECIALLY them...I mean, they're coming and spending time and attention, bouncing from thread-to-article-to-thread for SOME reason: More likely YOUR contributions than mine, for eg.

(Umm, ps...Happy New Year.)

 

[Escambia94]

This class rates at about a 1.1 GPA right now.
CB Pop Saunders 5-11 170 from Deland High School, Deland FL 3* EE 0
WR A.C. Leonard 6-3 220 from Interlachen High School, Interlachen FL 4* EE 0
QB Jeff Driskel 6-4 225 from Hagerty High School, Oviedo FL 5* EE 4
WR Javares McRoy 5-9 165 from Lakeland High School, Lakeland FL 4* EE 0
FB Hunter Joyer 6-0 245 from Tampa Catholic High School, Tampa FL 3* 2
OL Tommy Jordan 6-5 285 from Ridgefield High School, Ridgefield CT 4* 0
WR Ja'Juan Story 6-3 190 from Nature Coast Technical High School, Brooksville FL 4* 0
K Kyle Christy 6-2 175 from Brownsburg High School, Brownsburg ID 3* EE 4
OT Trip Thurman 6-6 305 from Dover High School, Dover DL 3* 1
CB Loucheiz Purifoy 5-11 170 from Pine Forest High School, Pensacola FL 3* 3
DB Valdez Showers 6-0 180 from Madison Heights High School, Madison Heights MI 4* 1
S Chris "Juice" Johnson 5-11 205 from Ocala Catholic High School, Ocala FL 3* 0
LB Clay Burton 6-3 230 from Venice High School, Venice FL 4* EE 2
RB Mike Blakely 5-9 194 from Manatee High School, Bradenton FL 4* 0
CB Jabari Gorman 6-11 175 from Monsignor Pace High School, Miami FL 4* 1
OLB Graham Stewart 6-4 225 of Xavier High School, Middletown CT 4* 0
DE Tevin Westbrook 6-5 260 of North Broward High School, Coconut Creek FL 3* 1
S Marcus Roberson 6-0 180 of St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Fort Lauderdale FL 4* 2
QB Jacoby Brissett 6-5 225 of Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer High School, Palm Beach Gardens FL 3* 0
19 21
1.105263158

 

[DRU2012]

Not good. However, among those left ARE a FEW really good ones who will likely play important roles in whatever success we are to realize in 2013...and then there is JD, for whom yes, the jury is still out (I like him, expect big things from him, but he really DOES have to make GOOD on it all this year)--but we all better hope he comes through, BIG time, if the offense is to begin to properly hold up its end. With so many talented-but-inexperienced young lions on DEFENSE who will be playing together for the first time, though I think they'll be really good as the season goes along, we will likely NEED more offensive output in the early going, if we are to keep winning in the early going while the D rounds into form. Eventually this defense is going to be even BETTER than last season's (which is SAYING something), and if we turn out to have a decent offense, itself continuing to grow in strength and efficiency, by the time that it is then the 2013 Gator squad will be a formidable unit indeed by the 2nd half of the season.

 

[Escambia94]

No matter what, Jeff Driskel still rates an A from me. He would have to transfer out in order for me to give him anything any lower; however, if I had to redo his high school rating I would demote him from 5 star to 4 star and change his classification from pro-style to dual-threat.

Trip Thurman is dangerously close to going from a D to an F. He needs to keep his nose clean with the law. Marcus Roberson can be demoted from a C to a D if he loses even more playing time.

 

[DRU2012]

I'm a Driskel guy, y'all know that--but even I have to concede that it is time for him to now TAKE "that next step"...I'm among those who expects him to DO just that (his "retroactive rating" means nothing to me, frankly--there was debate about that even at the time, and by now I'm concerned only with his present and future development).
Roberson showed some real skill and drive finally towards the end of last season...If he continues in that vein and becomes more steady and consistent at that level-of-play, then the only reason he won't start in 2013 is because we've now got guys who have even more talent and upward potential--and THEY begin to come into their own in THEIR first seasons here...If he keeps his nose clean and keeps working hard, though, he will at least find himself a PART of the on-field mix, I think.

 

[Escambia94]

I am a Driskel supporter, but I want the best athlete to win the position. If the Gators land JUCO transfer Tanner McEvoy, then I want them to battle to the death to make sure the best man wins.

 

[DRU2012]

Well, I think the idea is for McCoy to be a promising/reliable backup--against whom Mornigweg will begin competing. The INTENTION is (at least through the spring and, provided he continues to improve, heading into the 2013 season) that JD be the "unquestioned starter and leader of this offense", the pressure now solely on him to SUCCEED, to "come into his own", rather than to feel he has anyone "breathing down his neck" any longer.
I know you (and others) don't agree with this approach, E-, but I am well-convinced that it is the way the Coaches are trying to frame things at this time.
That isn't necessarily MY "opinion", btw--but it IS how I understand and envision the way THEY think is best, most realistically hopeful and effective, and how they want JD to feel in order to give him the best chance of living up to those hopes and expectations.
So please don't "shoot the messenger".