FloridaGatorforLife
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The signees: Troy Epps, DT, 6-foot, 285 pounds, Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College; William Green, DE, 6-4, 215, Hoover (Ala.) Spain Park; Omar Hunter, DT, 6-0, 322, Buford, Ga.; Earl Okine, DE, 6-5, 250, Gainesville
The star: With a huge need at defensive tackle, the UF coaches made Hunter their No. 1 recruiting target down the stretch. The five-star prospect was dominant in the Under Armour All-America game and could be an early contributor at nose tackle.
The sleeper: Epps is rated only a three-star prospect by the recruiting services, but he's an aggressive run-stopper who could challenge for a starting role at tackle this spring.
One that got away: Chaz Sutton, DE, Savannah (Ga.) Jenkins. Actually, the four-star defensive end didn't get away, the Gators let him go about a week before signing day due to grade issues. Sutton ended up signing with South Carolina and former UF coach Steve Spurrier.
Grade: A. The Gators signed a complete defensive line, securing two tackles and two ends. Perhaps UF's biggest recruiting need for 2008 was defensive tackle and the Gators signed two (Hunter and Epps) who could have an immediate impact. On signing day, UF coach Urban Meyer compared end William Green to Jarvis Moss.
Top target in 2009? Ryne Giddins, DE, 6-4, 230, Seffner Armwood. As a junior, Giddins recorded 21 sacks, seven coming against Plant's Aaron Murray, the No. 1 quarterback on UF's board for 2009. His childhood favorite is Florida State, and he already has offers from FSU, Florida, Auburn and South Florida.
http://gatorsports.com/article/20080215/NEWS/423135016/1016
Go Gators!
The star: With a huge need at defensive tackle, the UF coaches made Hunter their No. 1 recruiting target down the stretch. The five-star prospect was dominant in the Under Armour All-America game and could be an early contributor at nose tackle.
The sleeper: Epps is rated only a three-star prospect by the recruiting services, but he's an aggressive run-stopper who could challenge for a starting role at tackle this spring.
One that got away: Chaz Sutton, DE, Savannah (Ga.) Jenkins. Actually, the four-star defensive end didn't get away, the Gators let him go about a week before signing day due to grade issues. Sutton ended up signing with South Carolina and former UF coach Steve Spurrier.
Grade: A. The Gators signed a complete defensive line, securing two tackles and two ends. Perhaps UF's biggest recruiting need for 2008 was defensive tackle and the Gators signed two (Hunter and Epps) who could have an immediate impact. On signing day, UF coach Urban Meyer compared end William Green to Jarvis Moss.
Top target in 2009? Ryne Giddins, DE, 6-4, 230, Seffner Armwood. As a junior, Giddins recorded 21 sacks, seven coming against Plant's Aaron Murray, the No. 1 quarterback on UF's board for 2009. His childhood favorite is Florida State, and he already has offers from FSU, Florida, Auburn and South Florida.
http://gatorsports.com/article/20080215/NEWS/423135016/1016
Go Gators!
