Florida Gators: Recruiting
PERRY, Fla. -- When former Florida State defensive ends coach D.J. Eliot left to take the defensive coordinator position at Kentucky, four-star wide receiver Moral Stephens (Perry, Fla./Taylor County) was caught off guard.
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Stephens had built a strong relationship with Eliot, and his departure affected the recruitment of Stephens.
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Stephens had built a strong relationship with Eliot, and his departure affected the recruitment of Stephens.
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Week in review: Rankings, decommitment
May, 18, 2013
May 18
8:30
AM ET
By
Michael DiRocco | ESPN.com
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- A quick look back at the week that was at GatorNation:
Last week was Rankings Week, and GatorNation ranked UF's 2013 schedule, the top offensive and defensive players the Gators will face in 2013, the top 10 freshman contributors, and the top recruiting needs
for 2014.
NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. put Gators QB Jeff Driskel on his list of quarterbacks he's watching in terms of the 2014 draft.
SEC blogger Edward Aschoff writes that RB Matt Jones is ready for the spotlight.
Big 12 blogger David Ubben gave us the Big 12-SEC matchups he'd like to see.
Alabama coach Nick Saban said being called the devil by Florida offensive line coach Tim Davis during a booster club speaking engagement was "terribly disappointing."
On the recruiting trail ...
The biggest news of the week was the decommitment of ESPN 150 OLB Christian Miller (Columbia, S.C./Spring Valley).
GatorNation's Derek Tyson answered your questions in his weekly mailbag.
Tyson also wrote some tidbits, updates and news about the Gators' recruiting in the weekly Tales from the Road and met up with signee Jordan Sherit for a Q&A.
Safety Trey Marshall (Lake City, Fla./Columbia) grew up a Florida fan but there's another school on top of his list right now.
The Florida basketball team picked up a commitment from PG Chris Chiozza (Memphis, Tenn./White Station).
Last week was Rankings Week, and GatorNation ranked UF's 2013 schedule, the top offensive and defensive players the Gators will face in 2013, the top 10 freshman contributors, and the top recruiting needs
for 2014.
NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. put Gators QB Jeff Driskel on his list of quarterbacks he's watching in terms of the 2014 draft.
SEC blogger Edward Aschoff writes that RB Matt Jones is ready for the spotlight.
Big 12 blogger David Ubben gave us the Big 12-SEC matchups he'd like to see.
Alabama coach Nick Saban said being called the devil by Florida offensive line coach Tim Davis during a booster club speaking engagement was "terribly disappointing."
On the recruiting trail ...
The biggest news of the week was the decommitment of ESPN 150 OLB Christian Miller (Columbia, S.C./Spring Valley).
GatorNation's Derek Tyson answered your questions in his weekly mailbag.
Tyson also wrote some tidbits, updates and news about the Gators' recruiting in the weekly Tales from the Road and met up with signee Jordan Sherit for a Q&A.
Safety Trey Marshall (Lake City, Fla./Columbia) grew up a Florida fan but there's another school on top of his list right now.
The Florida basketball team picked up a commitment from PG Chris Chiozza (Memphis, Tenn./White Station).
Each week, Tales From The Road will provide news and updates about where Florida's coaches are recruiting and the prospects making headlines.
This week’s targets: For the fourth straight week, Florida coaches were on the road recruiting. This week a Florida coach headed to Orlando to check in on defensive end Trent Harris, who recently decided to postpone his May 23 commitment date. Florida also checked in on 2015 Orlando (Fla.) Timber Creek running back Jacques Patrick.
Running backs coach Brian White headed to Alabama to check out defensive tackle Cory Thomas, running back Bo Scarbrough and outside linebacker Torrence Brown. Linebacker Dillon Bates had Florida coaches visit him at his practice on Tuesday.
This week’s targets: For the fourth straight week, Florida coaches were on the road recruiting. This week a Florida coach headed to Orlando to check in on defensive end Trent Harris, who recently decided to postpone his May 23 commitment date. Florida also checked in on 2015 Orlando (Fla.) Timber Creek running back Jacques Patrick.
Running backs coach Brian White headed to Alabama to check out defensive tackle Cory Thomas, running back Bo Scarbrough and outside linebacker Torrence Brown. Linebacker Dillon Bates had Florida coaches visit him at his practice on Tuesday.
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- GatorNation wants you to get to know Florida’s incoming freshmen.
How are they preparing for their first college season? What are their goals for 2013?
To find that out, we’re starting a series of Q&As, beginning with defensive end Jordan Sherit (Tampa, Fla./Hillsborough), who is coming off an ACL tear suffered during his senior season.
GatorNation: What’s your current height and weight, what number will you wear, and who will you room with next season?
Sherit: 6-5, 248, No. 17, and I'll be rooming with Vernon Hargreaves III.
GN: What are you doing for offseason conditioning drills?
How are they preparing for their first college season? What are their goals for 2013?
To find that out, we’re starting a series of Q&As, beginning with defensive end Jordan Sherit (Tampa, Fla./Hillsborough), who is coming off an ACL tear suffered during his senior season.
GatorNation: What’s your current height and weight, what number will you wear, and who will you room with next season?
Sherit: 6-5, 248, No. 17, and I'll be rooming with Vernon Hargreaves III.
GN: What are you doing for offseason conditioning drills?
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Still somewhat of a busy week, despite the fact that Florida has finished the spring semester and there's a break before the first summer semester begins.
ESPN provided a wrapup of spring practices around the SEC. Here's the breakdown of the Gators' spring. There are still several important questions that have to be answered.
One of those questions surrounds quarterback Jeff Driskel. How much has he improved and will that make the Gators' passing offense any more potent than it was in 2012, when it ranked 114th nationally? History seems to be on Driskel's side. All of UF's starting quarterbacks going back to Shane Matthews showed improvement from their first to second seasons as a starter. Sometimes it was dramatic, sometimes not.
ESPN provided a wrapup of spring practices around the SEC. Here's the breakdown of the Gators' spring. There are still several important questions that have to be answered.
One of those questions surrounds quarterback Jeff Driskel. How much has he improved and will that make the Gators' passing offense any more potent than it was in 2012, when it ranked 114th nationally? History seems to be on Driskel's side. All of UF's starting quarterbacks going back to Shane Matthews showed improvement from their first to second seasons as a starter. Sometimes it was dramatic, sometimes not.
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- GatorNation wants you to get to know Florida’s incoming freshmen.
How are they preparing for their first college season? What are their goals for 2013?
To find that out, we’re starting a series of Q&As, beginning with offensive lineman Cameron Dillard (Canton, Mich./Canton), who will be making the transition from guard to center -- a position he hasn’t played on a regular basis since he was at the Pop Warner level.
How are they preparing for their first college season? What are their goals for 2013?
To find that out, we’re starting a series of Q&As, beginning with offensive lineman Cameron Dillard (Canton, Mich./Canton), who will be making the transition from guard to center -- a position he hasn’t played on a regular basis since he was at the Pop Warner level.
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- We are firmly into the college football offseason, but there's still plenty of Gators news ....
Florida nearly tied the school record for most players drafted in a seven-round format. The Gators had eight players selected -- including DTSharrif Floyd (Minnesota) and S Matt Elam (Baltimore) in the first round -- in last weekend's NFL draft. Miami selected three former Gators: LB Jelani Jenkins, RB Mike Gillislee and K Caleb Sturgis. You can find GatorNation's breakdown of UF's draftees here.
Having eight players drafted is more than a confirmation of last season's 11-2 record. It's also a big recruiting tool, and UF coach Will Muschamp hopes to use it to his advantage.
Florida nearly tied the school record for most players drafted in a seven-round format. The Gators had eight players selected -- including DTSharrif Floyd (Minnesota) and S Matt Elam (Baltimore) in the first round -- in last weekend's NFL draft. Miami selected three former Gators: LB Jelani Jenkins, RB Mike Gillislee and K Caleb Sturgis. You can find GatorNation's breakdown of UF's draftees here.
Having eight players drafted is more than a confirmation of last season's 11-2 record. It's also a big recruiting tool, and UF coach Will Muschamp hopes to use it to his advantage.
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- It's time to dip into the GatorNation recruiting mailbag and answer your questions. Because of the amount of questions we've received, we won't be able to get to all of them today -- but we encourage you to post your questions on our Insider fan forum, The Chompions Club.
ga8or22: Is it just me or are the Gators lagging behind last year's commits? I know they are just 17- or 18-year-olds, but a number of them are comitting to teams that have no room for them without much apparent thought.
ga8or22: Is it just me or are the Gators lagging behind last year's commits? I know they are just 17- or 18-year-olds, but a number of them are comitting to teams that have no room for them without much apparent thought.
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- It’s time to dip into the GatorNation recruiting mailbag and answer your questions. Because of the amount of questions we’ve received, we won’t be able to get to all of them today -- but we encourage you to post your questions on our Insider fan forum, The Chompions Club.
ga8or22: Who are the Gators most interested in at TE? We are a little thin at that position in my mind.
ga8or22: Who are the Gators most interested in at TE? We are a little thin at that position in my mind.
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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- ESPN 150 offensive tackle David Sharpe (Jacksonville, Fla./Providence School) has only played one full year of high school football, but the 6-foot-6, 288-pound athlete has already caught the attention of everyone in the college football recruiting world.
The No. 2-ranked tackle and No. 12 player overall said his football success has come as a surprise.
The No. 2-ranked tackle and No. 12 player overall said his football success has come as a surprise.
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BRADENTON, Fla. -- ESPN 150 wide receiver Artavis Scott (Tarpon Springs, Fla./East Lake), as expected, was one of the top wideouts in attendance at the IMG 7v7 Southeast regional championships over the weekend.
The four-star wide receiver visited Michigan recently and said he enjoyed his experience in Ann Arbor.
The four-star wide receiver visited Michigan recently and said he enjoyed his experience in Ann Arbor.
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BRADENTON, Fla. -- Offensive tackle prospect Denzel Ward didn't participate at the IMG 7v7 Southeast regional championships over the weekend at IMG Academy, where he attends school, but the 6-foot-8, 305-pound lineman came out to watch the competitive tournament.
Ward took time out to talk about the latest with his recruiting.
Ward took time out to talk about the latest with his recruiting.
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Week in review: Depth charts, ESPN 150
April, 20, 2013
Apr 20
9:00
AM ET
By
Michael DiRocco | ESPN.com
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Spring football may be over, but there's still plenty going on at GatorNation.
Miss anything from the past week? Here's your chance to catch up:
Some position battles got a little clearer (running back) while some got murkier (safety) during Florida's 15 spring practices. Here's where things stand heading into August practices in terms of the depth chart on offense and defense.
One of the positions that is settled is fullback, where Hunter Joyer remains the starter. But he has some help behind him in Gideon Ajagbe and Rhaheim Ledbetter, both of whom were moved over from defense. Finding fullback recruits in the future isn't going to be easy for UF coach Will Muschamp, so he may have to do more moving around.
Florida also has a new special teams coordinator with the hiring of Jeff Choate.
SEC blogger Edward Aschoff spent some time on campus this week. He wrote about buck Ronald Powell's humility after his knee surgeries and shot video interviews with Powell, Jonotthan Harrison, Matt Jones and Jeff Driskel.
On the recruiting trail ...
Miss anything from the past week? Here's your chance to catch up:
Some position battles got a little clearer (running back) while some got murkier (safety) during Florida's 15 spring practices. Here's where things stand heading into August practices in terms of the depth chart on offense and defense.
One of the positions that is settled is fullback, where Hunter Joyer remains the starter. But he has some help behind him in Gideon Ajagbe and Rhaheim Ledbetter, both of whom were moved over from defense. Finding fullback recruits in the future isn't going to be easy for UF coach Will Muschamp, so he may have to do more moving around.
Florida also has a new special teams coordinator with the hiring of Jeff Choate.
SEC blogger Edward Aschoff spent some time on campus this week. He wrote about buck Ronald Powell's humility after his knee surgeries and shot video interviews with Powell, Jonotthan Harrison, Matt Jones and Jeff Driskel.
On the recruiting trail ...
Five-star DT eliminates UF, has new leader 
April, 19, 2013
Apr 19
12:33
PM ET
By
Derek Tyson | ESPN.com
Just a few weeks after naming Florida his leader, five-star defensive tackle Lamont Gaillard (Fayetville, N.C./Pine Forest) decided to eliminate Florida.
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The IMG 7v7 Southeast Regional Championship in Bradenton, Fla., on Saturday and Sunday will feature several ESPN 150 players. This star-studded event will feature the South Florida Express, one of the top 7-on-7 teams in the country, and Team Tampa, which won the IMG 7v7 National Championships last year. Here's a look at five things to watch at this weekends events.
1. Wide receiver position is loaded
There will be a plethora of top wide receivers in Bradenton this weekend. Ermon Lane (Homestead, Fla./Homestead), the No. 1-ranked wide receiver in the country, will have a chance to showcase his abilities against some elite talent. Additionally, Travis Rudolph (West Palm Beach, Fla./Cardinal Newman), Artavis Scott (Tarpon Springs, Fla./East Lake), Moral Stephens (Perry, Fla./Taylor County), Kenric Young (Gainesville, Fla./Gainesville), Isaiah Ford (Jacksonville, Fla./Trinity Christian), Garrett Johnson (Winter Garden, Fla./West Orange) and 2015 wideout Da'Vante Phillips (Miami/Central) are scheduled to participate.
1. Wide receiver position is loaded
There will be a plethora of top wide receivers in Bradenton this weekend. Ermon Lane (Homestead, Fla./Homestead), the No. 1-ranked wide receiver in the country, will have a chance to showcase his abilities against some elite talent. Additionally, Travis Rudolph (West Palm Beach, Fla./Cardinal Newman), Artavis Scott (Tarpon Springs, Fla./East Lake), Moral Stephens (Perry, Fla./Taylor County), Kenric Young (Gainesville, Fla./Gainesville), Isaiah Ford (Jacksonville, Fla./Trinity Christian), Garrett Johnson (Winter Garden, Fla./West Orange) and 2015 wideout Da'Vante Phillips (Miami/Central) are scheduled to participate.
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ABOUT GATOR NATION
Michael DiRocco
Michael DiRocco came to ESPN.com in 2011 after spending 10 and a half years covering UF for the Florida Times-Union. He lives in Middleburg, Fla., with his wife and two sons. Email him at espndirocco@gmail.com.
Derek Tyson
Derek Tyson joined ESPN.com in 2011. He worked as a football and recruiting analyst for GatorCountry.com before joining ESPN. He currently resides in Gainesville, Fla. Email him at derektysonespn@gmail.com.