Florida Gators

ESPN The Magazine and RecruitingNation compiled the past five years (2007-11) of ESPNU 150 rankings and then crowned college football's top 10 recruiting programs.

Here's how they did it:

Our methodology was simple: We re-tallied the scores following signing day and ranked the schools based on total number of ESPNU 150 recruits (there have been 900) hauled in over the last six years. Of course, like success on the field, recruiting is cyclical -- and fans of programs both on and off this list might look back on Feb. 1, 2012 as the day their team began its rise (or fall) on the trail.

Here's the top 10:

1. Florida
2. Texas
3. USC 4. Alabama
5. Florida State
6. Notre Dame
T-7. Georgia
t-7: LSU
9. Miami
T-10. Ohio State
T-10. Oklahoma

Here's what it says about Florida:

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida graduate assistant Kirk Callahan is leaving the program to become the defensive backs coach at Central Florida.

Callahan worked with the defense in his one season in Gainesville. UF finished eighth nationally in total defense and seventh nationally in pass defense.

Callahan was a defensive back at Central Florida and played in eight games from 2005-06. He graduated from UCF in 2008, spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons as a GA at North Carolina, and returned to UCF in 2010 as a student assistant.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The first part of Florida's Southeastern Conference schedule was not exactly treacherous waters.

The Gators' first seven games came against teams that are a combined 10-25 in SEC play. Only Mississippi State (17-5) and LSU (12-9) have winning records overall, and only the Bulldogs (4-3) have a winning conference record. Florida went 6-1 in the stretch -- the only loss a head-scratcher at Tennessee (10-12, 2-5) to open SEC play -- and won those six games by an average of 12.0 points.

Over the next four days, however, things get considerably tougher for the 11th-ranked Gators (18-4, 6-1). They play two of the league's top three teams -- at home against Vanderbilt (16-6, 5-2) on Saturday and on the road at top-ranked Kentucky (22-1, 8-0) on Tuesday. It's a two-game stretch that will show whether the Gators are legitimate contenders for the league title.

"Two huge games, two great teams," point guard Erving Walker said. "We feel like we're as good as either team. We know it's not going to be easy, so it should be two really tough games."

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Five-star 2013 offensive tackle Jake Raulerson (Celina, Texas/Celina HS) committed to Texas on Friday.

Raulerson was once thought to be favoring Florida because he has family in the Gainesville area and said he grew up a Gator fan. But he said even though Florida was near the top of his list, it came down to Stanford and Texas. He's the Longhorns' first 2013 commit and plans to be the lead recruiter of his class.

"It's the coaching staff, the players there," Raulerson told ESPN's HornsNation. "They are going to win a national title in the next three years and I want to be a part of it. They have one of the best recruiting classes I have ever seen coming in. They are ridiculous."

Raulerson (6-foot-5, 250 pounds) plays right tackle and nose guard for Celina, but Texas is recruiting him as a defensive end and a tight end.

Florida landed only two offensive linemen in the 2012 recruiting class and now have lost out on Raulerson. The Gators will now turn their focus for 2013 to five-star Lake City (Fla.) Columbia offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil, who will be attending Florida's junior day on Feb. 18.

Will Muschamp is a tell-it-like-it-is guy. Always has been and always will be.

So when he says he feels “leaps and bounds” better about the Florida football program than he did this time a year ago in the immediate aftermath of his first signing day as Head Gator, you know he means it.

“The number one thing is that I have a better feel for our football team,” Muschamp said. “We were a disconnected group this time last year. We were not on the same page. We were pulling in a lot of different directions. We lacked trust in the program. We lacked discipline in the program, and we were careful to make decisions for the long term.

“I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: We’re building a program and not a team. We’re building this for the long haul. We’re building this into something that’s going to withstand, and that’s what I’m excited about. We’re doing it the right way, and with this recruiting class, we certainly helped ourselves.”

Even with the Gators’ ho-hum 7-6 finish last year in Muschamp’s first season, a sturdy foundation was laid.

In fact, one of Muschamp’s best decisions might have come off the field, and it’s a decision that sent a very pointed message to his players.

The Florida Way isn’t just another catchy phrase.

Muschamp kicked his best player, All-SEC cornerback Janoris Jenkins, off the team prior to the season following Jenkins’ second marijuana-related arrest.

Everybody sat up and took notice -- the Gators’ current players, prospective recruits and certainly the parents of those prospective recruits.

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida survived its worst 3-point shooting game of the season thanks to one of its better performances from the free-throw line.

The Gators shot a season-low 25 percent from the 3-point range (7-for-28) -- at one point missing nine consecutive long-range attempts -- but made up for it by making a season-high 23 free throws in front of 10,003 at the O'Connell Center Thursday night. Florida went 23-for-32 from the line, including making 16 of its final 18 attempts after starting 7-for-14. It was UF's seventh-best performance from the free-throw line this season.

"I guess we got a little frustrated. Everybody wasn't making their [3-point] shots," freshman guard Bradley Beal said. "When we have shooting nights like that, that's when we have to turn up the defense. We were really frustrated with our 3s but we have to be better than that."

The 11th-ranked Gators (18-4, 6-1 Southeastern Conference) made six of their first 12 3-point attempts in the game's first 14 minutes, but missed their next nine consecutive 3-point shots. Kenny Boynton stopped the streak with 7:17 remaining -- a span of nearly 19 minutes.

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Jacksonville (Fla.) First Coast linebacker Daniel McMillian committed to Florida last Saturday but made it public on Thursday.

McMillian, a four-star athlete who holds offers from Alabama, Florida State, Miami and Clemson among many others, made the decision while on an unofficial visit to Gainesville.

“To be honest, it caught me by surprise. I have a great relationship with coach [Will] Muschamp, coach [D.J.] Durkin and coach [Dan] Quinn and this is where I wanted to go,” McMillian said. “It’s close to home -- it's right in my back yard.”

Florida’s third verbal commitment for the 2013 class said that he plans to enroll early at Florida, but will likely take other visits.

“I’ll probably take some visits, but I’ve pretty much made up my mind,” McMillian said. "This is where I want to play for the next three 3-4 years."

McMillian, who stands 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, joins five-star defensive tackle Caleb Brantley and four-star running back Adam Lane as 2013 Florida verbal commits.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The tendinitis in Patric Young's ankle has kept the sophomore center from participating fully in practices for about two weeks, which in turn has kept him out of the starting lineup.

That isn't bothering Young a bit, though. He doesn't mind coming off the bench -- the role he had last season -- while Will Yeguete starts in his place for the 11th-ranked Gators. He just wants to play.

"I think I’ve done a really good job being efficient with the minutes I’ve had so far," Young said. "Whatever coach asks me to do I’m going to do it."

Tonight's game against South Carolina (9-11, 1-5 Southeastern Conference) will be the fifth in a row in which Young comes off the bench. He was limited to only 13 minutes against South Carolina on Jan. 14, but since then has averaged 24 minutes, 11.7 points and 5.7 rebounds -- numbers which are pretty close to what he was averaging before the tendinitis flared (11.8 ppg, 7.1 rpg).

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Now that the fax machines have quit churning, who in the SEC fared the best on signing day and who best filled their needs?

Let’s take a team-by-team look:

Alabama: The Crimson Tide lost three starting linebackers and three starting defensive backs, so they needed to retool their defense. They were also looking for playmakers at the receiver position. Junior college cornerbacks Travell Dixon and Deion Belue are already enrolled in school, as are ESPNU 150 receivers Chris Black and Amari Cooper. The Crimson Tide went into LSU’s backyard and signed Landon Collins, the top-rated safety in America, and receiver Eddie Williams of Panama City, Fla., was ESPN’s No. 2-rated athlete nationally. ESPN grade: A

Arkansas: Losing three talented senior receivers, including the record-setting Jarius Wright, meant the Hogs were in the market for big-time receivers. They lost out to Missouri on Dorial Green-Beckham but landed two of the top pass-catchers in the country in D’Arthur Cowan of Olive Branch, Miss., and Keon Hatcher of Owasso, Okla. The Hogs were also able to beef up their defensive front seven with linebacker Otha Peters of Covington, La., and tackle Darius Philon of Mobile, Ala. Peters was originally committed to Tennessee and Philon to Alabama. ESPN grade: C+

Auburn: The Tigers were looking for help across the board on defense, but were last in the SEC a year ago in passing defense. So picking up ESPNU 150 cornerback Joshua Holsey of Fairburn, Ga., and cornerback T.J. Davis of Tallahassee, Fla., was a big lick for Auburn and new defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder. The same goes for ESPNU 150 athlete Ricardo Louis of Miami Beach, Fla., and top 30 receiver Ja'Quay Williams of Tyrone, Ga., both of whom should add firepower to an Auburn passing game that was anemic this past season. ESPN grade: B

Florida: The Gators needed more quality and depth along both lines of scrimmage, and coach Will Muschamp must feel like they were able to accomplish that with his first full recruiting class. D.J. Humphries of Charlotte, N.C., is the No. 1-rated offensive tackle in the country by ESPN. Jessamen Dunker of Boynton Beach, Fla., and Dante Phillips of Venice, Fla., are also ESPNU 150 offensive linemen. Matt Jones of Seffner, Fla., is a bigger running back who should help the Gators get some of the tough yards they weren’t able to get this past season. ESPN grade: A

Georgia: Looking to beef up a defense that figures to lose a bunch of players following next season, the Bulldogs stocked up on potential playmakers on that side of the ball. ESPNU 150 outside linebacker Josh Harvey-Clemons didn’t sign until late, but he’s a perfect fit in Todd Grantham’s 3-4 defense and one of those guys who can go get the quarterback. ESPNU 150 running back Keith Marshall of Raleigh, N.C., is one of the more explosive players in this class. He’s already enrolled in school and should push Isaiah Crowell immediately. ESPN grade: A-

Kentucky: The Wildcats have been pushing to make up ground on the rest of the SEC on their lines of scrimmage and stocked up on offensive and defensive linemen in this class. Defensive tackle Thomas Chapman of Louisville, Ky., should fit nicely in the middle of Rick Minter’s defense. The Wildcats were also in desperate need of playmakers on offense and hope receiver DeMarcus Sweat of Stone Mountain, Ga., and athlete/receiver Fred Tiller of Homerville, Ga., can help fill that void. ESPN grade: C+

LSU: LSU returns a ton of young talent on defense next season, but the Tigers are losing all three of their starting linebackers. They made that a priority in this class and picked up at least five players projected to play linebacker at the college level. Leading the way was ESPNU 150 outside linebacker Kwon Alexander of Oxford, Ala. He picked LSU over Auburn. Ronnie Feist of Edgard, La., was another ESPNU 150 linebacker to sign with the Tigers, while quarterback Jeremy Liggins of Oxford, Miss., was a nice late pickup. ESPN grade: B+

Mississippi State: The Bulldogs took aim at defensive linemen and signed as many as eight in this class. One of the top ones is junior college defensive end Denico Autry, who’s already in school and will go through spring practice. They also picked up two of the top defensive tackles in-state in Quay Evans of Morton, Miss., and Nick James of Long Beach, Miss. ESPN grade: C+

Missouri: With all the strong defenses in the SEC, Missouri knew it needed a few more playmakers as the Tigers jump into league play next season. They added one of the premier ones in the country on signing day in Green-Beckham, who’s rated by ESPN as the No. 1 receiver in the country and the No. 3 prospect overall. It was a huge statement for the Tigers to keep such a coveted prospect at home. ESPN grade: B-

Ole Miss: It didn’t take first-year coach Hugh Freeze long to realize how much help the Rebels needed on defense, which made the addition of safety Trae Elston of Oxford, Ala., so big. And up front on defense, the Rebels probably won’t wait long to see what ESPNU 150 tackle Issac Gross of Batesville, Miss., and ESPNU 150 end Channing Ward of Aberdeen, Miss., can do. Both are big-time talents. ESPN grade: C+

South Carolina: The Head Ball Coach still likes to throw the ball around the park some, even if the Gamecocks have become more of a running team the past couple of seasons. That said, South Carolina landed one of the more impressive receiver classes in the country, and it’s a class headlined by ESPNU 150 receiver Shaq Roland of Lexington, S.C. With Alshon Jeffery turning pro early, Roland was a must-get for the Gamecocks and could make a big impact next season. ESPN grade: B+

Tennessee: The Vols wanted to add more firepower on offense, which made getting top junior college receiver Cordarrelle Patterson on signing day a coup. He should fit in nicely next season with a healthy Justin Hunter and Da’Rick Rogers. ESPNU 150 receivers Drae Bowles of Jackson, Tenn., and Alton Howard of Orlando, Fla., are a pair of high school signees who should also help Tennessee make more plays down the field than it did a season ago. ESPN grade: B-

Texas A&M: First-year coach Kevin Sumlin scored a huge victory in-state by landing ESPNU 150 receiver Thomas Johnson of Dallas. Johnson is ranked by ESPN as the No. 3 receiver prospect in the country, and he will figure prominently in Sumlin’s offense. The same goes for undersized running back Trey Williams of Houston. He’s a blur in the open field. The Aggies also addressed a big defensive need with ESPNU 150 outside linebacker Jordan Richmond of Denton, Texas. ESPN grade: B+

Vanderbilt: It was James Franklin’s first full recruiting class, and he responded by putting together the highest-ranked class in Vanderbilt history. More importantly, the Commodores filled some huge needs on defense with four-star end Stephen Weatherly of Atlanta and four-star linebackers Darreon Herring of Stone Mountain, Ga., and Jacob Sealand of Tucker, Ga. The Commodores are losing several key seniors on defense, so it was critical that they replenished on that side of the ball. ESPN grade: B-

National signing day is finally over and the SEC once again showed its dominance.

With the ESPN.com class rankings finalized, the SEC came away looking pretty good yet again, as the conference had eight teams in the top 25 rankings.

Alabama led the way with the No. 1 class in the country, after inking 26 commitments, including 13 ESPNU 150 members. Florida finished fourth, with 23 signees and nine ESPNU 150 members. And Georgia rounded out the top five with 18 signees. Georgia waited until Thursday morning to finally get No. 1 outside linebacker Josh Harvey-Clemons (Valdosta, Ga./Lowndes) to fax his letter of intent in, after family issues prevented it Wednesday. That gave the Bulldogs 19 signees and six ESPNU 150 members.

There are still a couple of prospects unsigned and waiting to make their decisions, so the 2012 recruiting season isn't quite done for some teams.

As we try to say goodbye to the 2012 recruiting class, we'll end things with an awards ceremony. It's time to hand out our 2012 recruiting superlatives!

Take a look:

Top class -- Alabama: Alabama had most of its stellar class done before national signing day even started. The Crimson Tide were in it for a few top prospects Wednesday, but most importantly, Alabama didn't lose any significant prospects, including No. 1 safety Landon Collins (Geismar, La./Dutchtown), whose mother had her eyes set on him signing with LSU. Beyond bringing in 13 ESPNU 150 members, Alabama met every need on both offense and defense.

Biggest surprise -- Torshiro Davis flips to Texas: Davis was supposed to be LSU's headliner in its 2012 class, and seemed to be locked up ... until the 11th hour. The LSU coaches waited and waited for his letter of intent to come in Wednesday, but it never did. Instead, Davis pulled a shocker and signed with Texas. LSU usually doesn't let top players leave the state of Louisiana, but did Wednesday.

Recruiter of the year -- D.J. Durkin, Florida: The Gators' linebackers coach went into North Carolina and cleaned up for Florida. He helped to secure commitments from four of the state's top 14 players, including No. 1 offensive tackle D.J. Humphries (Charlotte, N.C./Mallard Creek) and No. 4 defensive end Jonathan Bullard (Shelby, N.C./Crest).

Player you’ll see often next season -- Dorial Green-Beckham: Missouri needed a big-play receiver in its lineup to make its transition to the SEC complete, and got it in Green-Beckham, who has drawn comparisons to Calvin Johnson, A.J. Green and Julio Jones. He'll see plenty of playing time this fall.

Future Thorpe Award winner -- Landon Collins: Alabama is stockpiled with talent in its secondary, but Collins is someone who shouldn't have to sit and wait very long in Tuscaloosa. With his athleticism and game-changing ability, he should see the field in some capacity next season, but he might be a real star in the future. He can play down in the box like a linebacker and be a ballhawk in the secondary. This award will definitely be on his mind.

Biggest headache -- Woodrow Clemons: Josh Harvey-Clemons' grandfather appeared to be the only thing standing in the way of him faxing his LOI to Georgia. As his legal guardian, Clemons had to sign his grandson's LOI in order for it to be valid, but he wanted him to sign with Florida. After refusing to sign it Wednesday, Clemons did the right thing early Thursday morning by signing Harvey-Clemons' LOI to the right school.

Most underrated -- South Carolina: Steve Spurrier and his staff had a pretty quiet national signing day, but the Gamecocks had a heck of a class. South Carolina's class ranks 16th, but has really good balance on both sides, and No. 5 wide receiver Shaq Roland (Lexington, S.C./Lexington), No. 5 safety Chaz Elder (College Park, Ga./Benjamin E. Banneker) and No. 6 running back Mike Davis (Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson) should compete for early playing time.

Program on the rise -- Vanderbilt: James Franklin's first full class at Vanderbilt was a total success. It spent most of the year in ESPN's top 25 before a late fall, but met the needs of what Franklin wanted. He got bigger and more athletic on the offensive line, and added really good depth to the linebacker spot. For the first time, Vanderbilt was really competing with the bigger SEC schools for prospects. Franklin signed a lot of speed and athleticism, and the types of players who wouldn't have considered Vanderbilt in the past.