Chat wrap: Derek Tyson on recruiting
January, 18, 2012
1/18/12
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By GatorNation staff | ESPN.com
In case you missed today's chat with GatorNation recruiting expert Derek Tyson, you can read the complete transcript here. Tyson will do a live chat every Wednesday leading up to National Signing Day, so come back next week with fresh questions!
Bradley Beal's more than a jump-shooter 
January, 18, 2012
1/18/12
12:38
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By
Paul Biancardi | ESPN.com
Here is a look at Bradley Beal's progress report thus far at Florida:
What he's doing well:
He was one of the elite players in the Class of 2011 based on his scoring ability. He can put the ball in the basket in a variety ways but his calling card is his smooth jumper with high release point and textbook rotation and release.
What he's doing well:
He was one of the elite players in the Class of 2011 based on his scoring ability. He can put the ball in the basket in a variety ways but his calling card is his smooth jumper with high release point and textbook rotation and release.
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Update on Peach State 2013 DT Adams
January, 18, 2012
1/18/12
11:37
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By
Jamie Newberg | ESPN.com
Class of 2013 defensive tackle Montravius Adams (Vienna, Ga./Dooly County) already has scholarship offers from teams including Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Clemson and Kentucky. Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kirby Smart stopped by Adams' school today.
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We get asked all the time where our favorite stops are in the SEC, and a lot of times, that depends on the season.
And with Edward aboard now on the SEC blog, we were able to get out to more games this season than ever before.
We both agree that the Allstate BCS National Championship Game was the best atmosphere of the season for obvious reasons. For one, the game was in New Orleans, and the scene in the French Quarter leading up to the game went way beyond festive.
And with Edward aboard now on the SEC blog, we were able to get out to more games this season than ever before.
We both agree that the Allstate BCS National Championship Game was the best atmosphere of the season for obvious reasons. For one, the game was in New Orleans, and the scene in the French Quarter leading up to the game went way beyond festive.
Leonard Williams loves FSU visit; USC next
January, 17, 2012
1/17/12
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By
Corey Long | ESPN.com
ESPNU 150 defensive end Leonard Williams (Daytona Beach, Fla./Mainland) took his official visit to Florida State this weekend and left with a new outlook on his recruitment.
Going into the visit, Williams had Auburn and Florida at the top of his list. Now he says there are no favorites.
"I don't think it's right to list a favorite right now," Williams said. "I loved my visit at Florida State, and I was really impressed with the coaches and how much the coaches and players interacted.
Going into the visit, Williams had Auburn and Florida at the top of his list. Now he says there are no favorites.
"I don't think it's right to list a favorite right now," Williams said. "I loved my visit at Florida State, and I was really impressed with the coaches and how much the coaches and players interacted.
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Florida, Indiana in Meador's top three
January, 17, 2012
1/17/12
3:57
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By
Derek Tyson | ESPN.com
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Three-star offensive lineman Jake Meador (Whiteland, Ind./Whiteland Community) officially visited Indiana and Florida this past weekend with his mom.
Meador first went to Indiana on Friday and Saturday before he traveled to Gainesville Sunday and left early Tuesday morning.
Meador, who decommitted from Ole Miss before taking these visits, said he enjoyed his trip to Indiana.
Meador first went to Indiana on Friday and Saturday before he traveled to Gainesville Sunday and left early Tuesday morning.
Meador, who decommitted from Ole Miss before taking these visits, said he enjoyed his trip to Indiana.
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- With just two short weeks left until national signing day, the Florida Gators have 18 verbal commitments. Florida's recruiting class is expected to exceed 25 players. Here is a look at the top five uncommitted prospects still on the Gators' recruiting board.
1. Stefon Diggs (Olney, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel)
Florida has lacked elite playmakers at the wideout position over the last two years and Diggs is electric with the ball in his hands. The Florida offensive coaches visited Diggs at his home on Monday night. It was Diggs' first chance to meet new Florida offensive coordinator Brent Pease. Diggs' mom is expected to accompany him on his official visit to Florida this weekend. The Gators have positioned themselves nicely to land the talented receiver.
1. Stefon Diggs (Olney, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel)
Florida has lacked elite playmakers at the wideout position over the last two years and Diggs is electric with the ball in his hands. The Florida offensive coaches visited Diggs at his home on Monday night. It was Diggs' first chance to meet new Florida offensive coordinator Brent Pease. Diggs' mom is expected to accompany him on his official visit to Florida this weekend. The Gators have positioned themselves nicely to land the talented receiver.
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Last weekend, the top prospect in Georgia, linebacker Josh Harvey-Clemons (Valdosta, Ga./Lowndes), was in Athens to check out the Bulldogs on an official visit. Harvey-Clemons took an official to Florida in December, and it appears that a Bulldogs versus Gators battle is brewing for the Army All-American. Having been to Georgia with his family three times, Harvey-Clemons had already seen most of what Athens has to offer. What caught the Valdosta native off-guard was seeing how well the players were rewarded for their successful season.
“We were excited and surprised by the number of gifts the athletes receive for winning the SEC East and going to the bowl game,” said Woodrow Clemons, Josh’s grandfather and adoptive parent. “They get new watches, iPads, tote bags and several other items. I was very impressed with that.”
With the two neighboring programs being so comparable, it was tough to determine a leader. So Josh and his family inquired about where each program would play him and evaluated what each program will offer on the gridiron next season.
“We were excited and surprised by the number of gifts the athletes receive for winning the SEC East and going to the bowl game,” said Woodrow Clemons, Josh’s grandfather and adoptive parent. “They get new watches, iPads, tote bags and several other items. I was very impressed with that.”
With the two neighboring programs being so comparable, it was tough to determine a leader. So Josh and his family inquired about where each program would play him and evaluated what each program will offer on the gridiron next season.
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Recruiting 411: Diggs, Howard updates
January, 17, 2012
1/17/12
10:19
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By GatorNation staff | ESPN.com
Alex Loeb and ESPN’s recruiting experts give you the latest on Maryland WR Stefon Diggs, top rated CB Tracy Howard, a top juco prospect and Ohio State and Stanford picking up recruiting momentum as the countdown to signing day speeds up.
Stefon Diggs, Nelson Agholor get visitors
January, 16, 2012
1/16/12
5:38
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By
Derek Tyson | ESPN.com
With just a few short weeks left until national signing day, the Gators are turning the heat up on two of the country's top uncommitted players.
On Monday, top wide receivers Nelson Agholor (Tampa, Fla./Berekely Prep) and Stefon Diggs (Olney, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel) were set to receive in-home visits from the Florida offensive coaching staff. Offensive line coach Frank Verducci will be the only offensive coach not able to attend, because the Gators have an official visitor, OL Jake Meador, still on campus.
This marks the first time that both players will get to meet Brent Pease, Florida's new offensive coordinator. Pease was hired last Tuesday to replace Charlie Weis.
On Monday, top wide receivers Nelson Agholor (Tampa, Fla./Berekely Prep) and Stefon Diggs (Olney, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel) were set to receive in-home visits from the Florida offensive coaching staff. Offensive line coach Frank Verducci will be the only offensive coach not able to attend, because the Gators have an official visitor, OL Jake Meador, still on campus.
This marks the first time that both players will get to meet Brent Pease, Florida's new offensive coordinator. Pease was hired last Tuesday to replace Charlie Weis.
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Nelson Agholor visits FSU; one visit left
January, 16, 2012
1/16/12
3:48
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By
Corey Long | ESPN.com
ESPNU 150 athlete Nelson Agholor (Tampa, Fla./Berkeley Prep) had great things to say about his official visit to Florida State.
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound senior has his final official scheduled for Jan. 27-28 at USC.
"I had a good trip and a good opportunity to talk with Coach [Jimbo] Fisher and Coach [Lawrence] Dawsey," Agholor said. "They are good coaches and good people."
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound senior has his final official scheduled for Jan. 27-28 at USC.
"I had a good trip and a good opportunity to talk with Coach [Jimbo] Fisher and Coach [Lawrence] Dawsey," Agholor said. "They are good coaches and good people."
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Gators closing gap for Vincent Valentine
January, 15, 2012
1/15/12
7:09
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By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
Heading into his weekend visit to Florida, Edwardsville, Ill., defensive tackle Vincent Valentine Jr. had Nebraska as his leader by a wide margin.
That is not the case anymore as the Gators have closed in.
“How much I bonded with the coaches,” the three-star Valentine said stuck out the most on his first visit to Gainesville, Fla. “I can see myself playing for them. That really stuck out.”
That is not the case anymore as the Gators have closed in.
“How much I bonded with the coaches,” the three-star Valentine said stuck out the most on his first visit to Gainesville, Fla. “I can see myself playing for them. That really stuck out.”
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Alex McCalister (Clemmons, N.C./West Forsyth) was scheduled to visit Florida this weekend, but he had to postpone the visit because of an illness in his family on Friday, according to his head coach Adrian Snow.
“Now he won’t commit on Tuesday,” Snow said. “He will commit a week from tomorrow, which is a Tuesday here at the school at 1 p.m. He will make his Florida (Jan. 20) visit next weekend.”
McCalister, 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, was really hoping to commit this week and get his decision behind him.
“Now he won’t commit on Tuesday,” Snow said. “He will commit a week from tomorrow, which is a Tuesday here at the school at 1 p.m. He will make his Florida (Jan. 20) visit next weekend.”
McCalister, 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, was really hoping to commit this week and get his decision behind him.
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Family. It will be a strong factor in Stefon Diggs' recruitment.
That should bode well for Auburn in its recruitment of the No. 10 prospect in the nation.
“They're big on family,” the four-star athlete from Olney (Md.) Good Counsel said when asked about his official visit this weekend to The Plains. “I'm big on family. When I go to a school, I would like it to be like a family when I get there.”
That should bode well for Auburn in its recruitment of the No. 10 prospect in the nation.
“They're big on family,” the four-star athlete from Olney (Md.) Good Counsel said when asked about his official visit this weekend to The Plains. “I'm big on family. When I go to a school, I would like it to be like a family when I get there.”
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Freddie Burden (Statesboro, Ga./Statesboro) made an official visit to Georgia Tech hoping that the Yellow Jackets would make him offer. He got just that on Saturday morning and it came from head coach Paul Johnson.
“I made the decision today,” Burden said. “They offered me on Saturday morning, so I talked it over my parents. It came from coach (Paul) Johnson. At Georgia Tech you get a great education. That’s the first thing for anyone. Football just adds to it. But I have to say that it’s a great place to play football, and it’s the ACC.”
Burden, 6-foot-3 and 290-pounds, played tight end in high school but projects as a guard or center for the Yellow Jackets.
“I made the decision today,” Burden said. “They offered me on Saturday morning, so I talked it over my parents. It came from coach (Paul) Johnson. At Georgia Tech you get a great education. That’s the first thing for anyone. Football just adds to it. But I have to say that it’s a great place to play football, and it’s the ACC.”
Burden, 6-foot-3 and 290-pounds, played tight end in high school but projects as a guard or center for the Yellow Jackets.
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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.