Florida Gators: Antonio Riles
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- One year ago, the Gators got off to a blazing start for their 2013 recruiting class with their first big junior day weekend in February. Florida was able to nab six commitments, including ESPN 300 prospects Nick Washington, Kelvin Taylor and Keanu Neal.
Though Florida eventually lost three of the six commitments, the huge recruiting weekend set the tone for the year for Florida's class, which finished ranked No. 2 in the nation.
Though Florida eventually lost three of the six commitments, the huge recruiting weekend set the tone for the year for Florida's class, which finished ranked No. 2 in the nation.
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- There are just a couple of short weeks remaining until national signing day, and the Florida Gators have met a majority of their recruiting needs. With graduation, transfers and players leaving for the NFL draft, there are a few areas Florida head coach Will Muschamp would still like to shore up.
Key holes to fill
The Gators lost key personnel along the offensive line, wide receiver, linebacker, running back and secondary and are hoping to replenish their talent with junior college transfers and incoming freshmen.
Key holes to fill
The Gators lost key personnel along the offensive line, wide receiver, linebacker, running back and secondary and are hoping to replenish their talent with junior college transfers and incoming freshmen.
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Four-star defensive end Antonio Riles (Lawrenceville, Ga./Archer) has recently heard from Georgia and Michigan State among other programs.
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Though Florida has met a majority of its recruiting needs, the Gators are still hosting a group of important prospects this weekend.
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UF recruits react to Dan Quinn's departure 
January, 17, 2013
Jan 17
2:45
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By
Derek Tyson | ESPN.com
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida lost defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday. Quinn helped orchestrate one of the best defensive line units in the SEC last season and was a big reason Florida has landed commitments from nine defensive players that are ranked in the ESPN 300.
Here is how some of those recruits reacted the new of Quinn's departure:
Here is how some of those recruits reacted the new of Quinn's departure:
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida only had three official visitors this weekend, but the Gators' coaching staff was plenty busy.
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GatorNation position breakdown: DE
December, 18, 2012
12/18/12
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By
Michael DiRocco | ESPN.com
Editor’s note: Every Tuesday and Thursday through Jan. 31, 2013, GatorNation will break down each position. We’ll look at 2013, of course, but also try and give you a peek beyond next season, too. Today is defensive end. Thursday will be defensive tackle.
DEFENSIVE END
Two-deep: Dominique Easley is the starter at end and Lerentee McCray is the starter at the buck (end/linebacker hybrid). Jonathan Bullard and Dante Fowler are the reserves. McCray graduates. Easley is a junior but could leave early for the NFL.
DEFENSIVE END
Two-deep: Dominique Easley is the starter at end and Lerentee McCray is the starter at the buck (end/linebacker hybrid). Jonathan Bullard and Dante Fowler are the reserves. McCray graduates. Easley is a junior but could leave early for the NFL.
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- This will be a big weekend for Florida recruiting. Not just because Florida is bringing in some key recruits for official visits, but also because the Gators have a few current commits and key targets who are playing for state championships in Orlando.
New wide receiver commit Demarcus Robinson (Fort Valley, Ga./Peach Co.), a four-star prospect, will take his official visit to Florida this weekend. Robinson flipped his commitment from Clemson to Florida on Wednesday, the same day Gators head coach Will Muschamp and assistants Brian White and Joker Phillips made an in-home visit.
With Robinson now in the fold, the headliner of the weekend might be Alex Collins (Plantation, Fla./South Plantation), a former Miami commitment who is officially visiting. The Gators have two four-star running back commitments in Kelvin Taylor (Belle Glades, Fla./Glades Day) and Adam Lane (Winter Haven, Fla./Winter Haven), but Collins is too talented not to recruit.
New wide receiver commit Demarcus Robinson (Fort Valley, Ga./Peach Co.), a four-star prospect, will take his official visit to Florida this weekend. Robinson flipped his commitment from Clemson to Florida on Wednesday, the same day Gators head coach Will Muschamp and assistants Brian White and Joker Phillips made an in-home visit.
With Robinson now in the fold, the headliner of the weekend might be Alex Collins (Plantation, Fla./South Plantation), a former Miami commitment who is officially visiting. The Gators have two four-star running back commitments in Kelvin Taylor (Belle Glades, Fla./Glades Day) and Adam Lane (Winter Haven, Fla./Winter Haven), but Collins is too talented not to recruit.
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GAINESILLE, Fla. -- Former ESPN 150 defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. surprised a lot of people in February by switching his commitment from Florida State to Florida on national signing day. Fowler had been committed to the Seminoles for more than a year. Four-star quarterback Skyler Mornhinweg, a former Penn State commitment, also switched his commitment to Florida just prior to signing day.
This type of thing happens all the time in college football, and this year will likely be no different.
The Gators are looking for help at defensive tackle, and Ole Miss commitment Darious Cummings just might be that guy. Junior Sharrif Floyd has had a solid junior year and he could end up heading to the NFL after the season. The Gators would be left with Dominique Easley, Leon Orr, Damien Jacobs and Quinteze Williams as the only scholarship defensive tackles.
This type of thing happens all the time in college football, and this year will likely be no different.
The Gators are looking for help at defensive tackle, and Ole Miss commitment Darious Cummings just might be that guy. Junior Sharrif Floyd has had a solid junior year and he could end up heading to the NFL after the season. The Gators would be left with Dominique Easley, Leon Orr, Damien Jacobs and Quinteze Williams as the only scholarship defensive tackles.
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Chomp Confidential: Weekend visits
September, 14, 2012
9/14/12
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By
Derek Tyson | ESPN.com
GatorNation brings you the latest installment of Chomp Confidential, a look inside Florida football recruiting for GatorNation subscribers only. As with anything exclusive, what's reported in the weekly Chomp Confidential must stay here. A few things discussed in this week's update:
- Recruiting never stops
- Quinton Powell wavering?
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Finally, the high school football season is underway. With several Florida commits playing in preseason games or their teams' first game of the year, here is a closer look at how they fared this weekend.
WR Ahmad Fulwood (Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenny) -- In only one half of play, Fulwood accounted for two catches for 80 yards and a touchdown. Bishop Kenny lost to Orange Park 14-13 in a preseason game.
DE Jordan Sherit (Tampa, Fla./Hillsborough) -- In one half of action, Sherit recorded four tackles for loss, including a safety and a sack. Hillsborough lost to Plant City 15-7 in a preseason matchup.
WR Ahmad Fulwood (Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenny) -- In only one half of play, Fulwood accounted for two catches for 80 yards and a touchdown. Bishop Kenny lost to Orange Park 14-13 in a preseason game.
DE Jordan Sherit (Tampa, Fla./Hillsborough) -- In one half of action, Sherit recorded four tackles for loss, including a safety and a sack. Hillsborough lost to Plant City 15-7 in a preseason matchup.
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Gators move to No. 2 in class rankings
August, 2, 2012
8/02/12
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By
Derek Tyson | ESPN.com
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- With the help of five commitments in five days, the Florida Gators were able to move up to the No. 2 spot in the ESPN class rankings Thursday.
Five-star cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III started the onslaught of commitments last Thursday. Hargreaves is ranked the No. 4 player in the country. Four-star defensive ends Antonio Riles and Jordan Sherit committed Friday and Saturday, respectively. Defensive tackle Travonte Valentine, a 2014 prospect committed Sunday, and 2013 three-star wide receiver Chris Thompson committed to the Gators on Monday.
Ahmad Fulwood, the No. 7-ranked wide receiver in the country, says Florida is building a special class.
Five-star cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III started the onslaught of commitments last Thursday. Hargreaves is ranked the No. 4 player in the country. Four-star defensive ends Antonio Riles and Jordan Sherit committed Friday and Saturday, respectively. Defensive tackle Travonte Valentine, a 2014 prospect committed Sunday, and 2013 three-star wide receiver Chris Thompson committed to the Gators on Monday.
Ahmad Fulwood, the No. 7-ranked wide receiver in the country, says Florida is building a special class.
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Scouts: Florida stays hot with Sherit
July, 29, 2012
7/29/12
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By
Craig Haubert | ESPN.com
Florida has gotten defensive for the third consecutive day. After landing top-rated corner Vernon Hargreaves III (Tampa, Fla./Wharton) on Thursday and then adding four-star defensive lineman Antonio Riles (Lawrenceville, Ga./Archer) on Friday, the Gators have now brought ESPN 300 defensive end Jordan Sherit (Tampa, Fla/Hillsborough) into the mix.
With Sherit, Florida is getting an athlete who offers some versatility. With his combination of size and athleticism, he can put his hand down or stand up.
However deployed, the Gators will likely want the four-star attacking the quarterback as he displays the tools to be a productive pass-rushing presence off the edge. He might not have elite first-step quickness or be a pure-speed edge-rusher, but he can get off the ball and upfield and threaten tackles with his ability to close ground on blockers very quickly. He also does an excellent job of using his hands and shows some savvy for a prospect at this stage in his ability to use some pass-rush moves. He is a kid with good natural size, but still has room to get bigger and could improve in overall strength. He also can play the run well and displays a nose for the ball. He will need to get stronger to help him separate and disengage from bigger SEC blockers, but he is an active kid who can play with leverage and defend the run.
Sherit is a nice pickup for the Gators and strengthens what has been an excellent few days for Florida defensively on the recruiting trail.
With Sherit, Florida is getting an athlete who offers some versatility. With his combination of size and athleticism, he can put his hand down or stand up.
However deployed, the Gators will likely want the four-star attacking the quarterback as he displays the tools to be a productive pass-rushing presence off the edge. He might not have elite first-step quickness or be a pure-speed edge-rusher, but he can get off the ball and upfield and threaten tackles with his ability to close ground on blockers very quickly. He also does an excellent job of using his hands and shows some savvy for a prospect at this stage in his ability to use some pass-rush moves. He is a kid with good natural size, but still has room to get bigger and could improve in overall strength. He also can play the run well and displays a nose for the ball. He will need to get stronger to help him separate and disengage from bigger SEC blockers, but he is an active kid who can play with leverage and defend the run.
Sherit is a nice pickup for the Gators and strengthens what has been an excellent few days for Florida defensively on the recruiting trail.
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Scouts: Riles brings versatility to UF
July, 27, 2012
7/27/12
8:26
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By Antonio Riles | ESPN.com
On the heels of landing five-star corner Vernon Hargreaves III (Tampa, Fla./Wharton), the Gators have added another promising defensive prospect with a verbal from Antonio Riles (Lawrenceville, Ga./Archer).
The four-star defensive lineman out of Georgia gives Florida a little versatility in how they could use him, much like current Gators linemen Sharriff Floyd and Dominique Easley. Riles could play end, develop into a defensive tackle or could offer some versatility like where he lines up at end, but slides inside as a nickel rusher on passing downs. So not only does he give Florida a defensive line prospect with ability to develop into a starter, but his potential versatility also strengthens their depth which is vital on the D-line.
The four-star defensive lineman out of Georgia gives Florida a little versatility in how they could use him, much like current Gators linemen Sharriff Floyd and Dominique Easley. Riles could play end, develop into a defensive tackle or could offer some versatility like where he lines up at end, but slides inside as a nickel rusher on passing downs. So not only does he give Florida a defensive line prospect with ability to develop into a starter, but his potential versatility also strengthens their depth which is vital on the D-line.
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Defensive end Antonio Riles (Lawrencville, Ga./Archer) committed to Florida on Friday afternoon. The 6-foot-4, 261-pound athlete, chose the Gators over offers from Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, Louisville and Michigan State among others.
Riles said the academics at Florida played a key role in his decision to commit.
"Everything felt right," Riles said. "From the academics standpoint, I feel like I can't lose there as far as academics, athletics and everything else."
Riles, a four-star prospect by ESPN, said he wanted to commit at Friday Night Lights tonight but was not able to attend.
"I wanted to go down there today at Friday Night Lights and make it official to coach [Will] Muschamp face-to-face, but unfortunately I couldn't make it down there," he said. "I had to go ahead and call him and tell him. He was real happy. He said he was fired up about it."
With Riles commitment, the Gators now have 18 commits ranked four-stars or higher by ESPN. Riles becomes the first defensive end to commit to the Gators and the 10th defensive prospect overall. Florida's 2013 recruiting class is the No. 3-ranked class in the country.
Riles said the academics at Florida played a key role in his decision to commit.
"Everything felt right," Riles said. "From the academics standpoint, I feel like I can't lose there as far as academics, athletics and everything else."
Riles, a four-star prospect by ESPN, said he wanted to commit at Friday Night Lights tonight but was not able to attend.
"I wanted to go down there today at Friday Night Lights and make it official to coach [Will] Muschamp face-to-face, but unfortunately I couldn't make it down there," he said. "I had to go ahead and call him and tell him. He was real happy. He said he was fired up about it."
With Riles commitment, the Gators now have 18 commits ranked four-stars or higher by ESPN. Riles becomes the first defensive end to commit to the Gators and the 10th defensive prospect overall. Florida's 2013 recruiting class is the No. 3-ranked class in the country.
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.