Top 10 Florida Recruiting Targets
Let’s be clear from the start. These 10 players aren’t necessarily the top 10 recruits
Florida
is targeting. I have no way of knowing what their big board looks like. As I’ve said before, I have no inside “source” for any of the babble I spew out. It’s all merely my garbled thoughts and opinions. So consider these high school beasts as my own personal top 10 list. And yes, I know these are all players within the Rivals100 (actually, they’re all in the top 74), but this is more of a shoot for the moon list. If the Gators can add even 2-3 from this list to an already strong class, fans should be more than happy. And remember, these are recruits I’d like Florida to get, not necessarily ones who have the Gators as their current favorite. But they have all at least mentioned Florida and seem to have them somewhere near the top of their lists.
In order of how likely I think they are to become Gators.
1. Chaz Green – OL – Tampa Catholic (Tampa, FL) – 6’6”, 290 lbs.
Green has been mentioned as a Florida-lock for quite some time, but has yet to make his commitment. With raw talent and improving technique, Green has been moving up the rankings. Many say it’s only a matter of time before Green becomes a Gator, but he’s currently trying to decide if he wants to make other visits or not. In the end, it seems like it would be very hard for anyone to pull him away from Florida. Others in the running: Ohio State, USC. Likelihood to end up at Florida: 90%. My guess: Florida.
2. Chris Dunkley – WR – Pahokee (Pahokee, FL) – 5’10”, 177 lbs.
Dunkley is another that gets the “it’s only a matter of time” label. Many believe he will end up at Florida and some have even said he’s already a secret commit. He has an explosive first step and could fit into the Gator offense perfectly. Dunkley was always considered a top prospect, but recent camp performances have helped him stand out. After one touchdown at Friday Night Lights, he even did a Gator chomp, but we’ll have to wait quite some time for him to make it official. Dunkley doesn’t plan on announcing his commitment until after the season. Others in the running: FSU, Miami (there are others, but I can’t see Dunkley heading out of the state). Likelihood to end up at Florida: 85%. My guess: Florida.
3. Cody Riggs – CB – St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL) – 5’9”, 156 lbs.
St. Thomas Aquinas teammate Lamarcus Joyner is the higher rated cornerback, but Riggs is the more likely to end up a Gator. Despite his father playing at Arizona State and his brother at Tennessee, Riggs has proclaimed Florida to be his current leader. He has narrowed his list down to five and will make all of his official visits during the first half of the season. Riggs hopes to have a decision not long after that. Florida’s class is already full of defensive backs, but with whispers of some possibly heading elsewhere in the end, Riggs would definitely be a pleasant addition. Others in the running: FSU, Georgia, Notre Dame, Tennessee. Likelihood to end up at Florida: 75%. My guess: Florida.
4. Ronald Powell – DE – Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley, CA) – 6’4”, 230 lbs.
Powell’s imposing chiselosity conjures up memories of Jevon Kearse. Although he hails from California and has USC up there with Florida, don’t be surprised if Urban Meyer and crew can convince him to pack his bags and head to the sunshine state. Analysts and coaches say Powell can play both ways – on the defensive line and at tight end – although that ends up happening a lot less than it’s talked about. He only has one official visit scheduled at this point – to Florida the weekend of the Tennessee game – making some think he could be leaning toward the Gators.
Others in the running:
USC.
Likelihood to land at Florida:
50%.
My guess:
Florida.
5. Ivan McCartney – WR – Miramar (Miramar, FL) – 6’3”, 180 lbs.
McCartney isn’t naming his favorites just yet, but Florida seems to be in the mix and may have improved their position after his appearance at Friday Night Lights. He didn’t catch a lot of balls during his junior season (21), but 12 of them went for touchdowns and he average over 30 yards per reception. It’s anyone’s guess where he ends up signing. Others in the running: Boston College, Georgia, Miami, North Carolina, Ole Miss, West Virginia. Likelihood to end up at Florida: 50% (of course, he’s said every school has a 50-50 chance at the moment). My guess: I might as well pull a name out of a hat at this point.
6. Christian Green – ATH – Tampa Catholic (Tampa, FL) – 6’2”, 200 lbs.
A high school quarterback who projects to play receiver at the collegiate level, Green could be one to pull the trigger soon. At times it seemed as if Green would be FSU-bound, but lately he mentions Georgia more and more. Although close to Tampa Catholic teammate Chaz Green, they could definitely end up at different schools. With Florida still in the running, it’s anyone’s guess where he will end up at this point. He even adds USF in his top four. Others in the running: FSU, Georgia, USF. Likelihood to end up at Florida: 33%. My guess: FSU.
7. Sharrif Floyd – DT – George Washington (Philadelphia, PA) – 6’3”, 310 lbs.
Floyd isn’t just a hole plugger. He likes to bull rush offensive linemen and not allow them to even attempt to make the hole in the first place. Floyd has announced he will take an official visit to Florida, who could be fighting with Ohio State to land him. There are rumors he has recently dropped Penn State from his list, but it’s also rumored they will get a visit as well. A few others Floyd has mentioned scheduling visits with remain in the hunt. Others in the running: Boston College, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, South Carolina. Likelihood to land at Florida: 33%. My guess: Ohio State.
8. Owamagbe Odighizuwa – DE – David Douglas (Portland, OR) – 6’3”, 234 lbs.
The player with the farthest to travel to come to Florida, Odighizuwa is one of the quickest players off the line in the nation. His motor is constantly running and he rarely gets tired. Odighizuwa has four official visits set so far, and the Gators are the only program outside of California on the list. He will be visiting Florida during the weekend of the FSU game. Cal could be the team to beat as he constantly mentions them and has developed a good relationship with the coaches. Others in the running: Cal, UCLA, USC. Likelihood to land at Florida: 25%. My guess: Cal.
9. Jeff Luc – LB – Treasure Coast (Port St. Lucie, FL) – 6’1”, 230 lbs.
A friend of mine has proclaimed Luc as his man-crush of this recruiting cycle. Said friend is batting .000 when it comes to his man-crushes committing to Florida, so go ahead and cross Luc off of your list. A physical specimen who could play any linebacker position, Luc has narrowed his list down to nine. It’s rumored he and Treasure Coast teammate Deon Rogers want to play college ball together. If true, that’s unfortunately for Gator fans. Rogers is committed to Georgia. Although he hasn’t announced where he will make his official visits to just yet, the Bulldogs are said to be all but guaranteed one. Others in the running: Alabama, FSU, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Ohio State, Tennessee, USC. Likelihood to land at Florida: 20%. My guess: Georgia.
10. Lamarcus Joyner – CB – St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL) – 5’8”, 166 lbs.
Joyner could be the least likely on this list to end up a Gator. There have been rumors of a secret commitment to FSU and he’s even said he came very close to committing to the Seminoles not too long ago. He did miss Seminole Showtime and was considered a surprise attendee of Friday Night Lights, but don’t think that means he’s a Florida lean just yet. However, after attending FNL, he does seem to be considering the Gators a little more than he was. Others in the running: FSU, Ohio State. Likelihood to attend Florida: 10%. My guess: FSU.