Road To Signing Day: Gators lose out on Devon Hunter

The Florida Gators lost out on four-star safety Devon Hunter, but not all is lost. The Gators are still gearing up for a strong finish to this recruiting cycle.

News

The Florida Gators officially missed out on Devon Hunter. It had appeared for some time that Virginia Tech was the strong frontrunner for the four-star safety’s talents, but the Gators looked like they were the only other team with a shot.

Even after enjoying his visit last week, it wasn’t enough. This past Friday, Hunter elected to join the Hokies’ class of 2017.

This past Wednesday the University Of Florida provided an update on their facilities. The building of the new $60 million facility will begin in December of 2017 and is set to be finished by June 2019.

This helps with the appeal to not only fans and students, but recruits. It’s a known fact the Gators are behind the curve for facilities. This should help sweeten the deal to recruits, especially the class of 2018 and 2019 kids.

Something that will help the Gators maintain their defensive line recruiting is coach Chris Rumph turning down Clemson. Read more in the column below.

Coach McElwain was set to visit 5-Star and coveted 2018 running back Lorenzo Lingard this past Thursday. No word on how that went but Florida is expected to be Lingard’s leader along with Miami.

A couple of Florida targets and commits got boosts in the new 247 rankings. Levi Jones saw a bumping in both his Top247 and 247 Composite ranking as well as LaBryan Ray who is now a 5-Star.

Henry Ruggs also surged to a five-star rating and became the No. 1 wide receiver in the class of 2017 in the Top 247.

Four-star offensive tackle Kai-Leon Herbert has decommitted from Michigan. I’ve had Herbert on my board for some time now and he has just now backed off his pledge to the Wolverines.

His process is believed to be down to Miami and Florida, but the word is he is a Florida lean.

Rumors

Something that’s been transpiring lately is Florida making a late push for Park Crossing’s four-star dual threat quarterback Malik Cunningham. Cunningham and current Florida safety Jaewon Taylor were teammates in high school, so some lobbying has been seen on Twitter.

The Gators will host Cunningham’s last visit, but I honestly don’t think much of this.

Another late push rumor that surfaced this week was with four-star wide receiver from Iowa, Oliver Martin. Martin was set to visit the Gators this weekend, but instead opted to visit Ohio State and Urban Meyer.

The word is he rescheduled to visit Florida this week, but this whole situation has been confusing with Martin. I also doubt that the Gators are a real threat to Notre Dame or Michigan.

Checking In

A lot of stuff to check in with this week.

The first topic is more Elijah Blades talk. The now ranked third cornerback in the nation by 247Sports visited Nebraska this past weekend. Also within the last week, four Nebraska insiders have Crystal Ball’d a flip from Florida to Nebraska for Blades.

The outweighing support still seems to land with Florida, but at this point, I honestly don’t know what will happen and I don’t think anyone, even the Florida staff, does either.

This past weekend’s visit list was loaded. Most of the visits were commits but Florida seemed to pair things out perfectly in aid of helping them land the uncommitted guys who visited.

It appears the overwhelming support for four-star defensive tackle Elijah Conliffe has weighed on his mind by his recent tweets. The Gators seem to be in good shape for the Virginia native that commits January 30th.

https://twitter.com/ElijahPrime/status/822992677650235392

One of the Gators’ most vocal “commit recruiter,” Daquon Green, said that he feels confident with Florida’s chances at landing C.J. Henderson, Nick Smith, and T.J. Slaton—all of whom were already on my board.

Next week will arguably be the best and most important set of visits, as the Gators will see three defensive tackles make the trip to Gainesville. Those three are the Gaddy brothers and Georgia commit Devonte Watt.

The Gators will also host now five-star LaBryan Ray, whose decision appears to be down to Alabama or Florida.

Class Of 2017 Predictions

Quarterback (1) –

3-Star Jake Allen

1/22/16 Notes: Some Malik Cunningham news has spiraled, but doubt it is much. Never know, though. Not adding him to my board regardless, rather be wrong on this one than just guess.

1/16/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

1/8/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

1/8/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

12/26/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

12/18/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

12/11/16 Notes: It’s very unlikely that the Gators will take another quarterback with three in the system next year and one already committed. Allen lost a star, but the talent is there.

Running Back (2) –

3-Star Malik Davis

3-Star Adarius Lemons (Pending Grades)

1/22/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

1/16/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

1/8/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

1/1/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

12/26/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

12/18/16  Notes:  Based on his recent tweets, three-star running back Adarius Lemons seems to be closer to being academically eligible to sign with Florida. Only time will tell.

12/11/16 Notes: Malik Davis is pretty much a lock, and if Adarius Lemons can’t qualify, it seems he will be the only back taken. Yesterday was the last possible date for Lemons to take the ACT to take it before National Signing Day.

Wide Receiver (2) –

4- Star Daquon Green

4-Star James Robinson

1/22/16 Notes: Nothing to see really with Martin. Same situation if Malik Cunningham.

1/16/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

1/8/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

1/1/16 Notes: Robinson abruptly named Florida his leader, even if he backed off on it, he wouldn’t have said it if it wasn’t true. We knew this going into the practices though anyway. So, nothing has really changed.

12/26/16 Notes: The above two are fully expected, but recent rumors have pointed to possibly adding Michael Harley to this class. I am still a little skeptical he will get an offer because of his small frame, but we will see. Until he gets an offer, can’t even bother to add him to the class.

12/18/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

12/11/16 Notes: Both are pretty much locks to The Swamp. I can’t see it going any other way, even if Clemson and Alabama make a late push for Robinson.

Tight End (2) –

3-Star Zech Byrd

4-Star Kemore Gamble

1/22/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

1/16/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

1/8/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

1/1/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

12/26/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

12/18/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

12/11/16 Notes: Nothing to really see or talk about here. Both will be in The Swamp come next summer. Doubt the Gators add another tight end, as it hasn’t even seemed liked they have pushed for one.

Offensive Line (3) –

4-Star Kadeem Telfort

4-Star T.J. Moore

4-Star Kai Leon-Herbert

1/22/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

1/16/16 Notes: T.J. Moore appears to be garnering a lot of interest from Auburn, but I don’t think he goes anywhere.

1/8/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

1/1/16 Notes: A lot of Crystal Ball’s heading Florida’s way with 4-Star OT Tony Gray, but I’m not seeing it. I think he is being a hard sell and leading the predictors in the wrong direction. Don’t think he ends up here, could be wrong, though, which would obviously be for the better.

12/26/16 Notes: Moore joined the class as expected from last week, and now I also expect 4-Star Kai Leon-Herbert. I have read, heard and seen enough for me to feel confident with this selection. Herbert will be on Florida’s campus four days before signing day and his announcement is expected to come on the 28th. All signs point to KLH joining the Orange & Blue.

12/18/16 Notes: Donaldson has closed up shop, so I was wrong on that. I am seeing and hearing nothing but good reports on Herbert, but this was before Wilson going to UGA. I think that hurts the Gators in more ways than one. T.J. Moore, on the other hand, has been trending up with the Gators. Florida holds the right to his last visit and reportedly the running is between UF and North Carolina State. For him to choose N.C. State over the Gators would be a shocker.

12/11/16 Notes: Telfort is a lock. If you are following me on Twitter, you know I’m relatively optimistic the Gators can flip Donaldson. The in-home visit seemed to have gone great and he will have a shot at immediate playtime here in the swamp.

Defensive Line (4)

4-Star Zachary Carter

4-Star T.J. Slaton 

3-Star Tyrone Truesdell

3-Star Kyree Campbell

1/22/16 Notes: Honestly, still the same as last week. So many defensive tackles are in the picture that it honestly depends on who wants to come and, out of who wants to come, who gets taken. I do believe with LaBryan Ray getting his fifth star, Alabama won’t pass up.

1/16/16 Notes: This where it is kind of hectic. A lot of Crystal Ball’s are saying Conliffe goes to Tennessee, but I am still uncertain about that. Besides Elijah, the Gators are also in the running for the Gaddy brothers who visit Jan. 27th and Cam Spence who visited this past weekend. The latter three are all Maryland commits so it will be hard to pull all three of them, although the brothers are a package deal. The big deal with Breyon and Brandon Gaddy is people are still unsure if they can qualify academically for UF. The Gators need to land two of the four mentioned DTs in this segment for this to be a success. I am dropping Confliffe for now and not adding anyone because I lack the substance to do.

1/8/16 Notes: Slaton is listed as an offensive lineman on 247, but he will be playing defensive tackle in Gainesville. Florida was announced as Slaton’s leader and it should remain that way for the rest of his recruitment process.

1/1/16 Notes: Florida recently extended an offer to 4-Star DT Elijah Conliffe like previously mentioned. The recruiting battle is reportedly between UF and Tennessee, but I can’t see the Gators losing this one with how much of a need DT is. That is reasoning behind me adding him to the board. As far as dropping Aubrey Solomon, everything I am hearing points to him going to Georgia or Alabama. That is the reason he was dropped. Lastly, I am waiting another week or so to make a decision on LaBryan Ray. Waiting on one or two more pieces to move.

12/26/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

12/18/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

12/11/16 Notes: Go big or home. Three of the four on the list are potentially locks. Solomon is the only one in doubt. He had to schedule the Gators as his last visit for a reason. In my eyes, it means he would like to come here, but he needs one last “woo.”

Linebackers (3) –

3-Star Ventrell Miller

3-Star James Houston

3-Star Nick Smith

1/22/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

1/16/16 Notes:  Gators are currently the leader for Levi Jones, but those things change quickly. I think at this point the Gators would take both Nick Smith and Jones. That is why I have added Smith now to the class.

1/8/16 Notes: Gators officially lose out on Rahyme Johnson, but this was expected. I am not adding Nick Smith yet just incase by some miraculous way the Gators land Levi Jones. So consider him a “silent” add right now.

1/1/16 Notes: With Rahyme Johnson basically out of the picture, it is Levi Jones or bust for the Gators. Unfortunately, with Tim Brewster recruiting Levi for the Seminoles currently, I’m seeing it as a bust. Big time kid comes off my board for the Gators, unfortunately.   

12/26/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

12/18/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

12/11/16 Notes: The linebacker class is lackluster on paper, but the film checks out for all three of these guys.

Defensive Backs (5)

4-Star Elijah Blades

4-Star Marco Wilson

4-Star Brad Stewart

3-Star Shawn Davis

3-Star Brian Edwards

1/22/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

1/16/16 Notes: Blades seems to be locked up, and I’m not too worried about Stewart. DB class should be good to go.

1/8/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

1/1/16 Notes: Small change on the DB board as I add 3-Star Brian Edwards. It is really a matter of whether or not the Gators want to “take” Edwards and whether if they do, he isn’t felt disrespected in any way because of the delay. Edwards appears to be the backup plan to 4-Star Tray Bishop and the extreme backup plan if Florida loses Elijah Blades. I think with Bishop most likely becoming a Bulldog, the Gators will take Edwards. Small get but Brian Edwards has elite size.

12/26/16 Notes: A little bit of a Blades scare is brewing, but I still think he finishes off as a Gator.

12/18/16 Notes: I still do not have the utmost confidence in landing Bishop like some others.

12/11/16 Notes: This cornerback class is loaded. Stewart is more of a prototypical safety, which is where he’ll most likely play at the next level. The Gators appear to be trending upwards for four-star Tray Bishop and four-star Devon Hunter, but I’m not as confident in those two to put them on my prediction board. Even without them, this is one heck of a DB class.

Athletes (2) –

3-Star Kadarius Toney

4-Star Christopher Henderson

1/22/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

1/16/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

1/8/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

1/1/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

12/26/16 Notes: Nothing has changed.

12/18/16 Notes: Don’t know how or why I forgot to add “Hendo” to the board last week, but now he’s here. Almost a surefire lock for Florida.

12/11/16 Notes: Filthy athletic ability. Zero ideas where he will play, but I can assure it will not be at quarterback.

Must Read: Marco Wilson recruiting update

Things are starting to get real hectic. We’re less than two weeks away from National Signing Day. The Gators are gearing up for a big finish.