Jim McElwain’s first full recruiting class (22 commits) is now twice as big as Florida’s winning streak over Tennessee (11).
The Gators picked up an in-state defensive end this morning in Jachai Polite, a consensus three star recruit from Daytona Beach. He also had offers from Auburn, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Missouri and Miami, among others. Polite, who committed due in large part to the relationship he has built with Florida defensive line coach Chris Rumph, gives the Gators its fourth defensive end in the Class of 2016, joining JaQuan Bailey, Antonneous Clayton and Eric Mitchell.
Don’t be fooled by his three star rating, though. Polite is a powerful defensive end with good speed and quickness. And given the need Florida will have on the defensive line next year with the departure of Jonathan Bullard, he could compete for playing time right away. If he bulks up just a little bit, he could very well throw himself into the mix.
In any case, it’s nice to see the effect that winning on the field can have in recruiting.
