With less than 2 weeks left before National Signing Day, many are wondering where the Gators stand with their top prospects. This coming weekend is slated to be huge for the Gators. Many of Florida’s A-list targets will be in Gainesville on their official visits.
1. 5-star DE Byron Cowart
It seems like a 2 school race at this point (Auburn and Florida). Cowart has been all over the map with his Twitter feed and comments. There was even word that Florida coaches Terrell Williams and Kirk Callahan met with Cowart’s mother at a Tampa area Denny’s in the middle of the night. Shades of Billy Donovan style recruiting right there. Florida needs to get Cowart back on campus over the next 10 days. Will Muschamp seems to be doing everything in his power to keep Cowart away from Florida.
Prediction: Auburn
2. 5-star OT Martez Ivey
This is another 2 school race between Auburn and the Gators. Auburn just had Ivey on campus this past weekend with other top tier recruits. But Florida will get another unofficial visit before Signing Day. I have believed all along that Ivey was a Gator. Martez grew up a Gator fan and wants to be in the Swamp. Florida coaches have pushed early playing time for him and I believe he will start in some capacity as a true freshman.
Prediction: Florida
3. 5-star DE CeCe Jefferson
This is an extremely tricky prospect to predict. There are currently 4 schools involved right now, and I don’t know who to truly believe is his leader. Auburn just had Jefferson on campus this past weekend and Jefferson will be returning to Oxford this coming weekend for an unofficial. LSU will get CeCe’s last official visit next weekend. Florida’s campus is only a 45 minute drive from Jefferson’s home, so getting to come back to Gainesville will be easy. The question is, will it actually happen? This one is a coin toss.
Prediction: Ole Miss
4. 4-star LB Jeffrey Holland
Holland was a solid Florida prospect until Will Muschamp was hired at Auburn and DB coach Travaris Robinson followed him. Now, the Gators are an afterthought in my opinion. Holland was just in Auburn this past weekend and seems solid on the Tigers. Florida will try and make a push, but it may be just white noise at this point.
Prediction: Auburn
5. 4-star RB Jordan Scarlett
This St. Thomas Aquinas running back has been committed to Miami for awhile. But since the hiring of Jim McElwain, the Gators staff have made Scarlett a priority. Scarlett will be on an official visit to Gainesville this weekend and it is imperative the staff makes a good impression on him. Many speculate a flip is coming to the Gators. But Scarlett will be in Tallahassee next weekend for his last visit. Florida needs to get a verbal pledge out of Scarlett this weekend to have any chance.
Prediction: Florida
6. 4-star QB Deondre Francois
If the Gators can manage to flip Francois from his Florida State pledge, it would be possibly the biggest victory of the recruiting season for Florida. Francois is an elite arm talent that Offensive Coordinator Doug Nussmeier can mold into an elite SEC quarterback. Francois has been wavering on visiting the University of Florida this coming weekend. He has many his ear telling him to cancel, but it appears he is intrigued by what the Gators have to offer. If Francois goes through with his official visit to Gainesville, it would be a huge step for the Gators in trying to pull the curtain over him and flipping his pledge.
Prediction: Florida State
7. 4-star WR Ryan Davis
The Gators have been after Davis for a long time and he just received an in-home visit from Doug Nussmeier and Kirk Callahan last night. But since Auburn hired Will Muschamp, Auburn has made a hard push for him. Davis seemed high on Auburn after his recent visit. Michigan has now gotten involved with Davis as well. He is another coin flip. He is tough to get a read on, but I think he stays in-state.
Prediction: Florida
8. 4-star LB Adonis Thomas
The once committed linebacker is currently committed to Alabama. Thomas was new Defensive Coordinator Geoff Collins’ first visit once the dead period was over. This shows the priority the new staff has put on getting Thomas back to being a Gator. Thomas was just in Tuscaloosa for an official visit and by all accounts, he loves it there. It will be a tall task to swing him away from Nick Saban’s grasp.
Prediction: Alabama
9. 4-star WR Van Jefferson
With Jefferson de-committing from Georgia just a few days ago, it seems like anyone’s game with this talented young man. He was just recently in Norman visiting with Oklahoma. He seems extremely high on the Sooners, but the Gators get his last visit before Signing Day. This is huge if McElwain wants to secure his signature. But I just hope it is not too late.
Prediction: Oklahoma
10. 4-star OT Christian Pellage
Pellage was just in Gainesville this past weekend for his official visit and had nothing but great things to say. He is still committed to South Carolina at the moment and will take his last official visit to Columbia this coming weekend. Florida has been pushing location to Pellage and his family. The fact that early playing time is a factor at both Florida and South Carolina cancels each other out, but the close proximity to home wins the day.
Prediction: Florida
