Charlie
--Gators load up on football recruiting
Wakulla quarterback Feleipe Franks is one of the jewels of Florida's 2016 signing class.
Cyndi Chambers/CorrespondentPublished: Monday, December 21, 2015 at 8:37 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at 12:13 a.m.
The beginning of the month-long recruiting dead period – when coaches can't meet with recruits – has been lively for the Gators.
UF has received letters of intent from 12 commits who will enroll early at the university for the Spring semester.
That includes four-star quarterback Feleipe Franks, a Crawfordville product who flipped from LSU just weeks ago and will get a jump on adjusting to the collegiate level.
Franks, along with six other players on the offensive side of the ball, graduated high school early and can join the team Jan. 5 when the Gators regroup after the Citrus Bowl. For an offense that struggled throughout last season with Treon Harris as the quarterback, coach Jim McElwain and his staff will undoubtedly appreciate having another weapon under center.
Those hoping the Gators would find a temporary fix before suspended quarterback Will Grier was eligible to return had their hopes dashed by his decision to transfer and seek a fresh start in 2017.
Barring additional commitments or transfers, the Gators will return at quarterback Harris, Jacob Guy, Luke Del Rio and an assortment of walk-ons while adding Franks and fellow midyear enrollee Kyle Trask.
Four-star running back Mark Thompson is among those enrolling early who could put himself in position to receive early playing time, especially if Kelvin Taylor opts to leave early for the NFL draft. The JUCO transfer has been on UF's radar since McElwain arrived on campus, and he signed with Florida on Dec. 14, the first day junior college transfers were eligible to put pen to paper.
And Gator fans witnessed the importance in having a consistent kicker, as Austin Hardin repeatedly failed to convert his field goal and extra-point attempts this season. McElwain made that position a priority by seeking out the No. 1 JUCO kicker in the nation, Miami native Eddy Pineiro.
Strangely enough, Pineiro has never attempted a field goal in a game due to playing behind a weak offense in high school and attending Miami ASA College on a soccer scholarship, but a clamor for his services developed after videos of him drilling a 77-yard attempt spread across the Internet.
He decided to retract his July commitment to Alabama and enroll early at UF.
On the defensive side of the ball, Florida will add five midyear enrollees and multiple of highly regarded players who could receive early playing time in Gainesville.
Four-star defensive end Antonneous Clayton committed to the Gators on Oct. 28 but he doesn't intend on sending in a letter of intent until National Signing Day on Feb. 3. Cornerback Chauncey Gardner, ranked No. 35 in Rivals' Top 150, has been firm in his commitment to UF since March and he will add depth to UF's deep defensive backfield.
In all, UF's class may be near capacity with 25 commitments, but it's more possible than not the Gators will have several players decommit in the coming weeks.
However, with spots opening up, McElwain and his staff will have opportunities to strengthen a class that currently ranks No. 1 in the nation according to Scout.com.
With the dead period ending Jan. 13, the Gators will have less than three weeks to finish selling recruits on the opportunities Florida offers.
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GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY!
1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions |
Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007)
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