Recruiting breakdown: UF's Meyer still playing catch-up
Urban Meyer had the nation's consensus No. 1 recruiting class in 2007 and the No. 2 class the year before that. Despite the back-to-back bonanzas, Meyer still feels the Gators are trying to catch up in recruiting.
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That may seem odd, but it's reality because Meyer's first recruiting class has pretty much been a bust and Ron Zook's last recruiting class also turned out to be a major disappointment.
As a result, the Gators had only a handful of senior starters this season and will have the same in 2008.
"We've got to bridge the gap (between the two disappointing classes and the last two successful classes)," Meyer said. "We've got to recruit the mess out of this place."
The Gators appear to be off to a good start, with 13 players already committed to UF, including Will Hill, the nation's No. 1 free safety prospect.
Up until a week or so ago, it appeared Florida would be able to sign only 18 to 20 prospects in the 2008 class, but that number has risen with the recent news that several players have decided to transfer, plus the revelation by Meyer that injuries probably have ended the playing careers of offensive linemen Eddie Haupt and Simon Codrington.
Also, two underclassmen ? defensive end Derrick Harvey and wide receiver/tight end Cornelius Ingram ? may consider leaving early for the NFL.
It all adds up to the Gators having fewer than 65 scholarship players on the roster after UF's bowl game. It could go as low as 60.
With the 85-scholarship limit, the Gators now are looking at signing a class of 22 to 25 players on national signing day on Feb. 6.
Here's a position-by-position look at UF's recruiting needs:
QUARTERBACK
* Departing scholarship players: Bryan Waggener, who is looking to transfer.
* Players returning: Tim Tebow, Cameron Newton, John Brantley.
* Recruiting need: With Waggener likely departing, the Gators would like to sign one quarterback, but this is not a position of immediate need.
* Commitments: None.
* Still on the board: Terrelle Pryor (Jeannette, Pa.).
RUNNING BACK
* Departing scholarship players: Bo Williams and Chevon Walker have decided to transfer.
* Players returning: Kestahn Moore, Brandon James, Mon Williams, Chris Rainey and Southern Cal transfer Emanuel Moody.
* Recruiting need: James and Rainey are undersized backs and Moore is a senior, so the Gators would like to sign at least two tailbacks in their ongoing quest to find a dominant back.
* Commitments: Franklin Green (Savannah, Ga.).
* Still on the board: Jamie Harper (Jacksonville Trinity Christian), Darrell Scott (Ventura, Calif.), Cyrus Gray (DeSoto, Texas) and Jeff Demps (Groveland South Lake).
RECEIVERS
* Departing scholarship players: All-time leading UF receiver Andre Caldwell, Jarred Fayson (transfer) and TE Tate Casey.
* Players returning: Percy Harvin, Cornelius Ingram (TE), Louis Murphy, Riley Cooper, David Nelson, Justin Williams, Deonte Thompson, Aaron Hernandez (TE) and Paul Wilson.
* Recruiting need: As usual, the Gators are looking for some speedy playmakers at wide receiver. Playing four and five wideouts most of the time, UF's goal is to have 10 scholarship wide receivers.
* Commitments: Frankie Hammond Jr. (Hallandale) and Omarius Hines (Corsicana, Texas).
* Still on the board: Alfred Jenkins (Jacksonville Terry Parker), Julio Jones (Foley, Ala.), T.J. Lawrence (Lakeland Kathleen), Carl Moore (Sierra Community College) and Chris Tolliver (Rayville, La.).
OFFENSIVE LINE
* Departing scholarship players: C Drew Miller, OT Carlton Medder, C Eddie Haupt (injury) and tackle Simon Codrington (injury).
* Players returning: C Michael Pouncey, G Maurkice Pouncey, G/C Carl Johnson, G Jim Tartt, T Phil Trautwein, T Jason Watkins, T James Wilson, G Jim Barrie, G Maurice Hurt, T Marcus Gilbert, G Corey Hobbs.
* Recruiting need: Not a serious need, but UF would like to sign three or four.
* Commitments: None.
* Still on the board: Matt Patchan (Seffner Armwood), Vinston Painter (Norfolk, Va.), Zerbie Sanders (Clayton, Ohio), Greg Shaw (Miami Monsignor Pace) and David Young (Edwardsville, Ill.).
DEFENSIVE END
* Departing scholarship players: None.
* Players returning: Derrick Harvey, Jermaine Cunningham, Carlos Dunlap, Justin Trattou, Duke Lemmens, Jay Howard.
* Recruiting need: With the possibility Harvey will enter the NFL draft, the Gators will try to sign two to three.
* Commitments: Earl Okine (Gainesville) and Chaz Sutton (Savannah, Ga.).
* Still on the board: Chancey Aghayere (Garland, Texas).
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
* Departing scholarship players: Clint McMillan and Lutrell Alford.
* Players returning: Javier Estopinan, Brandon Antwine, Torrey Davis, John Brown, Terron Sanders, Lawrence Marsh.
* Recruiting need: The Gators will try to sign three, possibly four.
* Commitments: Troy Epps (Coffeyville, Kan.), Byran Jones (Jacksonville Forrest).
* Still on the board: Brandon Thompson (Thomasville, Ga.) and Marty Everett (Bushnell).
LINEBACKER
* Departing scholarship players: None.
* Players returning: Brandon Spikes, A.J. Jones, Dustin Doe, Ryan Stamper, Brandon Hicks, John Jones, Lorenzo Edwards and Steven Wilks.
* Recruiting need: UF could sign as many as four.
* Commitments: Brendan Beal (Bethlehem, Pa.).
* Still on the board: Arthur Brown (Wichita, Kan.), Ramon Buchanan (Melbourne Palm Bay), William Green (Hoover, Ala.), Lerentee McCray (Dunnellon), Jonathan Meyers (Greenwich, Conn.) and Marcus Robinson (Homestead).
CORNERBACK
* Departing scholarship players: None.
* Players returning: Joe Haden, Wondy Pierre-Louis, Markihe Anderson, Jacques Rickerson, Markus Manson, Ahmad Black, Moses Jenkins.
* Recruiting need: The Gators need some immediate help and hope to sign three or four.
* Commitments: Jeremy Brown (Orlando Boone) and Janoris Jenkins (Pahokee).
* Still on the board: T.J. Bryant (Tallahassee), Brandon Harris (Miami) and Robbie Green (River Ridge, La.).
SAFETY
* Departing scholarship players: SS Tony Joiner and S Kyle Jackson.
* Players returning: S Major Wright, SS Dorian Munroe, S Bryan Thomas, SS Jerimy Finch, S Jamar Hornsby.
* Recruiting need: The Gators need to sign at least two free safeties and one strong safety.
* Commitments: Will Hill (Jersey City, N.J.) and Dee Finley (Auburn, Ala.).
* Still on the board: Spencer Adams (Matthew, N.C.).
SPECIALISTS
* Departing scholarship players: PK Joey Ijjas.
* Players returning: P Chas Henry, PK Jonathan Phillips.
* Recruiting need: The Gators were looking for a potential impact kicker to replace Ijjas, and they think they found one in nearby St. Augustine.
* Commitments: PK Caleb Sturgis (St. Augustine).
* Still on the board: No one.
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