Hey Tennessee, Your Loss Our Gain!

Already one of the decommitted players from the Vols has chosen Florida to play for after the disarray that has been unleashed on UT with Lane Kiffin leaving. Michael Taylor, a 4 star LB, will commit to Florida and add on to what is already being seen as a historic recruiting class.

Taylor’s high school teammate, Tony Jacobs, told the Orlando Sentinel that Taylor had already decided to sign with the Gators. In a text message to the Sentinel, Taylor seemed upset that the news had leaked but did not deny the report.

Rocky Top is more like Rocky Bottom right now.

Matt Elam… WTF Man!

The Matt Elam saga is becoming rather annoying and I wish I could just say he’s with Florida or with another team and not have to be updating.  The kid knows how to keep his name in the news and he better be worth it for all the trouble he’s been causing myself with having to write a half doze articles about his commitments and changes of heart.

In most recent news, Matt Elam switched his commitment to FSU but has now began to rethink this.  I did predict this with people I talked to that we should not be surprised should he change his mind with Meyer coming back:

“I talked to Urban last night,” Elam told Rivals. “We were talking about our relationship basically and he told me to have trust, to have trust in him and he asked me a word that really touched me. He said, ‘Do you know what faith means?’ and he told me the definition. It really touched me a lot. It really touched me so my decision might change.”

What was the definition Matt?  I want to know what touched you so deeply.  Was it the dictionary definition or a more philosophical definition?  Can you sense the frustration in my tone with this kid?

He’s a great safety and I feel he’ll do well at any school.  Some questions plague me on this recruit though…  is he worth all the hassle?  Is he going to be as good at the next level as he was in HS? If he had chose a school other than our rival, would we have still went after him?  If he went with WVU, would it have had Meyer get all deep in thought with him or would we have had said good bye?  There’s no way to no for sure but it’s my personal opinion (take it for what it’s worth) that because it’s a rival it just doesn’t make good business sense to not try to get him back.

But for the love of god Matt, please make up your mind and stick with it!

2010 Looking Bright for Florida

I know my previous entries may have made the future of the Florida Gators Football program look gloomy but things are shaking out really well right now.  First off, the trio of backs will remain at Florida: Chris Rainey, Jeff Demps and Emanuel Moody.  Think that’s good news?  Wait until you hear our commits!

The stars are out in Florida. This class has 19 commits, including a pair of five-star players and 10 four-star recruits. The Gators will boost their secondary with the addition of Under Armour All-Americans and five-star safeties Jonathan Dowling(Bradenton, Fla./Southeast) and Demar Dorsey (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Boyd Anderson) and four-star CBs Joshua Shaw (Palmdale, Calif./Palmdale) and Jaylen Watkins (Fort Meyers, Fla./Cape Coral). On offense, the Gators added running back Mack Brown (Lithonia, Ga./Martin Luther King), the No. 3 back in the nation; when all is said and done, he could be one of the best backs from this class. The Gators also added one of the nation’s top linemen, Under Armour All-American and four-star OT Ian Silberman (Orange Park, Fla./Fleming Island), who might be the most athletic offensive tackle in the 2010 class.

That’s right Matt Elam… we don’t need you, we picked up the top safeties available: Dowling and Dorsey.

On top of this we also snagged a top 20 recruit according to ESPN’s rankings and the #2 WR.  With Deonte Thompson, Andre Debose and now Chris Dunkley, it’s going to be tough for Brantley to overthrow anyone!  All recruits.  Most of the recruits made their verbal commitments  at the Under Armour All American game.

Did the Meyer Flip Flop seal the deal for these recruits?  They saw how much Meyer loved the team that he chose to come back because of the love for the school… did that do it?  Who knows, but I welcome them with open arms (besides you Elam).

Matt Elam First to Leave UF

We briefly talked about the effects of Meyer stepping down or taking a leave of absence and now it’s coming to fruition… at least for Matt Elam.  His high school teammates are probably likely to follow his decision.

“I’m going to Florida State because I see a better opportunity for me and I want to be a difference maker,” Elam said on Thursday.

“It was all the factor,” Elam said when asked if Meyer’s decision factored into his decision.

What some rank as a 5 star safety and a top defensive recruit, this will have some effects on our recruiting as other recruits besides his teammates may follow suit and see better opportunities.

Is the era of the Florida Gators already over?  What if Cincinnati beats Florida?  If Florida loses to Cincinnati it could very well put Florida’s future in a downward spiral.

Recruits To Leave with Urban Gone?

One of the most important things right now is the future of the team and we need to secure a coach ASAP in order to keep faith in the recruits.  It’s being said that Urban will stay on in a non coaching aspect for the team but the role to be defined later.  Fightin’ Gators went over 12 recruits regarding their commitment.

Cody Riggs….I did not pick Florida because of Coach Meyer so as of now I am sticking with my commitment

Quinton Dunbar…..I was surprised as anyone.  I was close to Ubran but I understand he has health issues but I am still a Gator 100%.

Lynden Trail….We love Meyer and to all the UF fans…Once a Gator always a Gator cause if you aint a Gator you are Gator bait.

Alcorus Leonard…I think I am going to decommit

There are still some up in the air about what’s going to happen.  Matt Elam who was going to be huge for Florida was already on the slippery slope and this is sure to send him to another school IMO.  Unfortunately we will lose recruits and that’s inevitable.  What can we salvage and keep is the more prominent question that should be asked right now.

Josh Shaw is devastated by the news…He is leaving for Orlando Monday with his family and after that his parents were going to drive him to Gainesville.  Meyer is the reason Josh picked Florida and with him goine we are going to pick another school…Per his mother…they are SHELL SHOCKED to say the least….

Solomon Patton…is to put it mildly very upset as well….

Robert Clark, Matt Elam, Gerald Christian not sure about this situation right now…..

I know it says Matt Elam isn’t sure but that just means he’s not sure what school he’s going to choose now, not that he’s not sure about Florida, he’s gone, there’s no way we keep him.

Matt Elam Reconfirms Committment

We touched on Matt’s intent to visit other schools not too long ago. Recently, he visited Tennessee and didn’t come out with a good taste in his mouth after Kiffin said he could be the next Eric Berry and said the same thing to the very next recruit that was visiting the same day. After visiting these schools and talking with Urban Meyer, he is now back on board as a Florida Gator.

He will not be visiting FSU and he has reconfirmed he will become a Gator. Elam was initially worried about depth and how many others Florida would have at his position. But his talent alone should allow him to compete for plenty of playing time and not all of those others really play the same position he will.

Bull Gator

The jury is still out as he has been back and forth a few times.  He mentioned he would early enroll but that’s still a couple months away and until that’s completed, there is no sure thing with this young star player.  This guy knows how to keep his name in the spot light and likes the attention is what it boils down to in my opinion.

Matt Elam Looking at WVU

Does this topic look familiar?  It should, it wasn’t that long ago that we talked about young Elam shopping around.

Matt Elam is by far one of the top prospects that Urban Meyer has his eye on… but apparently so do others.  Matt Elam has “committed” to Florida but isn’t calling it quits on his looking at other schools.

“I still feel I’m committed there,” Elam said aboutFlorida. “That’s where I want to be. I just feel like I have to look around. I’ve never been no other places. I haven’t seen other things. It really opened me up when I went to West Virginia. I still say I’m committed, but I’m looking around.

“I don’t want to de-commit and cause a lot of trouble, so I’m going to stay there, stay committed, but I’m going to look around.”

When asked if he had to sign right now:

“Probably West Virginia,” he said. “It’s crazy, huh? That’s how it is.”

How the hell can you say you’re still committed to Florida if right now you were to sign it would be with WVU?  I can tell he lacks proper speaking skills with his “I’ve been no other other places” so maybe he would fit better with WVU than Florida.  Just recently he said he was dead set on Florida and wouldn’t consider any other offers… a complete 180!

He doesn’t want to have to compete to play.  He just wants to come in and start playing college ball without having the competition.  He sees Florida as one of the deepest schools only second to USC in depth:

“There’s a lot of places that I could get a better opportunity than Florida,” Elam said. “I’m not going to run away from Florida because of competition, but I don’t want to wait. I feel I shouldn’t have to wait. I just want to go in and play. I don’t want to have to beat out four or five people. I know I’m going to have to compete wherever I go, but Florida probably has the biggest depth in college football, besides USC.”

He doesn’t plan on revisiting Gainesville as he’s “been here enough to know what it’s like”.  While he still is labeled as committed to Florida, this new information definitely does not make me feel good about his future with Florida.  We could use a top rated recruit for next year and this looked to be a sure thing not to long ago.

2010 Florida Gator Commitments

2010 VERBAL COMMITMENTS
These 17 high school prospects have given verbal commitments to the University of Florida’s football program that they will sign national letters of intent on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010 to play for the Gators:

Gideon Ajagbe, OLB, 6-2, 205, Coconut Grove, Fla. (Ransom Everglades) (ESPNU 150 Watch List)

Stephen Alli, WR, 6-5, 210, Andover, N.H. (Proctor Academy)

Neiron Ball, LB/DE, 6-4, 200, Jackson, Ga. (Jackson)

Mack Brown, RB, 5-11, 190, Lithonia, Ga. (Martin Luther King)(ESPNU 150 Watch List)

Troy Burton, QB, 6-3, 210, Nokomis, Fla. (Venice H.S.)(ESPNU 150 Watch List)

Gerald Christian, TE, 6-3, 230, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (Dwyer H.S.) (ESPNU 150 Watch List)

Demar Dorsey, S, 6-1, 180, Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. (Boyd Anderson H.S.) (ESPNU 150 Watch List)

Jonathan Dowling, S, 6-3, 180, Bradenton, Fla. (Southeast H.S.) (ESPNU 150 Watch List)

Matt Elam, ATH, 5-11, 202, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (Dwyer H.S.) (ESPNU 150 Watch List)

Jordan Haden, ATH, 6-0, 200, Fort Washington, Md. (Friendly H.S.)

Victor Hampton, CB, 5-10, 170, Charlotte, N.C. (Independence H.S.)

Michael McFarland, TE, 6-6, 230, Tampa, Fla. (Blake H.S.)

Leon Orr, DT, 6-5, 315, New Port Richey, Fla. (Gulf H.S.)

Solomon Patton, WR, 5-10, 170, Mobile, Ala. (Murphy H.S.)(ESPNU 150 Watch List)

Ian Silberman, OL, 6-6, 265, Orange Park, Fla. (Fleming Island H.S.) (ESPNU 150 Watch List)

Travon Van, ATH, 5-11, 200, San Diego, Calif. (Milford Academy)

Jaylen Watkins,CB, 6-0, 173, Cape Coral, Fla. (Cape Coral H.S.) (ESPNU 150 Watch List)

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Florida Gators Friday Night Lights

Urban Meyer has set the standard for college football in more ways than one. Not only has his team won two of the past three BCS Titles but are the odds on favorite to win it again this year.

Full story at Scout/Fightin’ Gators

Florida Gators are on the pedestal this year and there’s no better way to get some recruits to commit than by way of Friday Night Lights.  After Florida began this, other teams have chosen to follow the trail that Florida has laid out.

Held in The Swamp under the lights with the nation’s top talent competing against each other, the competition is intense and the atmosphere electrifying. This year, as in years past, the Gators will host not only the top 2010 players, but also some of the best underclassmen from 2011.

The list of possible recruits is around 14 of the top 100 (per Scout.com) recruits that will be making there way to Florida over the next few days:

• Jonothan Dowling #5 Safety
• Jaylen Watkins #10 Corner
• Victor Hampton #15 Corner
• Jordan Haden
• Gideo Ajagbe
• Leon Orr
• Trey Burton
• Ian Silberman
• Solomon Patton
• Matt Elam #1 Safety – #5 Overall
• Gerald Christian
• Justin McCay #1 OLB – #3 Overall
• Corey Lemoiner #3 DE
• Ronald Powell

There are many other mentions on who will visit that can be found at the link above.  The above list are the most notable players.

Ronald Powell Will Commit to the Gators

Sorry, the title might seem  misleading because it’s not a fact. However, read on and you’ll see why it might as well be confirmed.

Ronald Powell has a tough decision to choose between USC and Florida as his top team.  Powell gives each team an equal chance to recruit him.  What that means is as soon as he talks with one team, he talks with the other shortly after.

“I call the two coaching staffs one after the other,” Powell said. “I’ll hang up with one of the coaches from Florida or USC, and then I’ll call the other right after it.”

Powell is set to return to Gainesville… err Title Town for Friday Night Lights on the 24th and is looking forward to the trip.  His relationship with the coaches here in Title Town has grown tremendously.  He has built up a unique bond with Brian White (Tight End/Offensive Line Coach) possibly because of his west coast origins.

So why do I know Ronald Powell will be a Florida Gator? The answer lies in how Powell said he talks with Brian White and the Florida coaches:

“I just talked to Whitey (Florida tight ends coach Brian White) last night,” Powell said. “We just had a normal conversation. It’s pretty much the same conversation that I have when I call one of my friends.”

This might not mean a lot to some but for me, I am in sales and when someone considers me their friend before a sales rep, bring out the pen, they’re signing!  This is key to getting recruits… build the relationship up where they view you as a friend before anything else.

So my title may have jumped the gun and I may be wrong about this but these are good signs for sure!

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