Florida recruiting - yikes

[Sub Par SUPERSTAR]

My sentiments exactly. Napier is not done.

And some have a hard time understanding why Gator fans are thrilled with yesterday’s ESD.

1) Napier snagged several big time guys that nobody expected, and he pulled them from Georgia, Bama and others.
2) He seems to have bridged a decade-long divide between UF and IMG Academy. It’s ridiculous that IMG has been a pipeline for Bama, Ga, Clemson and others for all these years.
3) Even with only signing 9, he still managed to take care of some positions of need; 3 OL, 2 DT, a big time MLB and 2 big time DB’s.

He’ll fill up the rest of the class via HS and portal. But for 9 days on the job, yesterday was the most fun I’ve had in years on a signing day. Adding to the fun was FSU’s historic debacle.

People don't seem to realize, or maybe don't fully understand, how absolutely HUGE it is to have IMG Academy a day trip away from campus...That school has the best players in the country, from all over the country, every year, and they could be at UF in 3-4 hours whenever they want...Building a pipeline to IMG is critical, especially when you consider how strong our natural recruiting footprint is, you mix that with the best players in the country, and that's how you win championships.

 

[Sub Par SUPERSTAR]

I’m not disagreeing I’m just not convinced so much optimism is warranted

Yeah recruiting isn’t over…except that most of the real recruits are committed. Yeah there are still some guys out but it’s ver difficult to fill holes or get splash commits after ESD.

I don’t know how Napier will do with a year, could be excellent, could be not.

The problem I see is that with only a few guys signed this year and no real way to pull off a good class of a decent class. You are looking at some pretty big holes at some point. Depth is an issue that hits eventually and when it does it hits HARD.

Im just saying…if this was TN I’d be worried about the next few years. Shoot, it’s why I got interested in college football in the first place. I wasn’t interested really until Kiffin left and articles talked about recruiting and the problem of losing a coach and a class the way we did. I started following recruiting info and found myself falling in love with the sport.

So I’m not saying this as a “oooh I genuinely want Florida to fail because I hate them” I mean I do want them to fail LOL. But In all honesty I’m just seeing some parallels and I feel like Florid could be in a world of hurt in the near future and I just see folks just saying “he look, but we got this one guy!”

It’s kind of like a leper losing his big toe and saying “but now it won’t be infected anymore”

Yeah, getting a big recruit is good but it doesn’t make up for signing just a few other guys.

Numbers for the sake of numbers is bunk, just crap...Nape said he was gonna be patient, evaluate, and go after the guys HE wanted...Mission accomplished so far, he didn't miss on anybody...He purged this class of most of the Mullen leftovers, and went out and secured the guys left that he wanted...And like it's been mentioned, he's not done, but I promise you this, he's not gonna fill this class out with empty numbers just so it looks pretty on a recruiting website.

 

[Grand Vol]

2. Long term. This is a long term deal. Florida isn't winning a national title next year. They're not making the playoffs. They're not winning the SEC. The goal is to build a consistent winner over the long haul. Where people are happy is that the new coach has delivered some big time gets on ESD with little staff and one week to work with. So, people are taking that as a sign of ......hell, if he can sign 2 5* players in a week, what could he do in a year? What can he do recruiting guys for 2 years?

Does he get the chance to build to that level in the 3 and out, instant gratification and impact SEC world?

Serious question, but how long does a coach at Florida have to "make an impact" on the field before they tire of him?

 

[LouderVol]

People don't seem to realize, or maybe don't fully understand, how absolutely HUGE it is to have IMG Academy a day trip away from campus...That school has the best players in the country, from all over the country, every year, and they could be at UF in 3-4 hours whenever they want...Building a pipeline to IMG is critical, especially when you consider how strong our natural recruiting footprint is, you mix that with the best players in the country, and that's how you win championships.

What? Florida has some of the best recruits in the nation? The state schools have an inbuilt advantage due to location?

When did this happen?

 

[Nerwen Aldarion]

Does he get the chance to build to that level in the 3 and out, instant gratification and impact SEC world?

Serious question, but how long does a coach at Florida have to "make an impact" on the field before they tire of him?

This. A bad recruiting class that can’t make up the issues Florida needs fixed coupled with losing some good guys on the team.

It’s going to be hard. Florida fans might be realistic in that they know they aren’t going to win a championship this year but I’m not sure they realize how bad it really could get. If Napier doesn’t make progress right away, well what happens then?

Will the problems just compound? If they have a very bad season next year will that affect his ability to recruit and then the problems just spiral? Will he pull it out and do better than expected?

I don’t know, maybe I’ve been so used to things going wrong for the Vols that I’m cynical but I feel like Florida fans need see it’s not all sunshine and roses.

 

[Sub Par SUPERSTAR]

Does he get the chance to build to that level in the 3 and out, instant gratification and impact SEC world?

Serious question, but how long does a coach at Florida have to "make an impact" on the field before they tire of him?

Well the cupboard is not at all bare, so this isn't a total rebuild per se, but I believe most Gator fans realize it's gonna take a little time for Nape and his guys to get in and get this culture established and have all the players buy in to the new philosophy and way of doing things...I think there's a real possibility that we only win 6-8 games next year, and that's gonna freak a lot of fans out, but the majority of us see the HUGE potential in this hire, and are gonna give him the time he needs.

 

[Grand Vol]

Well the cupboard is not at all bare, so this isn't a total rebuild per se, but I believe most Gator fans realize it's gonna take a little time for Nape and his guys to get in and get this culture established and have all the players buy in to the new philosophy and way of doing things...I think there's a real possibility that we only win 6-8 games next year, and that's gonna freak a lot of fans out, but the majority of us see the HUGE potential in this hire, and are gonna give him the time he needs.

Yeah, but Florida isn't much different from Tennessee or the rest of the SEC in the fact the grumblings will start next year if he drops 5 or 6 games (a real possibility given your schedule). He's going to have to upset UGA, ATM, Utah or LSU next year to keep the seat from already starting to warm up.

Fans are patient only if progress is being made. Just like Hype is going to have to make a "signature" win over someone like UF, UGA, LSU or Bama next year and go at least 7-5 or 8-4, Nape will need to get a nice win in his first year to show "progress" in your program.

 

[Lawrence Wright]

Yeah, but Florida isn't much different from Tennessee or the rest of the SEC in the fact the grumblings will start next year if he drops 5 or 6 games (a real possibility given your schedule). He's going to have to upset UGA, ATM, Utah or LSU next year to keep the seat from already starting to warm up.

Fans are patient only if progress is being made. Just like Hype is going to have to make a "signature" win over someone like UF, UGA, LSU or Bama next year and go at least 7-5 or 8-4, Nape will need to get a nice win in his first year to show "progress" in your program.

This was our gripe with Mullen, on the field and on the recruiting trial.

Had he not made the comment about recruiting after the season I think he might still be our coach. Had that been the case, our recruiting class yesterday would have been worse.

 

[lawgator1]

The key is indeed progress.

I agree that SEC fans are impatient and certainly Florida fans fall into that category. But the vast majority of us (over 30 yrs old) understand how think this program is on talent right now. Not that we haven't had a few standouts here and there of NFL-worthy players.

But I can't recall the last time UF had an offensive lineman taken in the draft. (I looked online and I think it was 6 years ago). That has been by far our weakest overall spot on the field for quite some time. I am anxious to see what CNB does on that particular issue, though in fairness to him its hard to evaluate that this year.

 

[Volfan1000]

View attachment 420906

Seinfeld was the original Curb Your Enthusiasm.

 

[Mtnvol80]

its not staying at 10 signees. There is a February signing day.

I'm convinced there's only a handful of people on this site that understand the recruiting rankings. Yall are way behind but its cause of the numbers obviously. Yall actually have a higher quality average. We're only ahead of Clemson, lsu and auburn cause we've signed more. They have higher quality classes. Still a lot left to sign so rankings are going to move

 

[Lawrence Wright]

I'm convinced there's only a handful of people on this site that understand the recruiting rankings. Yall are way behind but its cause of the numbers obviously. Yall actually have a higher quality average. We're only ahead of Clemson, lsu and auburn cause we've signed more. They have higher quality classes. Still a lot left to sign so rankings are going to move

You’re ruining the vibe.

 

[05_never_again]

It was kind of a perfect storm that got Mullen fired. If they had a pretty good season but had the class that they had, he's still there. If they had the season they had but had a good incoming class, he's probably still there.

It took both (horrible season + bad class and flippant comments about recruiting) to get him fired. And what a downfall that was...they were #10 in the country with the only loss being by 2 points to Alabama and he was fired before the season was over. Personally I think he checked out after last season, but the proximate cause for his unraveling had to be something specific happening the week of or during the Kentucky game. I don't think I've ever seen a team come apart that completely and that quickly before.

 

[Sub Par SUPERSTAR]

I'm convinced there's only a handful of people on this site that understand the recruiting rankings. Yall are way behind but its cause of the numbers obviously. Yall actually have a higher quality average. We're only ahead of Clemson, lsu and auburn cause we've signed more. They have higher quality classes. Still a lot left to sign so rankings are going to move

Yep, when Nape adds 6-10 more players it'll nestle somewhere inside the top 15-20...Not sure there's enough out there left to get into the top 10, but we'll see how it goes.

 

[sjt18]

I'm convinced there's only a handful of people on this site that understand the recruiting rankings. Yall are way behind but its cause of the numbers obviously. Yall actually have a higher quality average. We're only ahead of Clemson, lsu and auburn cause we've signed more. They have higher quality classes. Still a lot left to sign so rankings are going to move

That's "true"... but I'm OK with it and especially for now. The 4* decommitted UF WR appears to have been the back up plan for Squirrel White for both UGA and UT. So would you rather win the 3* UGA wanted more or the 4* they wanted less?

Every year you will see rationalizations for the 3* players UT gets. So yeah I get that. But I like Phillips a lot. He's a couple of inches smaller than Nolen but he appears to play with a higher, more consistent motor and seems to never get turned. Apparently Bama made a late run at Sampson... who is now the Louisiana HS rushing record holder. I really, truly don't care that the recruiting sites gave him 3*. Outside of a handful of guys nationwide... the recruiting services really aren't very good at predicting OL's. UT signed three 3* OL's... all are big, long, athletic, and intelligent.

If Heupel proves he can find talent, develop it, and then have guys run wild on Bama and UGA then the recruiting sites will follow him around like puppies too. Until then... we have to hope that his recruiting profile builds the talent we need.

 

[TJVol95]

0-12

Dang it LW 1-11!!!!

 

[OrangeRaid Vol #1]

My sentiments exactly. Napier is not done.

And some have a hard time understanding why Gator fans are thrilled with yesterday’s ESD.

1) Napier snagged several big time guys that nobody expected, and he pulled them from Georgia, Bama and others.
2) He seems to have bridged a decade-long divide between UF and IMG Academy. It’s ridiculous that IMG has been a pipeline for Bama, Ga, Clemson and others for all these years.
3) Even with only signing 9, he still managed to take care of some positions of need; 3 OL, 2 DT, a big time MLB and 2 big time DB’s.

He’ll fill up the rest of the class via HS and portal. But for 9 days on the job, yesterday was the most fun I’ve had in years on a signing day. Adding to the fun was FSU’s historic debacle.

The real fun is scoring lots of points and winning. This year Vol fans got a taste of a fun offense. Florida was very fortunate to have Spurrier and now we have experienced it, without the wise cracks. Good years ahead. Napier better get some offense.

 

[Sub Par SUPERSTAR]

The real fun is scoring lots of points and winning. This year Vol fans got a taste of a fun offense. Florida was very fortunate to have Spurrier and now we have experienced it, without the wise cracks. Good years ahead. Napier better get some offense.

Eh, Nape's offense is fine...We know what it's like to have a guy that runs a "fun offense", we just canned his ass...What y'all need to ultimately be concerned with is the same thing we were, can Heupel recruit at an elite level, a level that can sustain success in the SEC...Mullen, as talented a football mind as he is, couldn't, and that's why he's unemployed...Though I hate to admit it, the jackass at Georgia was right, you can't out coach bad recruiting.

 

[MAD]

People don't seem to realize, or maybe don't fully understand, how absolutely HUGE it is to have IMG Academy a day trip away from campus...That school has the best players in the country, from all over the country, every year, and they could be at UF in 3-4 hours whenever they want...Building a pipeline to IMG is critical, especially when you consider how strong our natural recruiting footprint is, you mix that with the best players in the country, and that's how you win championships.

I lived in Bradenton close to IMG, it’s FSU through and through. Gators are more on par with USF in the area.

 

[ptcarter]

Eh, Nape's offense is fine...We know what it's like to have a guy that runs a "fun offense", we just canned his ass...What y'all need to ultimately be concerned with is the same thing we were, can Heupel recruit at an elite level, a level that can sustain success in the SEC...Mullen, as talented a football mind as he is, couldn't, and that's why he's unemployed...Though I hate to admit it, the jackass at Georgia was right, you can't out coach bad recruiting.

Nice- Guy visiting another teams message board posts a 1hour six minute video of App State vs Louisana Ragin Cagins to make a point. Raise your hand if you watched it.

I know you are pumped about "Nape", but it's not contagious here. Just sayin.

 

[Sub Par SUPERSTAR]

Nice- Guy visiting another teams message board posts a 1hour six minute video of App State vs Louisana Ragin Cagins to make a point. Raise your hand if you watched it.

I know you are pumped about "Nape", but it's not contagious here. Just sayin.

I understand that, but I have to defend my coach.

 

[ptcarter]

I understand that, but I have to defend my coach.

I understand completely. You have to realize, we've been through Dooley, Jones and Pruitt. We understand the initial "man crush" with a new coach. We also realize that as you get further acquainted with the new love interest, he might suffer from "Premature Evacuation". Just saying. Pump the brakes a little.

 

[Jaws]

The real fun is scoring lots of points and winning. This year Vol fans got a taste of a fun offense. Florida was very fortunate to have Spurrier and now we have experienced it, without the wise cracks. Good years ahead. Napier better get some offense.

Absolutely. In fact, two of the coaches he spoke with before taking the job was Spurrier and Mac. Both reiterated, you better be able to score some points. We’ll see.

 

[BowlBrother85]

Yep, when Nape adds 6-10 more players it'll nestle somewhere inside the top 15-20...Not sure there's enough out there left to get into the top 10, but we'll see how it goes.

You're definitely being optimistic. That is best case scenario.

 

[Redleg68]

Yep, when Nape adds 6-10 more players it'll nestle somewhere inside the top 15-20...Not sure there's enough out there left to get into the top 10, but we'll see how it goes.

Not sure there is enough out there to get into the top 25, when you consider there is 135 programs still looking to add more and some of those still on the board are on their way to JUCO.