South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
Florida struggles to lure top in-state talent
Few opportunities remain to land top recruits before deadline
GAINESVILLE — The trail to Florida’s recruiting hotbeds has turned cold for the Gators.
Dan Mullen could benefit from a November flourish and return home — the Gators’ South Carolina visit was their fourth consecutive Saturday away from the Swamp.
Few opportunities remain to land top in-state talent before Early National Signing Day arrives Dec. 15.
Winter Park wideout Jayden Gibson, at No. 20 per 247Sports composite rankings, is the Gators’ top-rated in-state recruit in their 2022 class, ranked 22nd overall. A handful of prospects ahead of Gibson are undecided, but none appears UF-bound.
The lack of elite players from Florida flocking to Gainesville is unusual for the state’s flagship university and most ubiquitous football program.
“In-state guys aren’t jumping at chance to go to Florida — that’s where they need to go,” Adam Gorney, national director of recruiting for Rivals.com, told The Orlando Sentinel.
Players are committing to rivals or leaving the state.
Mullen and his staff are selling the Gators amid a .500 season and the prospect of staff changes. The pending $85 million standalone facility could be a boon but is overdue. Then, of course, Florida talent’s draws the best recruiters and programs.
Among the top-20 in-state prospects, three are committed to Clemson and two each to Florida State and SEC king Alabama. Big Ten heavyweights Ohio State and Penn State, Big 12 behemoth Oklahoma and Georgia have one commitment each.
Coach Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs also are expected to sign IMG Academy safety Kamari Wilson, the state’s No. 4 prospect, and are well positioned for Jacksonville cornerback Jaheim Singletary, ranked No. 3 in Florida.
When Singletary de-committed from Ohio State, Florida appeared to have a shot.
“Florida should be recruiting classes that compete for the No. 1 class in the country,” Steve Wiltfong, director of recruiting 247Sports, told The Orlando Sentinel. “If you put Kirby Smart, Ryan Day [Ohio State] or Lincoln Riley [Oklahoma] at Florida, the Gators would not be sitting on the No. 22 recruiting class.”
The Gators’ classes were 12th in 2021 and 9th in 2020. The slide has called into question Mullen’s recruiting fervor and focus.
Mullen dismissed the perception and is excited to get players to Gainesville. UF has not hosted prospects since Vanderbilt’s noon visit Oct. 9.
“That’s not a huge draw,” Mullen told The Sentinel.
A noon visit from Samford this coming Saturday won’t be either. But a Nov. 27 date in the Swamp with FSU, Mullen said, “will be a huge weekend for us.”