2019 recruiting class continues to dwindle
Florida coach Dan Mullen has seen his ninth-ranked 2019 recruiting attrition during the past few months.
GAINESVILLE —UF coach Dan Mullen’s second class was the Gators’ first top-10 recruiting haul since 2014.
The Gators now face the prospect of losing more than 25% of the 2019 class.
Lakeland offensive lineman Deyavie Hammond is the fourth member of the class no longer on the team. Hammond announced on Twitter he failed to qualify academically and will attend junior college.
Three more signees also are unlikely to make it to campus this summer due to academics, including fourstar receiver Arjei Henderson, the 140th-ranked player in the nation. Three-star receiver Dionte Marks of Deland also does not seem to have the grades to qualify, while offensive lineman Wardrick Wilson, a native of the Bahamas, has academic issues along with a problem obtaining a visa.
Cornerback Chris Steele, the top-rated recruit in the class, and quarterback Jalon Jones left the program this spring after Jones was accused of sexual battery. Jones ultimately was not charged. Steele was Jones’ roommate and named as a witness in the complaint field by two female students at UF.
Four-star linebacker Diwun Black, of Mississippi, also has enrolled at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College due to academic issues.
Black, the nation’s No. 151-rated player, moved to Kissimmee last summer to focus on improving his academic standing, but he ultimately was unable to qualify.
In addition to the attrition in the 2019 class, reserve cornerback Brian Edwards has decided to transfer after two seasons at UF. Edwards’ decision and Steele’s transfer leave the Gators with just seven scholarship cornerbacks, including first-year freshmen Kaiir Elam and Chester Kimbrough.
Two other cornerbacks, redshirt sophomore Marco Wilson and first-year freshman Jaydon Hill, are coming back from ACL tears suffered last season.
Edwards, a native of Miramar, played in 18 games for UF, but he never started. He was expected to give the Gators experienced depth.
Edwards announced his decision Monday on Twitter a little more than two weeks after a misdemeanor battery charge against him was dropped due to insufficient evidence. Edwards was arrested May 6 for allegedly grabbing his longtime girlfriend by her neck as she attempted to leave their apartment.
Gators launch app: The University Athletic Association will launch a Florida Gators app Aug. 1 to allow fans to connect to their Ticketmaster accounts and store their tickets (season, package or single-game) on a mobile device.
Students no longer will have to go to the student ticket-office outside Gate 13 during game week to pick up tickets. Tickets will be sent directly to their phones during game week.
All tickets are expected to be digital in 2020.
Fans also will be able to store credit card information on the app to avoid using cash or a physical card at concession stands.