The Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN) released their latest 2021 recruiting class rankings on August 5 (subscription required), with the Florida Gators remaining at No. 8.
Ryan Day’s Ohio State Buckeyes occupied the No. 1 spot, followed by Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide, Jeremy Pruitt’s Tennessee Volunteers, Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Tigers, and Mack Brown’s North Carolina Tar Heels to complete the top-five.
Earning a grade of 86 from the service, Loganville, Georgia pro-style quarterback Carlos Del Rio is the highest-rated of the Gators’ 22 commits in the cycle.
Fort Lauderdale defensive end Tyreak Sapp (84) is Florida’s top defensive pledge.
Nine of the program’s commits earned ESPN 300 status, including, in addition to Del Rio and Sapp, Powder Springs, Georgia outside linebacker Chief Borders, Ocala wide receiver Trevonte Rucker, and Jacksonville tight end Nick Elksnis.
All told, seven Southeastern Conference (SEC) schools made the network’s top-25; Ed Orgeron’s LSU Tigers, the reigning College Football Playoff national champions, slotted in at No. 6, Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs at No. 12, Jimbo Fisher’s Texas A&M Aggies at No. 16, and Gus Malzahn’s Auburn Tigers at No. 18.
Other notables include Manny Diaz’ Miami Hurricanes at No. 10, Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan Wolverines at No. 11, Tom Herman’s Texas Longhorns at No. 13, and Mike Norvell’s Florida State Seminoles at No. 20.
This No. 8 ranking from ESPN is three spots higher than 247Sports’ opinion of the Gators’ class, which lists the Gainesville-based program at No. 11.
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