Gators football falls a couple spots in newest ESPN recruiting rankings

The Gators’ 2021 recruiting class fell two spots in the latest recruiting rankings, and now it’s just barely still in the top 10.

Florida continues to have difficulties breaking through in recruiting under Dan Mullen. The Gators dropped two spots on the latest ESPN recruiting rankings from No. 8 to No. 10.

Florida’s class, which features a consensus five-star recruit in cornerback Jason Marshall for the second-straight season after not landing one since 2015, ranks just fifth among SEC teams. UF has 11 commits from prospects ranked in the ESPN 300, more than two teams above it (No. 8 Notre Dame and No. 9 USC) and the same as another (No. 7 Texas A&M).

Twenty-two prospects have signed their National Letters of Intent with the Gators already, while they have two unsigned committed players in JUCO transfer Deyavie Hammond and three-star offensive tackle Adrein Strickland.

Florida will try to bolster its class a little more before National Signing Day on Feb. 3. Here’s ESPN’s analysis of the Gators’ class.

10. Florida Gators

ESPN 300 commits: 11 | Previous ranking: 8 

SEC rank: 5 of 14
Top offensive commit: QB Carlos Del Rio (No. 57)
Top defensive commit: CB Jason Marshall (No. 42)

Dan Mullen’s third consecutive top-10 class in Gainesville is a near lock coming off back-to-back 10-win seasons and top-10 AP poll finishes, as well as the hiring of ace recruiter Tim Brewster. Brewster immediately addressed the need at tight end with ESPN 300s Gage Wilcox and Nick Elksnis. There are two quarterbacks in the class: ESPN 300 Carlos Del Rio and four-star Texan Jalen Kitna. Two huge early August wins came from South Florida in ESPN 300 DBs and high school teammates Jason Marshall and Corey Collier. An ESPN 300 WR in the fold is playmaker Daejon Reynolds out of Georgia powerhouse high school Grayson. A third ESPN 300 WR is Marcus Burke from Jacksonville powerhouse Trinity Christian. ESPN 300 Chief Borders is a versatile jumbo athlete who projects as an OLB. ESPN 300 DE Jeremiah Williams will bring edge rush ability. A solid secondary group is made up of LSU flip Dakota Mitchell and four-star S Donovan McMillon. Four-star DE Justus Boone, a big win out of South Carolina, has a high ceiling.

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