The Florida Gators football program had a quiet national signing day on Wednesday, adding just four transfer players to the team while standing pat on high school commitments.
UF under head coach Dan Mullen has been much more successful finding value in the transfer portal than on the recruiting trail and Florida highlighted that fact with this announcement:
The Gators will welcome four transfer student-athletes who began classes this spring to the 2021 football roster. The bulk of this spring’s transfer additions will be seen on the defensive side of the ball, as the Gators added three defensive linemen and one running back.
- Demarkcus Bowman – RB
- Dylan Meeks – DL
- Daquan Newkirk – DL
- Antonio Shelton – DL
Five-star tight end Arik Gilbert from Lousiana State and kicker Jace Christmann from Mississippi State have also transfer commitments for the Gators, but they will not be enrolling until May.
Florida began the 2021 recruiting cycle ranked No. 8 in the nation according to 247Sports but has fallen to No. 13 since — its lowest ranking since 2018 if it does not fall any further. Overall, UF has one five-star, 12 four-star and nine three-star pledges in the 2021 class which is good for fifth-best in the SEC and second-best in the state just a touch behind Miami.
ESPN’s evaluation of Florida’s signing period remained unchanged from before, hovering right at No. 10. The Gators have been ranked as high as No. 5 on a few occasions— most recently after signing Jason Marshall Jr. and Corey Collier back in August — but have been slipping ever since.
Here is what staff writer Craig Haubert had to say about the Gators and their latest crop of prep prospects.
10. Florida Gators
ESPN 300 commits: 11 Previous ranking: 10
SEC rank: 5 of 14
Top offensive commit: QB Carlos Del Rio (No. 58)
Top defensive commit: CB Jason Marshall (No. 44)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.
[lawrence-related id=34673,34601,34588,34574,34477]
[listicle id=34692]
[vertical-gallery id=34715]