Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Florida's 2021 Recruiting Is off to a Hot Start, but What's Next?
With Chief Borders (OLB, 6-3, 230, McEachern HS - Powder Springs, GA) joining the fold this past weekend, Florida's 2021 class is really taking shape. Florida now holds seven commitments; More importantly, all of these young men can play for anyone. No true reaches among the half dozen.
WHAT DOES BORDERS BRING TO THE TABLE?
It’s not often that a long and lanky athlete can truly be a great defensive end or outside linebacker. Borders could be that player.
Why? Instinct.
He just finds the football. Whether it’s chasing down the running back from the backside, dropping into the flats to deflect a pass, or applying pressure to the QB, Borders can make plays. Perhaps he grows into a full-time defensive end, perhaps not. Time will tell.
Regardless, he’s a valuable athlete that will compete with the best of the best at the top of the SEC. Borders is a high school teammate of Carlos Del Rio (QB, 6-2, 200). Now they will be teammates in Gainesville, as Del Rio is also set to play for Florida.
SIZE UP FRONT
Among the six commitments, three players are linebackers or defensive linemen. Quarterbacks and offensive linemen generally commit the earliest, so it’s good to see Florida get a true defensive end with Tyreak Sapp (St. Thomas Aquinas - Fort Lauderdale, FL), a true interior defensive lineman with Christopher Thomas (Dunbar -Fort Myers, FL), and of course Borders, commit to UF so early in the process.
Sapp is listed at 6-2, 255 lbs already, while Thomas fills out at 6-5, 280. Now the Gators can be selective with the rest of their defensive line recruiting. Combining the 2020 class (and hopefully big Timothy Smith (Sebastian River - Sebastian, FL) too) of defensive linemen with what’s looking like a great group of 2021 prospects, and the Gators’ front four should be really good for the foreseeable future.
NEED: A HOME RUN THREAT
If one looks around college football, the best teams possess great quarterbacks. Well, those signal callers need game-breakers, too.
If the Gators are to consistently compete with Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Clemson, Ohio State and Oklahoma, it needs to add one or two more chess pieces to the board. Which speed player(s) will the Gators zero in on and sign for the class of 2021?
Many names could be bandied about; no need. Speed is never in short supply in Florida and surrounding states. Still, that one true dominant player physically and mentally would be a difference between 10-2 and 12-0. Percy Harvin produced physically, and part of that was because of his competitive nature.
While not a big guy, he broke tackles and fought for yardage. That’s the kind of mentality that the Gators need more of, and it’s not truly lacking on the current roster either. Just more of a going to find a way attitude from the best skill players. It’s infectious. The fans in the Swamp feed off it. A simple swing pass where a running back makes a defender miss, breaks two tackles, and races by everyone else (there’s the speed) to the end zone. That’s the player(s) the Gators need in this next class.
MORE PLEASE: OFFENSIVE LINE TALENT
We shall see how recent offensive line classes pan out, but until otherwise proven the biggest offensive question mark is up front. The Gators need to be able to run the ball against LSU and Georgia. Period.
Right now they really cannot say that’s the case. Perhaps more running from the quarterback position will help the Gators, but another strong offensive line haul needs to be a focal point.
At least four more offensive linemen should be a goal. The play in the trenches improved this year as it's gone on, but more competition through talent and depth will help ensure offensive stability. Florida should not find this task too difficult after what head coach Dan Mullen has done so far.
Expect the Gators to find some really good players up front, but 2021 does not appear to be a particularly strong year for in-state offensive linemen. It will be interesting to see which linemen the Gators truly go after.