Andrew Ivins - 247Sports
Recruiting: Prime In-State Targets for Florida's 2021 Class
The state of Florida offers the best of the best prep prospects. For the Gators to get back to the top of the college football world, recruiting the elite in-state talent may be the most important ingredient.
When the Gators won the 2006 and 2008 national titles, much of the roster came from within the Sunshine State. The same can be said about the 1996 championship team. Sure, key players came across the Florida state line to play their ball in Gainesville. Every program recruits out of state talent. With that said, Florida head coach Dan Mullen and his staff are on the cusp of something special. Talent is the final piece to reach the promised land. Still, talent alone does not win titles. Look at Florida State this year and last.
Completely discombobulated during stretches of games and it cost the Seminoles dearly. The roster in Tallahassee possesses a great deal of talent. With that in mind, the following list will consider talent and fit. Talent alone does not win titles.
The following represents five truly elite in-state players that the Gators really want and appear to be in the running to sign. To start making consistent runs at the College Football Playoff, the Gators need some of these recruits.
Keep in mind that this list does not reflect the opinion of any person from the University of Florida.
The best bet to be a great player on the field and be the type of leader off the field every college football coach covets would be none other than Cade Denhoff. The 6-4, 225-pound defensive end from Plant City, FL (Lakeland Christian) deserves rare praise. He's got an electric first step, a great punch to quickly defeat offensive tackles, and an aggressive pursuit of the football. Denhoff plays the run and pass equally well. That may not be his best asset.
Denhoff is a great young man from a great family. That matters. He’s not going to end up in trouble like so many other talented football players. For that reason, he sits alone at the top of the board. While it's almost impossible to select but one player to be set apart from the rest, Denhoff’s personality and tremendous academic profile may be rarer yet. Class act on and off the gridiron. Denhoff is probably not deciding soon, but Alabama, Florida, Ohio State, and Clemson are among the schools he’s considering. Several other programs could end up with official visits as well. Another defensive player comes in next.
Sometimes great talent can be just down the road. Bryce Langston, DE, 6-3, 250-pounds, Ocala, FL (Vanguard) lives about 30 minutes from the University of Florida. The Vanguard program continually pumps out great talent. The Gators boast one of college football’s best pass-rushing front sevens this year. To keep the trend going, add Langston and Denhoff. Those two manning the ends would be a game-changer. Langston could also be a swing player.
During obvious passing downs, Langston could eventually be a player that slides inside and play the three-technique defensi9ive tackle. That would allow another pass rusher to come into the game and play defensive end. Langston’s versatility is a big reason he made the list. A Dade County standout comes in next.
If you like speed at linebacker, this young man fits the bill. Terrence Lewis, LB, 6-1, 195-pounds, Miami, FL (Northwestern). Listed as an outside linebacker by most, let us not be too hasty to assume he could not eventually man the middle as well. In today’s college football, speed trumps size. Lewis will probably top out at 225- to 230-pounds. Talented enough to play as a freshman for any program in the country, Lewis provides a couple of skills that catch any coach’s eye.
The ability to time up a blitz and blow by the offensive tackle generally comes with experience. Well, Lewis already seems to have mastered said skill. He’s also good at hunting plays down to the perimeter and in while in coverage.
Playing well in the “trash” as they call it - making plays in the box - only begins to define what a modern-day linebacker must do. Lewis finds his way through traffic as well as any linebacker in the country. It will serve him well in college as so many teams run a variety of screens to spring a huge play. As for his recruitment, it’s early.
The recruitment of Lewis could go all the way to national signing day. He’s a special player. Although the Gators may not be listed as a proverbial favorite right now, Lewis is one player Gator fans (or fans of any team really) should worry about his current list. Lewis continue to be recruited from coast to coast. Let’s see where his recruitment is come next March and go from there.
Perhaps the most explosive player in Florida, Mario Williams (Plant City) possesses the type of speed that changes a game within an instant. Although only 5-10, 165-pounds, he can absolutely stop on a dime and start again faster than any player in Florida. He’s just a phenomenal athlete. Williams already knows his way around a football field, and it’s not just on the offensive side of the football.
The player Williams resembles is none other than Percy Harvin. Yes, he’s in that category. Simply electric with the ball in his hands, whether it be catching a pass, taking a direct snap, returning a punt or intercepting a pass and taking it back the other way, Williams can do it all. Florida and numerous other programs are giving chase.
If the Gators really want ‘Super Mario’ they will need to up their game. The Oklahoma Sooners are the proverbial favorite to land Williams. That would be a big blow to Florida. Williams would be an excellent fit in the Florida offense. Still, plenty of time to make it happen. Look for the Gators to really go after Williams moving forward.
The fifth prospect would be Leonard Taylor, DT, 6-4, 260-pounds, Miami, FL (Palmetto). Still developing, Taylor could be that quick three-technique that every great 4-3 defense needs to create havoc. He’s a young player that is only beginning to scratch the surface of what he can do. No question he’s going against great competition.
The Miami Public League is one Florida needs to do a better job of signing top players. There are times the Gators might pass on a perceived great talent, but if the Gators really want to win big, schools like Miami (Palmetto) need to be a part of the equation. Taylor is one of many Dade County players that the Gators will likely recruit for the class of 2021. Miami, Alabama and most of the usual suspects are all pursuing Taylor. Like many Dade County players, do not be surprised if his recruitment ends on national signing day.