Three-Level Stance: Quarterback recruiting, five-star watch, Billy Napier
Rivals nationwide recruiting director Adam Gorney has ideas on the quarterback watch as signing day will get nearer, 5 prospects who may grow to be five-stars within the subsequent spherical of rankings and the case to be made for Florida to maintain embattled coach Billy Napier.
1. QUARTERBACK WATCH WITH SIGNING DAY CLOSE
Michigan is desperately trying to repair its quarterback drawback and five-star Bryce Underwood lives about half-hour away in Belleville, Mich.
5-star quarterback Julian Lewis has been dedicated to USC for greater than a yr however the Carrollton, Ga., standout was again at Colorado this weekend for one more go to.
The quarterback dominoes actually took heart stage just lately when four-star Deuce Knight flipped from Notre Dame to Auburn, so Blake Hebert flipped from Clemson to Notre Dame and now it appears to be like like Clemson is working by means of some names to probably land a quarterback on this class as effectively.
With lower than six weeks till Nationwide Signing Day, there may nonetheless be an incredible quantity of motion on the quarterback place though there may be at all times this looming naivete that that received’t be any modifications at that place.
A lot can nonetheless occur. What’s the way forward for 73-year-old Mack Brown at North Carolina and would that have an effect on four-star Bryce Baker within the closing weeks? Duke commit Dan Mahan stays locked in with the Blue Devils however Penn State has been exhibiting a ton of curiosity.
Cal four-star commit Jaron Sagapolutele is visiting Oregon this weekend and Georgia is pushing for a visit in addition to the Geese appear to be a very critical contender now. Arizona commit Robert McDaniel simply bought provided by Florida late Thursday.
Teaching modifications, coordinator modifications, place coach modifications after which the quarterback dominoes may nonetheless fall. It needs to be an attention-grabbing month.
2. FIVE WHO COULD BE FIVE-STARS
There are at present 25 five-stars within the Rivals250 and we’re going to do our greatest to get that quantity to 32 to mirror the primary spherical of the NFL Draft. There’s a good likelihood not less than certainly one of them will lose their five-star standing once we launch new rankings subsequent month so there may be nonetheless loads of house so as to add gamers. Listed below are 5 I’m watching by means of the all-star occasions:
Caleb Cunningham: There are solely two five-star receivers within the 2025 class and that feels low so Cunningham can be within the dialog. There may be nonetheless some fine-tuning that the Ackerman (Miss.) Choctaw County standout wants to shine up however Cunningham is a freak athlete, has nice arms and has produced. I simply want he bought extra publicity towards elite competitors to check apples to apples.
Dijon Lee Jr.: Ohio State commits Devin Sanchez and Na’eem Offord are the 2 five-star cornerbacks however Lee is nearly a carbon copy of these two and is perhaps essentially the most pure athlete among the many group. Lee has size, playmaking skill, cowl expertise, pace and he’s such a easy playmaker on either side of the ball that he can’t be ignored.
Nathaniel Marshall: Watching him on tape, I don’t essentially purchase that the Auburn commit is 6-foot-5 however he’s fairly shut and he covers your complete subject to make performs. Defensive finish can be a primo place within the NFL Draft and proper now there are solely two complete. Marshall has dimension, size, ranginess and he can transfer. He’s one other one I want confirmed as much as the Rivals 5-Star as was deliberate although to see what he may do towards elite gamers.
Michael Carroll: After watching senior movie of Carroll at Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, it’s clear to me that the Alabama commit has all of the instruments to be a future first-round choose. He at all times had spectacular dimension however now he’s added a bodily toughness that is perhaps unparalleled on this class. He mauls individuals and enjoys doing it. There’s no method there are 5 extra gifted offensive tackles.
Alvin Henderson: At what level can we ignore Henderson’s stats all through his highschool profession and simply not take an opportunity that he has first-round NFL potential? I despise making rankings selections off stats alone however Henderson has now rushed for greater than 2,400 yards with 42 touchdowns this season averaging greater than 13 yards per carry. Final yr, the Auburn pledge had greater than 3,500 yards with 61 touchdowns. Sure, he’s doing it towards competitors in Elba, Ala., however perhaps he’s simply actually good, too. And regardless that he didn’t compete on the Rivals 5-Star this summer time, there’s a little Bijan Robinson look to him bodily.
3. THE CASE TO KEEP BILLY NAPIER
On no account, has Florida coach Billy Napier accomplished an excellent job in Gainesville.
He’s 15-17 general. He’s received eight of 20 SEC video games. He’s had two shedding seasons and Dan Mullen’s closing season makes three in a row for the primary time for the reason that late Forties. By each measure with regards to profitable, Napier has been a large bust.
Even early this season was not nice as Napier overrated the Florida staff all offseason solely to see Miami embarrass the Gators in The Swamp. However after shedding to Texas A&M on Sept. 14 (and being advised that Napier was principally a lifeless man strolling till the powers that be may work out the buyout particulars), the Gators have really regarded… good.
Florida didn’t look phenomenal in beating Mississippi State however received by 17. The Gators wore down UCF and received. The Tennessee loss went to time beyond regulation in a sport that Florida actually ought to have received in Knoxville. After which final week they pounded Kentucky in perhaps one of the best efficiency all yr.
Right here’s the tough half: The remainder of the schedule is brutal. Georgia adopted by Texas, adopted by LSU, adopted by Ole Miss after which the Florida State rivalry to shut issues out.
Even when Florida loses out – aside from Florida State as a result of the Seminoles are embarrassingly dangerous proper now – the decision-makers ought to think about maintaining Napier.
The choice is perhaps extra horrifying: Doubtlessly shedding five-star quarterback DJ Lagway, who has proven indicators that he could possibly be particular. Shock standout operating again Jadan Baugh may hit the portal. What would Eugene Wilson do?
And what would star receiver commits like Vernell Brown and Naeshaun Montgomery do?
Perhaps that is all for naught. Perhaps the fan base is so sick of shedding and the Florida energy brokers are accomplished with Napier it doesn’t matter what. I couldn’t blame them.
However there have been some inexperienced shoots for Napier and this system to construct on. Napier wanted to weed out a weak roster within the first two years. Issues have regarded higher just lately. Give Napier extra time to get this again on observe.
