How are the Gators doing on portal acquisitions?

My take?

 

Let’s try this again:
I’d say this year, portal class is more important than our recruiting class in terms of immediately impacting our wins and losses. Imperative we have a top 15 class and we are on our way.

We are doing pretty well. I like our first 4 additions. I saw our recruiting class for the portal ranked to 37 and I’d say the only reason it’s at that number right now is because we only have four. I would expect us to pick up at least four more guys and maybe more.

One thing I think everyone now agrees with is that a good portal class is one of the main ingredients to a successful next season. It’s not everything, but it sure does help as evidenced by many other schools doing it. Ole Miss was already very good. I think next year will be the first year they can actually compete at a top 5 to 7 level and maybe even beat a big time program or two.

Here’s what I see us doing and might add I feel these are things we absolutely have to do:

• Add an OL- one more tackle candidate sure would help. Tarquin would be my number one guy right now. Between he, Crenshaw, Dixon, and Barber we would be better at tackle than we’ve been in a couple of years for sure. Mazzuca (projected undrafted Free Agent) leaves and that changes need.

• DE/Edge- so many people forget about Searcy and Collins. I think between the two of them we could at least see 6 to 8 sack next year. If not, I would be very disappointed. But, I do see us going and getting an experience edge player like the kid from Bowling Green or Miami of Ohio. The number one kid out there right now is Scourton from Purdue. When you have 50 tackles, 10 sacks, and 15 tackles for loss in the Big Ten. You could walk into an SEC school immediately and be an impact player. he’s my number one choice at edge. I honestly don’t think the kid from Bowling Green and the kid remind me of Ohio have a higher upside that Kelby or TJ.
• Add a WR-we have to have a guy that can step on the field immediately, and be at least our number two. Dike was a really nice pick up, and I think he will easily be at least our three if not four, but, we need an impact guy a bigger guy that has produced somewhere else. The reason why, although our why receiver room has a lot of talent it is very young, and experienced and has not produced yet. In a year in which we have to win, we can’t bet on unproven guys.
• Safety-we have to add an immediate impact player like Radcliffe or the kid from Western Kentucky to go alongside Castille we all like Bryce we have to have somebody that can step in and be an impact player immediately and both of these guys are.
• DB-I would grab another here just because we don’t know what Marshall and Hill are going to do. I really like him a lot and hope he returns as I think he had an excellent year, but if he doesn’t, we need to have somebody to go alongside Denson to provide depth.

 

How long does portal season go to?

 

I think it’s shorter than recruiting season

 

You forgot LB. Especially MLB. Doubt that the two true freshman will be ready to play in 2024. Unfortunately the OSU transfer LB was so ineffective he rarely saw the field.

 

BOONE

 

already maxed out on OL have to have attrition by fall to add

 

Update: I messed this up. I'll just corrct it in a new post.

Jan 15th is the last day to enter this cycle and to participate in spring practice... Wrong info. Correct info on post #23.

 

It'll happen. Mazz may or may not come back and Simonds is likely gone.

Don't want Maz to go. May need to add an OG if he goes. Like a poster above posted, another portal OT would be good. He'd take Siminods' spot.

 

Ole Miss has their NIL shit very together. They have always wanted to pay for the roster and now it's sanctioned.

I wouldn't worry about comparing to them as I think they'll be an outlier this year. I care more about having a better roster than last year so that's the rea comparison, imo.

 

yes I dont think Mazz will improve his draft stock staying g another year that will bring us to 15 OL and Simonds would make 14 so room for 1 more portal and if Mazz leaves would that mean we would need a OG?

 

Well we are 13th out of a 16 team league as it currently stands according to 247 rankings.

I guess the good news is that we are ahead of FSU, Miami, LSU, Alabama, and Auburn for the time being.

Maybe when the Recruiting staff gets back from Christmas break at UF things will pick up some.

 

Perhaps he can make better money staying.

 

Looking like Mazz is projected as going undrafted, so that can only go up. His draft status also makes a nice 2024 NIL payday more attractive as Fox (great avatar) noted above.

UF may or may not have a ready replacement for Mazz. If Mazz declares and a top OG wants to transfer to UF, we take him. Otherwise, I think we see how the kids do in spring then evaluate the situation.

 

Yeah, I know about and like Boone but people too often forget about two excellent young guys in Searcy and Collins. I believe Collins made a few freshman American teams so he’s pretty good.

 

Yeah, we definitely need another linebacker, but I think Shemar is really really good.

 

I think he’s better off staying and will make more money staying like Fox said. I also think he can have a big ear next year if he’s 100% healthy and move up to the third or fourth round

 

He is....it would be so nice to have a run-stuffing MLB like Miller as a complementary player. Just having Shemar in there allows the opponent to scheme against him.