2025 roster projection

JD thanks for taking this on. My mind has gone to this very process more than a few times this past few weeks. Without putting too much thought into it yet, I believe the tougher question in today's NIL and transfer portal world is "who wants to stay or wants to go". I get your trying to look at it from the fans position but until we get some clarity on the players positions its tough to say what we get back. I'm sure many of the freshmen on the team are wondering this is not what they expected. So when does the transfer portal open for spring players and how many want out. Maybe my thinking is over the top or too early to go there yet, since we are only halfway thru the season, but if things don't turn around soon, the coaches are really going to be scrambling getting some talent in for next year. Along with some possible coaching changes as well.

 

Good discussion of the important factors, but it's important to remember one more factor: Gators are a top program in nearly every way. We have strong competitors within the conference, including two tough new teams coming in this summer, but there aren't ten non-SEC teams that have as much to offer. Sully was slow to decide to make a push for portal guys, but the lineup list above shows he doesn't have that option for 2025 and he has said so in interviews. While some posts on this board suggest we have poor coaches and a terrible program, the fact that Gators STILL are in top 25 rankings reflects the high opinion outsiders have. While potential transfersmay be scared away if they look at this board, I doubt many 17-22 year old guys actually know we exist.

If Sully puts the same energy and skill into the portal that he has invested in HS recruiting, Gators will stay at the top. Players that have put Louisiana, UCF, Kentucky and East Carolina into the rankings (and of course our existing farm club, Costal Carolina) will be looking for opportunities to have all of their games on TV, to develop their skills in top facilities with top coaching and SEC level NIL and to advance in postseason will take Sully's phone calls. LSU, Ark and others may continue to outbid us some of the time, but Gators will be much more attractive in most categories than all but about a dozen programs. We play most of that dozen every year, so I'm not saying we won't have tough battles, but our foundation is solid.

 

Well I’ll be the first to say yes I am ol’school and I wish that these players were still brought up with the ideals of commitment and loyalty as staples of their lives. Sadly, we all better know and now have to face the realities of today’s collegiate sports….

For me the NIL $$$$ and the transfer portal are the equivalent of “Rome is burning”…..I get the transfer portal use ONE TIME. But we continue to see players who are in their third year AND are at their third school. Give me a break, if that doesn’t reek of entitlement then what does?

The system that we all have known is not broken—it’s gone! Our coaches and administrators have got to figure out how to competitively function in the new arena and keep our programs strong. And no
I don’t really have or know the answers but I will say in this game today they (coaches and administrators) better first damn well look at the money and figure out how to compete.

 

Here are the commits for the 2024 class:

Schuyler Sandford RHP 6-4 200 R-R Bartram Trail St. Augustine FL Florida
Nat Rank 92 Schuyler Sandford Class of 2024 - Player Profile | Perfect Game USA

Brendan Lawson SS 6'3" 205 L-R P27 Academy, Toronto, Canada
Brendan Lawson Class of 2024 - Player Profile | Perfect Game USA

Blaine Rowland RHP 6-2 200 R-R Durant Plant City FL Nat Rank 219
Blaine Rowland Class of 2024 - Player Profile | Perfect Game USA

Kolt Myers 3B 6-2 180 R-R Bartram Trail St Augustine FL Nat Rank 273
Kolt Myers Class of 2024 - Player Profile | Perfect Game USA

Jackson Barberi 6-4 190 RHP Brookwood, Snellville, Georgia
Jackson Barberi Class of 2024 - Player Profile | Perfect Game USA

Kellon Lindsey OF 6-0 175 Hardee Wauchula, Florida
Kellon Lindsey Class of 2024 - Player Profile | Perfect Game USA

Niko Janssens LHP 6-3 180 L-L Hernando Spring Hill FL
Niko Janssens Class of 2024 - Player Profile | Perfect Game USA

Brock Clayton C 6-2 185 L-R Gulf Breeze Gulf Breeze FL Nat Rank 288
Brock Clayton Class of 2024 - Player Profile | Perfect Game USA

Joshua Whritenour RHP 6-2 170 L-R Fivay Hudson FL Nat Rank Top 500
Joshua Whritenour Class of 2024 - Player Profile | Perfect Game USA

Felix Ong RHP 6-4 210 Key West HS, Key West, FL
Felix Ong Class of 2024 - Player Profile | Perfect Game USA

Jordi Guerrero OF 6-0 175 Cape Coral HS, Cape Coral, FL
Jordi Guerrero Class of 2024 - Player Profile | Perfect Game USA

McCallll Biemiller LHP 6-2 173 Tampa Jesuit Tampa, FL
McCall Biemiller Class of 2024 - Player Profile | Perfect Game USA

Aidan King RHP 6-2 180 Bishop John J Snyder HS Bryceville, FL
Aidan King Class of 2024 - Player Profile | Perfect Game USA

Jayden Dubanewicz RHP 6-1 150 R-R Marjory Stoneman Douglas Parkland FL
Jayden Dubanewicz Class of 2024 - Player Profile | Perfect Game USA

Carson Montsdeoca RHP 6-1 145 R-R Fort Meade Bowling Green FL
Carson Montsdeoca Class of 2024 - Player Profile | Perfect Game USA

D.J. Lagway OF 6'3" 205 R-R Willis, Texas (if he chooses to play from the football team)
Derek Lagway Class of 2024 - Player Profile | Perfect Game USA

 

I edited my 2024 commit list above. 2 players originally listed are now showing committed to Mercer & USC-Upstate, so I removed them. Plus I added Perfect Game profile links to the rest.

 

Looks like a lot of pitchers, not many bats. guess that's where the portal comes in. Outfielders that can hit please, 3 of them.

 

If all those guys leave, which I doubt given the disappointing years some of them are having, yea a big yikes, gonna need a lot from the portal. I suspect a few of those freshman pitchers depart to make room for the new recruits.

Coppola?
Purnell is a RS JR?

 

2x—

Let’s require the outfielders be studs defensively as well—we have given up too many extra bases getting the ball back into the infield this season, at least IMHO.

 

Totally agree. It often seems that fans discount how valuable good defense in the outfield is. Most teams seem to hide one good bat in left or right so at this point I would be happy with 2 out the 3 being guys that can do both. For most of this season I think we have only had 1 that can do both. JMO

 

Luke Heyman is draft eligible. He'll be 21 years + 5 days when the draft starts.

 

I agree jd—in today’s market “slot money” rules. Extra monies end up landing in the hands of dual sport athletes IMHO.

 

It's looking more and more less likely that Kellon Lindsay makes it to campus. Getting some 1st round draft buzz. Would love to see that 6.5 60 yard in CF

 

https://247sports.com/college/flori...gators-stillwater-regional-preview-232290361/

 

Kid is s very good athlete. Would love to get him here as huge upside.