Competitor Nationwide Recruiting Director Adam Gorney Joined by Nationwide Recruitment Analyst John Garcia Jr. and Marshall Levenson together with Jason Higdon 1standTenFlorida.com surveyed three topics and decided whether or not they believed every assertion was reality or fiction.
1. If Jahkeem Stewart reclassifies to 2025, he must be the No. 1 participant in that class as properly.
Gorney’s Perspective: A Novel. Stewart will certainly be within the dialogue as a result of he is been dominant on the sport and coaching camp circuit for years and he already has measurable metrics that rival the NFL’s elite defensive linemen. However I am right here to assist NFL draft historical past and choose a quarterback with the primary decide. Guard is often the primary selection. If we expect Julian Lewis is the very best quarterback in 2025, or finally ends up being Bryce Underwood or another person, I would depend on historical past to rank No. 1.
Levenson’s take: Reality. It is laborious to compete with Julian Lewis and even Bryce Underwood at this level, but when Stewart can advance to the 2025 class, I will again him because the No. 1 decide. Stewart’s measurability has been on par with the highest cross rushers we have seen on the NFL Mix in recent times, and has even ranked excessive towards a number of the greatest gamers within the NFL.
Whereas Lewis was forward of Stewart earlier than reclassifying himself, Stewart nonetheless had extra development in his tank within the course of. Stewart will add extra weight sooner or later and hone his pass-rushing skills and flexibility on the defensive position.
We have not seen something extra from Stewart thus far that may add to his recreation and projections, and I am unsure we’ll see the identical factor from Lewis in the identical timeframe. If he reclassifies, it will likely be a troublesome dialog to have at No. 1, as they’re simply the 2 greatest gamers on the most superior place in soccer.
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2. Billy Napier’s job state of affairs is in actual hassle, not solely with a difficult 2024 schedule, however now with Jaden Rashada’s lawsuit.
Gorney’s take: Details. Billy Napier is a really gifted coach and what’s distinctive about him is that he likes to recruit, so I am hoping that Florida will give him time to implement his system and get to work and present some endurance, however I doubt that Conditions will occur. I’ve lived in Gainesville for 3 years, and I do know this for positive: Florida State followers desire a nationwide championship contender — and there aren’t any excuses. Two shedding seasons in a row wouldn’t be good for his tenure in Gainesville. The Gators misplaced three straight for the primary time for the reason that Forties.
The primary recreation towards Miami was important for a lot of causes. However the remaining video games of the season are additionally essential. On high of that, Rashada’s lawsuit makes the difficulty much more complicated. I want Florida State would have given Napier extra time, even when the season wasn’t going properly, however I am unsure followers would enable it.
Higdon’s take: Fiction. Florida State performs probably the most difficult schedules within the nation and the 2024 schedule will probably be much more demanding. For the Gators to have a profitable season, they should get off to a 5-0 begin as a result of the ultimate stretch of the schedule is brutal.
Florida opens with video games towards Miami State, Samford State, Mississippi State, Texas A&M and Mississippi State and has a mixed report of 31-31 in 2023. State Faculty, Mississippi State and Florida State, with a mixed report of 65-19 in 2023.
Is the schedule difficult? You higher consider it’s. Is Billy Napier in hassle? There’s at all times loads of noise in Gainesville in the event you’re not in Atlanta for the SEC Championship Sport, however Napier will not have hassle with the rigorous schedule. It is even laborious to fathom that Napier is not in hassle over a lawsuit claiming it is providing $13.5 million. Jaden Rashada by no means bought that a lot cash from the Gators, which is why he isn’t a Gator.
Share your ideas with Florida followers at No. 1 and 10
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3. Florida is the very best state for broad receivers within the 2025 class.
Gorney’s Perspective: A Novel. Florida State is nice (at all times good), however after seeing each teams undergo this offseason, I give the Texas guys the nod. 5-star Dariklian Moore might be a lot better than any receiver in his class. There is a ton of high quality expertise in Andrew Marsh who catches every little thing and a bodily presence like Michael Terry and a ton of depth whether or not it is Dylan McCutchen Daylan McCutcheon or Kaliq Lockett, who’re each vastly underrated, could possibly be attributable to a lump. In fact, Florida’s receivers are at all times good, however I want the Texas guys.
Garcia’s take: Details. Not solely does Rivals100 function eight receivers from the Sunshine State, however there’s depth as properly, with one other eight receivers from Florida listed as four-stars. In fact, Texas has related numbers, with every state presently holding 5 stars. Each states have loads of variety amongst their robust receiver teams, however Florida’s nearer to the highest of the listing can be trending larger with every replace.
Winston Watkins might be the very best within the class, Jaime Ffrench is essentially the most elegant, Dallas Wilson is the weirdest, and Neshaun Montgomery Naeshaun Montgomery is the smoothest, and few are as productive as Jayvan Boggs. The complete group has seen an uptick in current updates, and it is unlikely that the Development Gauge will see the alternative change anytime quickly. Even the fellows who’re ranked decrease, like Cortez Mills or Joshua Moore, are among the many most gifted on this cycle.
