Spring Evaluation Period: Florida Coaches Area Breakdown II
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* Coaches Area Breakdown Part I
* Florida takes the lead for four-star back
* Gators in good shape for top 2019 defensive end
* Florida offers Peach State defensive tackle while on visit
* Alley: South Carolina commit talks Florida Saturday visit
* Florida adds big time back to commitment list
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It's tax season, which means that across the nation, most people look upon April 15 with disdain. That is except for those who are involved or follow recruiting as either as a coach, prospect or recruitnik. For that select group the date is looked at as the kickoff to the six week spring evaluation period.
Up until several cycles ago a program selected which four of the six weeks they were desigjnating for their staff to be on the road.
Now, a program can be out for all six weeks. You have a grand total of 168 evaluation days to use as you see fit. One evaluation day consists of one coach being out on the road. Regardless of whether he visits one or 21 schools that day – it still counts as one evaluation day.
Coaches are limited to two visits per prospect - one to watch him in an athletic setting and one to check up on his academics. Spring is a time to evaluate, by rule, there's no recruiting.
Coaches are able to watch a player practice, talk to his coach and school employees, but in person contact with a prospect has to be limited to basically a hi and bye.
High schools in the Sunshine State don't begin spring ball for another 10 days at the earliest.
Of course there has been some assignments rearranged with the addition of three new assistant coaches.
One thing to pay close attention to is that outside of the state of Florida - there are only four other states/areas that have an assigned coach - Georgia, southern Alabama, New Orleans and Houston, in all other states coaches will recruit by position.
Today Inside the Gators takes an in-depth look at the coaching staff's primary recruiting responsibilities in this three part feature.
TIGHT ENDS COACH GREG NORD
INSTATE: Last year Nord was primarily responsible for one of the weakest areas in the state - north central Florida including Ocala, over to Gainesville right up to Tallahassee. This year his territory has expanded exponentially. Not only does he have the same area, he is also taking over the Nature Coast (north of Tampa), the State Capitol all the way out through the panhandle. Florida has basically taken two of the instate regions which are least kind to the Gators and combined them into one. It is a huge swath of ground for Nord to cover, but as you get out that way, while there have been some successes over the years, more often than not the area isn't kind to Florida by way of delivering signees.
OUT-OF-STATE: South Georgia.
TOP TARGETS IN-STATE AREA:
Wide Receiver
4 STARS
Pensacola
RR: 5.8
Ht: 6'1.0"
Wt: 188.0
Class: 2018
Commitment status:
undecided
Athlete
4 STARS
Texas
Ocala
RR: 5.9
Ht: 6'0.0"
Wt: 160.0
Class: 2018
Commitment status:
verbal
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR DOUG NUSSMEIER
INSTATE: Florida's offensive coordinator has the west coast of the Sunshine State from Pinellas County (Clearwater/St. Petersburg) heading south to include Bradenton, Naples, down through Fort Meyers.
OUT-OF-STATE: Atlanta area.
TOP TARGETS IN-STATE AREA:
Athlete
4 STARS
Clearwater
RR: 5.8
Ht: 6'1.0"
Wt: 201.0
Class: 2018
Commitment status:
undecided
Offensive guard
4 STARS
Bradenton
RR: 5.8
Ht: 6'5.0"
Wt: 362.0
Class: 2018
-
NATIONAL
Commitment status:
undecided
Tight end
3 STARS
Naples
RR: 5.6
Ht: 6'6.0"
Wt: 235.0
Class: 2018
-
NATIONAL
-
STATE
Commitment status:
undecided
Offensive tackle
4 STARS
Bradenton
RR: 5.9
Ht: 6'6.0"
Wt: 300.0
Class: 2018
Commitment status:
undecided
DEFENSIVE LINE COACH CHRIS RUMPH
INSTATE: The same as the last two years, Rumph is holding down the Tampa area - for years one of the Gators traditional strongholds in recruiting.
OUT-OF-STATE: Atlanta area.
Offensive tackle
4 STARS
Tampa
RR: 5.9
Ht: 6'5.0"
Wt: 250.0
Class: 2018
Commitment status:
undecided
Strongside defensive end
4 STARS
Seffner
RR: 5.8
Ht: 6'5.0"
Wt: 256.0
Class: 2018
-
NATIONAL
Commitment status:
undecided
Strongside defensive end
4 STARS
Tampa
RR: 5.8
Ht: 6'5.0"
Wt: 240.0
Class: 2018
Commitment status:
undecided
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