News and notes from the week in Florida recruiting.
-- Aubrey Hill's abrupt departure from Florida has had an impact on the Gators' recruiting class. There hasn't been any decommitments, but a few players have opened things up. Take Rod Johnson for example. In an interview with the Sun Sentinel, Johnson had this to say about Hill's departure.
"It was terrible," Johnson said of Hill's departure. "It was a bad factor [for me] because me and him are really close. I call him every week and he checks up on me to see how I'm doing. For him to be gone, it's like, 'Ah, man, he's gone. No point in me going there.'"
The article also claimed Johnson decommitted from Florida, which was untrue, according to Johnson.
Omg i did not decommit from florida wats goin on
— Rod(@Rod2real) August 7, 2012
Text from
— Blake Alderman (@MistaAlderman) August 7, 2012#UF commit Rod Johnson on rumors he decommted "i didnt bro its a misuderstanding i am still commited my recruitment just open"
More after the jump.
-- Another guy to keep an eye on is WR Rodney Adams. Adams has reopened his recruitment, too, and will take all five of his official visits. Adams in an interview with the Tampa Bay Times:
"I just want to see what's out there," he said. "I want to see how things shape up at Florida and how the receivers do this season. I don't think I'll make my decision for a while."
-- A receiver to watch on is Laquon Treadwell out of Illinois. Michigan may be the team to beat, but Treadwell has some of his officials planned, and he could possibly visit Florida.
Rivals 100 WR Laquon Treadwell says officials he plans to take are
— Blake Alderman (@MistaAlderman) August 6, 2012#OleMiss#OkieSt#Oklahoma#Auburn. Maybe see#Florida also
Treadwell has great size -- 6'3", 195 -- and is ranked No. 41 in 247Sports' new composite ranking, which is kinda cool. you should check it out.
-- Here's a really good article from Gatorsports' Zach Abolverdi discussing the impact of Hill's departure. It goes over the topics I touched on regarding Johnson and Adams, but also talks about 2014 WR commit Ryeshene Bronson, who is kinda sorta wavering now that Hill's gone. And to that, I LOL, because, c'mon, 2014 is so far away.
As the article notes, Hill wasn't known for his coaching abilities and was basically on staff for recruiting purposes. Florida's wide receivers were awful last year, and offensive coordinator Brent Pease has been more hands-on with the receivers during practices. So as far as the on-field product in 2012, I don't see Hill's departure being all that bad. As far as recruiting, I'd rather have him leaving now than a week from National Signing Day.
-- Florida picked up its 22nd commitment on Friday; OL Octavius Jackson out of Georgia picked the Gators over Vanderbilt. Here's what his coach, Rush Propst, who you might remember from the MTV show "Two-A-Days: Hoover High," had to say about Jackson.
"I think Octavius is the wave of the future for offensive linemen. Offenses have changed so much, to spread-type offenses, you need athletic kids because of all the screen plays and draws. I think he's the most suited for that than any kid I've ever coached."
Propst coached former Gators Chad Jackson and William Green at Hoover, so there's that.