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DeAndre Goolsby is one of the lower-key recruits in Florida's 2014 class, and his quiet recruitment, commitment, and enrollment — he enrolled in January — are all testaments to that. But that doesn't mean Goolsby's not good.
Recruitment
Goolsby is an impact tight end from Derby, Kansas, where he attended Derby High School. Goolsby, who we project as a tight end permanently, was highly recruited and had double-digit BCS offers coming out of high school — besides Florida, Goolsby had offers to play football at Arkansas, Louisville, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Oregon, among others — despite being only a three-star recruit according to the 247Sports Composite.
Goolsby provides much needed depth at tight end, a position shallower than a tidepool for the Gators in 2013.
Highlights
Future Impact
Goolsby is anything but fully developed, but could be asked to contribute immediately at tight end, whether it be blocking or otherwise, because of Florida's poor depth at the position. Goolsby is physically gifted but will need to improve his ball skills, which should come with time and practice with Kurt Roper and the Florida offensive unit.
Goolsby is one of three (C'yontai Lewis and Moral Stephens) tight ends in Florida's class, so expect the battle for playing time at the position to be competitive. While all three players are likely still behind Clay Burton, Tevin Westbrook, and Colin Thompson at the position, Goolsby has the early enrollee's edge of spring practice, and he has shown just about as much receiving skill at the tight end position at Florida as the entrenched players at the position.
The expectation is that Florida will hold a competition for the top tight ends in the class, and redshirt the third, who I expect to be the more raw Lewis.
