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Florida football recruiting: Linebacker Vosean Joseph commits to the Gators

In Randy Shannon we trust?

By Andy Hutchins
GatorVision

Florida picked up its second commitment of the 2016 cycle on Wednesday, with Miami Norland linebacker Vosean Joseph committing to the Gators via Twitter:

Use of the old logo aside, Joseph committed with 24 hours of being offered by Florida on Tuesday, and you have to like that sort of initiative and instinct from a linebacker, right?

You also better like it, because Joseph is currently unrated by the 247Sports Composite, stands just 6'1" despite a 210-pound frame, per 247Sports, and runs the 40-yard dash in only ("only") 4.9 seconds, per his own Hudl page.

He does, however, have a highlight reel:

I have to think Florida linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator Randy Shannon — a Norland alumnus in his own right — liked the sound tackling there, and probably knows a fair bit more about Joseph than the recruiting industry does in general. (The same is perhaps true for 2015 signee Rayshad Jackson, another Norland player.) And Shannon's got as good a résumé when it comes to developing linebacker talent as any coach in college football, so his opinion on whether a prospect is worth a scholarship is probably sound.

But it's also true that Florida can afford to take fliers on linebackers, instead of only pursuing clear blue-chippers, because it will need them desperately after 2015 — and, frankly, needed them this year. Florida will have just seven scholarship linebackers entering the 2015 season, and neither Antonio Morrison nor Matt Rolin is a sure thing to be healthy this fall, so there's only a reliable five-man core at three positions.

And Morrison being a senior means that Florida will only have six returning scholarship linebackers in 2016 — four of whom will be seniors then.

I really am not sure whether Joseph can play. If he can, though, Florida could use him — today, even, but certainly down the line. And that's why taking his commitment makes tons of sense.