Colleges

UF recruiting

By ANTONYA ENGLISH, Times Staff Writer
Published January 27, 2008

KEY LOSSES

WR Andre Caldwell, DE Derrick Harvey, S Tony Joiner, DT Clint McMillan, OL Carlton Medder, C Drew Miller.

HOT PROSPECTS

It's a long shot, but the Gators remain in the hunt for the nation's No. 1 receiver Julio Jones, who has also listed Florida State, Alabama, Oklahoma and Texas Tech as his final schools of interest. He will announce his decision live on ESPNU on signing day. Another long shot is quarterback Terrelle Pryor. LB Brandon Harris (Miami Booker T. Washington), FB Jamie Harper (Jacksonville Trinity Christian) and WR T.J. Lawrence (Lakeland Kathleen) are also still considering the Gators.

LOOKING BACK

The Gators picked up their second consecutive top 5 recruiting class under coach Urban Meyer, but were forced to rely on too many of those players last season, particularly on defense. Florida replaced 10 starters on defense and filled some of those gaps with freshmen and inexperienced sophomores. The result was a rocky season on defense and a 9-4 record.

ORAL COMMITMENTS (19)

Ricky Barnum, OL, 6-2/246, Lakeland

Brendan Beal, LB, 6-4/235, Bethlehem (Pa.) Liberty

Jeremy Brown, DB, 5-10/170, Orlando Boone

Ramon Buchanan, DB, 6-0/181, Melbourne Palm Bay

Adrian Bushell, CB, 5-11/180, Desoto (Texas)

Jeffrey Demps, RB, 5-8/162, Groveland South Lake

Dee Finley, DB, 6-3/205, Auburn (Ala.)

Frankie Hammond Jr., WR, 6-0/151, Hallandale

Will Hill, DB, 6-3/208, Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peter's

Omarius Hines, WR, 6-1/183, Corsicana, Texas

Jenoris Jenkins, CB, 5-11/180, Pahokee

Byran Jones, OG, 6-2/328, Jacksonville Forrest

Lerentee McCray, LB, 6-2/200, Dunnellon

Earl Okine, DE, 6-7/235, Gainesville

Matt Patchan, OT, 6-7/265, Armwood

T.J. Pridemore, LB/FB, 6-2/235, Buford (Ga.)

Sam Robey, DE, 6-5/270, Louisville (Ky.) Trinity

Caleb Sturgis, K, 5-11/180, St. Augustine

Chaz Sutton, DE, 6-5/230, Savannah (Ga.) Jenkins

EARLY ENROLLEES

Carl Moore, WR, 6-4/220, Sierra (Calif.) JC

Troy Epps, DE, 6-1/270, Coffeyville (Kan.) CC

[Last modified January 26, 2008, 21:42:50]