Florida Gators

Florida Gators Football: Examining The Recruiting Struggles

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The Jim McElwain era has had nothing short of a successful start on the field, but there’s still constant fan outrage. It’s because the Florida Gators’ body of work off the field has been less than stellar.

When I refer to off-the-field stuff, I don’t mean suspensions, arrests or grades. I predominantly am talking about Jim McElwain’s staff and effectiveness while recruiting.

It’s no secret Mac opened up recruiting strong. When he first arrived in Gainesville, he sealed the deal on five-star recruits Martez Ivey and Cece Jefferson, four-star recuits Jordan Scarlett and Jordan Cronkrite, and beloved three-star recruit Antonio Callaway.

But what has he done since?

In the class of 2016, things started off pretty well, but things tailed by National Signing Day. The Gators did finish with the 12th best class, correct, but things should have been much better than they panned out.

Florida would lose ground on both Nate Craig-Meyers and his brother Jayvaughn Myers, as they would both end up at Auburn. Although he would become academically ineligible, the Gators would also lose four-star defensive tackle Shavar Manuel to Florida State on NSD.

Losing commitments wasn’t the only problem. There were a slew of kids the Gators couldn’t close the deal on, either, including two touted five-stars.

The current starting Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Jacob Eason was on campus, knew and understood he would start Day 1 in the Swamp, and Georgia had just fired the reason he was committed to the Dawgs: Mark Richt.

Florida still couldn’t flip him.

Most of the above can also be used for five-star cornerback Kristian Fulton, who reportedly gave two Gator players his word on his flip from LSU, but the Gator’ staff couldn’t sell Fulton’s parents.

Five-stars weren’t the only problem last year, as the Gators also failed to close out on four-star defensive end Brian Burns and four-star quarterback Dwayne Haskins. Burns is the most devastating of the two as everything stands right now.

The true freshman would start opposite of DeMarcus Walker this season and rack up over 10 sacks for the Noles.

When we take a look at things from this year, they’reeven worse. The Gators have lost every single defensive tackle they had committed which, even included four-star Fred Hansard. Florida has also struggled to wrap up any recruits labeled, “Truly elite,” either.

They lost five-star wideout Jerry Jeudy to Alabama and are struggling to flip five-star tackle Alex Leatherwood. The staff has not wrapped up the deal on four-star wide receiver James Robinson, either.

The problem they’ve had so far under Coach Mac is sealing the deal and bringing in elite talent. All is not over for the Gators, as we’re still ways away from NSD.

Florida simply has work to do.