2010 Recruiting class: Best Ever?
The Florida Gators received a much needed reward yesterday when 5 star and #1 OLB in the nation Chris Martin decided to make a switch and transfer from California and is now headed to the Florida Gators which now begs the question did the Florida Gators just assemble the best recruiting class ever on paper?
Looking a the 2010 class on the offensive side of things it is not quite impressive in that it lacked a top rated QB and UF missed on some targets but as a whole it is a very solid group with the additions of RB Mack Brown, WR Chris Dunkley, two solid OL prospects in Chaz Green and Ian Silberman, and not to mention what could potentially be the best weapon down the road in TE Gerald Christian. Once again this is not an offensive class that is going to wow the average recruitnik, but it is a class that will be filled with hard workers and could be molded into a great class.
On the defensive side things are much different on paper. With the addition of Chris Martin at LB that gives the Gators 4 of the top 12 overall players according to scout.com and basically the dream class we have always wanted on defense.
Chris Martin is regarded as the #1 OLB a position he could end up at but he is also a player I think could end up at MLB. With his 6′5 frame and already being college ready strength wise. Martin could end up being like another top SEC MLB in Rolando McClain who at 6′4 was a big time player and first round draft pick for the Oakland Raiders this past NFL draft.
Even without Martin, UF assembled an amazing defensive class by adding the #1 DE in the nation in Ronald Powell, #1 and #2 DT prospects in Sharrif Floyd and Dominique Easley, #2 Safety prospect in Matt Elam.
The Gators on defense managed to hit most if not all of their needed targets in that they signed a great defensive line and maybe the best UF has ever signed period.
With Martin now on board at LB and if you add Mike Taylor, Darrin Kitchens, Neiron Ball, and Gideon Ajagbe this is now becomes a solid LB corp.
The biggest issues with this class was probably at CB with UF losing Joe Haden to the NFL the Gators needed quality depth which was attained when the Gators signed 2 top CB’s in Joshua Shaw and Jaylen Watkins, but also added even more depth to the position when Cody Riggs decided to be a Gator.
At safety the Gators had good depth with Will Hill and Ahmad Black returning but once again they added great depth with the additions of Matt Elam, Jonathan Dowling, and signing the younger brother of Joe Haden in Jordan Haden.
On paper does an out of this world defensive class make up for an offensive class that some may deem as just solid but not great?
One can argue both ways but like always we will know more about this class 2-3 years down the road but Gator fans also have a reason to sport a big smile when they look at this class and not think that we just created what could be a dominating defense down the road and something that could fuel a SEC and BCS championship run.
