College Football: Winners and losers from Day 1 of early signing period

Winner: 2. Florida Gators

The Florida Gators could have had their recruiting class bottom out after a 4-7 season and the firing of Jim McElwain. The Gators are out of a bowl game only ten years removed from a national title with Tim Tebow at quarterback in 2008. Since then, Urban Meyer has had an “illness” an the Gators are onto their third head football coach- Dan Mullen. Mullen helped Meyer win those titles in 2006 and 2008. The Gators biggest issue under McElwain was poor recruiting per the fanbase but they were top 15 per 247 Sports over the past two years.

The Gators saved their off-season and took advantage of an early signing period. They’ve signed thirteen incoming freshman during day one of early signing and have a rank of 14th in the country. Not many 4-7 teams put together top 15 recruiting class.

Coach Mullen came from Mississippi State where he coached Dak Prescott and Nick Fitzgerald into quarterback stardom. He inherits a quarterback mess but signed Emory Jones, a dual threat four-star passer from Franklin, GA. The top end of their class is Georgia heavy and ignored Florida besides Amari Burney from Clearwater, FL. Mullen added tight end Kyle Pitts, and Georgia tailback Dameon Pierce as well.