Florida Football Recruiting: Is This a Make-or-Break Weekend for the Gators?

With less than two weeks left before National Signing Day, the Florida Gators will play host to some of the nation's top recruits this weekend in what could become a make-or-break weekend for the 2012 recruiting class. 

Florida will host uncommitted recruits WR Stefon Diggs, CB Tracy Howard, DE Alex Mcallister, DE Bryan Cox, Jr. and FSU commit Dante Fowler. Let's take a look at each of these individuals and where they will end up come February 1st. 

Tracy Howard

Howard is unanimously thought to be the top CB prospect in this recruiting class. Rivals compare him to Joe Haden, which is music to a Gators fans' ears. Howard is a long, instinctive corner who can play both man and zone coverage well.

Listed at 5'11'', 175 lbs, Howard has good, but not great, size for the position. He has the frame to put on some weight, which will help him in run coverage at the next level.

Howard is thought to be down to picking between two schools—Florida and LSU. Howard has visited the Florida campus several times unofficially and has one official left after this weekend.

Howard is unsure if he will take his final visit, which could be good news for the Gators, but if he does it will likely to be to Baton Rouge. Howard will likely announce his intentions on National Signing Day, and I expect him to be a Gator. 

Stefon Diggs 

Diggs is a playmaker. He does not have the stats that make your jaw drop, but his highlight reel will.

Diggs is listed at 6'0'', but is probably a shade smaller. He has played all over the field in high school but is being recruited as a WR. Diggs has been compared to a Percy Harvin-type of player who can single-handedly change the course of a game.  

Diggs will be able to make an instant impact at the next level, returning punts and kickoffs along with playing on offense. Diggs is still raw as a receiver, but with his talent there is no doubt he will be able to develop once he can focus on playing one position rather than three. 

Prior to the departure of Charlie Weis, Diggs was thought to be a heavy Florida lean. Since then it has become more of a mystery as to where he will play in college. The entire offensive coaching staff, along with head coach Will Muschamp, were at the Diggs' family home on Monday to meet with the player and give him an idea about new offensive coordinator Brent Pease and how he will be used in the offense. 

While Diggs had a very good official visit to Auburn last weekend and several other schools remain in play, I fully expect Diggs to end up as a Gator. He will not be making his decision until after National Signing Day, so starting February 2nd the wait is on for his official commitment. 

Alex McCalister

While McCalister is only listed as a 3-star recruit, he is a defensive end that will add sorely-needed depth to the Gators defensive line. McCalister was slated to visit last weekend, but due to an illness his family he was forced to push his official visit back a week.

Listed at 6'7'', 212 lbs, McCalister will need to put on considerable weight to be able to play on the defensive line in the SEC. It is possible that he could see a redshirt in his freshmen season. McCalister comes in with a similar body type to former Gator Lynden Trail. 

McCalister will make a final decision on Tuesday between Florida, Georgia Tech and North Carolina. 

Bryan Cox Jr. 

Cox certainly comes in to Gainesville this weekend with the right pedigree. Cox is the son of Bryan Cox, a former NFL linebacker. He also attends St. Thomas Aquinas in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, a school which has recently sent players Marcus Gilbert, Major Wright, Cody Riggs and Marcus Roberson to Gainesville.

Cox is new on the Gators' radar and was quoted saying that if the Gators offer he will commit on the spot. 

Listed at 6'2'', 230 lbs, Cox has a frame that could see him add some bulk, but he could also be asked to make the move to linebacker. Cox is a good football player who uses his natural ability well on the field. I fully expect Cox to earn a scholarship offer, if not this weekend then very soon.

Dante Fowler

Fowler has been committed to Florida State for over a year, but that has not stopped him from flirting with the Gators during that time. 

Fowler is a 6'3'', 236-lbs, pass-rushing end out of St. Petersburg, Florida. Currently, Fowler is only a pass rusher but has a frame that could stand to add more bulk, and he could end up being a three-down lineman. 

Although Fowler has continued to flirt with the Gators and is taking his official visit this weekend, he says he is still 100 percent committed to FSU. Fowler will make his announcement on National Signing Day and will likely be Seminole chopping rather than Gator chomping. 

In a good move by the Gators coaching staff, they have brought in some very strong verbal commitments this weekend to accompany the other recruits still mulling over their decision. Among commits that will be on campus this week who have given a solid verbal are TE Colin Thompson, CB Brian Poole, DT Jafar Mann and RB Matt Jones. 

Official visits are highly regulated by the NCAA, and the coaches can only have so much access to a recruit. When the coaches are not around, having other players who are solid to Florida will undoubtedly have the other recruits' ears and become recruiters in their own right.

Enough cannot be said of how much peers can affect your decisions, and the coaching staff is taking full advantage of this. 

This weekend will be a make-or-break weekend for Muschamp's first full recruiting class. Will the Gators be able to lock up the top recruiting class in the nation? Will Muschamp be able to steal a recruit from his old friend and new rival Jimbo Fisher?

We won't know until National Signing Day or beyond, but the future looks bright under Muschamp and the recruits will see that this weekend.