Florida Gators Signing Day 2012: Breaking Down the Newest Gators

The Florida Gators were small, weak, and unable to control the line of scrimmage in 2011.  On offense, the Gators couldn't run the ball and even though the defense had impressive moments, they ultimately could not get off the field.

The SEC is big, physical, and fast.  The Gators only had the latter.

Thanks to Will Muschamp, the other two are within their grasp for 2012.

The Florida Gators quietly reeled in a top 5 recruiting class, but did it with somewhat of a disappointing National Signing Day.  The Gators could have easily made a strong push for the top class overall but stood by as some of their top targets spurned the Gators.  Lane Kiffin proved to still be a thorn in the side of the Gators by stealing some top talent out of the state of Florida.

Nevertheless, Muschamp and the Gators made strides to further the transition from a spread to pro offense.

Building a team from the inside out is the first step to building a championship team.  Look at the last 6 SEC National Champions.   The past Floridas, Alabamas, LSUs, and Auburns (2004 included) have been stout on the front lines and stout is probably an understatement.

With 10 out of the 23 commits the Gators have received headed to the front lines, fans should be excited for the future of their team.

DJ Humphries (OL)

DJ Humphries is easily the highest rated Gator of the 2012 recruiting class.  Although Humphries (6'5", 265 lbs) will most like sit in his first year behind starters Xavier Nixon and Matt Patchan at left tackle, he is the perfect example of what Muschamp wants his offense to be.

Big, tough, and physical is what Muschamp wants, and it is what he got in the 2012 recruiting class.

Humphries will get his chance sooner rather than later, especially if the injury bug strikes.  Needless to say, he will be a key piece of the new physical offense for years to come.

Humphries and the other top ranked offensive lineman, Jessamen Dunker, are the first steps to being able to run the pro-style offense and have success.

Jessamen Dunker (OL)

If you thought DJ Humphries would add the bulk the Gators have definitely needed, you have missed Jessamen Dunker and he is not exactly easy to miss.

Weighing in at 315 lbs and standing 6'6", Dunker adds the necessary size for the Gators to run the ball and withstand the pass rush of the relentless SEC.  Although not as talented as Humphries, Dunker will have time to learn behind the current Gator starters. 

Expect to see this young man in a couple years as an anchor for the offensive line.

Dante Fowler Jr. (DE)

Dante Fowler Jr., previously a Florida State commit, is perhaps the sweetest victory for Florida Gator recruiting in 2012.  After appearing to be locked up as a Seminole, Fowler Jr. felt he had a better chance of reaching the field sooner as a Florida Gator.

Fowler excelled at the speed rush in high school, but he is a little small at 232 lbs.  Gator coaches will have him in the weight room as soon as they can to get a little more bulk.  If he looks good during spring, Fowler will make an immediate impact in the defensive line rotation.

Notably, there has been some off field issues with Fowler in high school.  The Gators have dealt with their fair share of these problems, and Muschamp has shown he has much a swifter hand than Meyer when it comes to disciplining these issues.

If Fowler can keep his head on straight and find his place in Muschamp's defensive rotation, the potential exists for another Carlos Dunlap or Derrick Harvey to arise.

Jonathan Bullard (DE)

Jonathan Bullard is just one of the elite prospects the Gators snatched from North Carolina.  Urban Meyer talked about the importance of the North Carolina market of talent, and Will Muschamp has taken steps to further the Gators' foothold in the area, even if that meant sacrificing a little in the Sunshine State.

The Gators will soon have a defensive line rotation of Dante Fowler, Jonathan Bullard, Ronald Powell, Shariff Floyd and Dominick Easley.  If Fowler and Bullard live up to the hype, this defensive line unit could easily be one of the best in the SEC, meaning the whole country too.

Gator fans should have confidence in Muschamp and his ability to develop young talent.  While at Texas, the Longhorns continuously had talented defensive lineman who were both strong and fast. 

Look for Bullard and Fowler Jr. to both develop and learn quickly under the guidance of Muschamp and their peers along what will be a stacked defensive line.

Tight Ends: Colin Thompson and Kent Taylor

Colin Thompson (pictured) and Kent Taylor are both big, physical tight ends from the 2012 recruiting class.  Both players will have to fight for playing time with starters Jordan Reed and A.C. Leonard.

Reed really found a groove in the new offense and was the third leading receiver behind Andre Debose, who returns next year, and Chris Rainey, who will graduate.  A.C. Leonard missed more than half of last season with a knee injury.  After returning he showed strong development and possibly had a breakout game against Florida State with 3 catches and 65 yards. 

The tight end position will be an interesting battle in spring if either Thompson or Taylor surprise coaches, but expect Leonard and Reed to be your starters for next year.

Matt Jones (RB)

With Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps leaving, the running back will be the second most important battle in spring behind the quarterbacks. 

Many expect Mike Gillislee to finally get his opportunity to shine, and rightfully so. 

Gillislee has shown that he has the speed to get around the edge but also the bulk to run inside.  He actually averaged more yards per carry than Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps this past year.  Undervalued ever since he arrived in Gainesville, Gillislee should win the spring battles and surprise people in the upcoming season.

Matt Jones, an incoming freshman from Armwood High School, will be the first pro-style running back for the Gators since DeShawn Wynn and Kestahn Moore.  Look for him to contribute in goal line or short yardage situations as he settles in until he gets his chance to lead the Gators rushing attack in 2013.

The Rest

National Signing Day was somewhat of a disappointing event for many Gator fans as top recruits in Florida decided to go out of state to other schools.  However, the Gators managed to fly under the radar while still establishing one of the top classes of the year, centering around the offensive and defensive lines.

The offensive transition between spread and pro is still in mid-air but head coach Will Muschamp has taken a big step with his first recruiting class by getting the Gators bigger and more physical.  

There is still plenty of room to improve from last year.  An identity needs to be found, and these young players are being recruited by Will Muschamp and his staff to be a bigger, badder breed of the Florida Gators.