Top Recruits Who Will Be Impacted by Result of Florida-Georgia

Florida and Georgia renew a longstanding rivalry Saturday when the teams meet in Jacksonville for an annual clash affectionately known as the "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party." If the Gators suffer another SEC beatdown, it could become a going-away party for Will Muschamp.

The embattled head coach's tenuous situation is among the most discussed storylines of this college football season. Florida has failed to make necessary strides in his fourth year, losing eight of its past 10 conference matchups and four of them by double-digit margins.

These struggles have translated into the 2015 recruiting cycle, with Muschamp failing to maintain prospects' confidence amid rumors of his impending dismissal. The Gators lost a pair of 4-star linebacker commits last week, plummeting to 61st nationally in 247Sports' composite class rankings.

Meanwhile, Georgia holds the nation's No. 3 class and remains a potential playoff team. The Bulldogs can take a step toward postseason contention and perhaps punctuate the Muschamp Era in Gainesville by winning a fourth straight game in this celebrated series.

Here's a look at recruits who will be watching closely this weekend, with an eye on how this matchup could impact their signing day decisions.

4-Star LB Roquan Smith (Montezuma, Ga.)

Credit: 247Sports

Macon County High School star Roquan Smith is a hot commodity on the open market who continues to sift through collegiate options without a commitment announcement. The 6'2", 205-pound defender has his choice of SEC squads, and Miami also entered the mix earlier this season.

His most likely collegiate destinations, according to 247Sports' Crystal Ball, are Georgia and Florida. The Bulldogs currently hold a considerable edge, commanding 85 percent of expert predictions.

Smith, rated fourth nationally among outside linebackers in 247Sports' composite rankings, spent significant time on each campus this summer and continues to keep tabs on both teams. Conference foes Ole Miss and South Carolina hosted him for game action earlier this season, while Alabama is also a contender.

Florida's 2015 linebacker situation is chaotic at this stage and could really use a boost. Smith is certainly someone capable of providing it, but Georgia seems to stand a better chance of bringing him on board at this point.

4-Star 2016 DT Michail Carter (Jackson, Ga.)

Credit: 247Sports

Jackson High School junior Michail Carter has collected scholarship offers in bunches following impressive underclassman campaigns and camp performances. The 6'3'", 311-pound defensive lineman has 77 tackles, including 16 for loss, since the start of his sophomore season, per MaxPreps.

Carter holds offers from both the in-state Bulldogs and Florida. His list also includes Clemson, Miami, Texas A&M and Alabama.

He spent time in Tuscaloosa earlier this fall and figures to log plenty of miles on the recruiting trail while searching for the right fit. This matchup in Jacksonville provides an opportunity for Carter to assess where both programs stand, particularly along the defensive front.

Rated 13th nationally among 2016 defensive tackles in 247Sports' composite rankings, expect his recruitment to rapidly expand in coming months. A statement game from either Florida or Georgia this weekend could linger in his mind as things progress.

4-Star LB Adonis Thomas (Lawrenceville, Ga.)

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Adonis Thomas spent more than two months committed to Florida but reopened his recruitment last week. He gave the Gators another hole to fill just days after fellow 4-star linebacker commit Jerome Baker flipped to Ohio State. 

However, the 6'3.5", 229-pound prospect hasn't closed the door on a possible reconciliation with the Gators. Immediately after decommitting, Thomas tweeted he'll still consider Florida moving forward.

Thomas won't be an easy recruit to reel back in, as LSU and Alabama are also in contention. The Central Gwinnett High School standout is seemingly a lock to land in the SEC and Gainesville remains a potential landing spot, but clearly there are things about the program be's not comfortable with at this point.

Every game is pivotal for Florida when it comes to altering public perception, and Thomas will surely be keeping his fingers on the team's pulse. The outcome Saturday could go a long way in terms of how he views the Gators, one way or another.

Thomas has 79 tackles and five sacks through eight games as a senior, per MaxPreps.

4-Star LB Jeffery Holland (Jacksonville, Fla.)

Credit: 247Sports

Have you picked up on a theme here yet?

Florida desperately needs linebacker help in its 2015 class, and options are beginning to dwindle. The recruitment of Jeffery Holland is a perfect example of how the Gators' instability has wreaked havoc on recruiting efforts.

In years past, the Trinity Christian Academy star is exactly the kind of prospect considered a lock to land in The Swamp given his proximity to campus and familiarity with Florida's coaching staff. Today, it's understandable why Holland would hesitate to pull the trigger on a commitment.

The 6'2'", 230-pound playmaker frequently spent time in Gainesville during earlier stages of his recruitment, including multiple visits this summer. However, Auburn appears to be gaining ground after hosting Holland for an official visit earlier this month. 

The Tigers have consistently closed the gap in 247Sports' Crystal Ball. Florida, once a consensus favorite, holds just 59 percent of predictions approximately three months shy of signing day. 

Holland, rated eighth nationally among outside linebackers in 247Sports' composite rankings, is among the most feared pass-rushers in this Sunshine State class. He has 22.5 sacks since his sophomore season, per MaxPreps.

5-Star OL Martez Ivey (Apopka, Fla.)

Credit: 247Sports

Martez Ivey falls into the same category as Holland. He's a blue-chip recruit in the Gators' regional recruiting range who most had pegged as a Florida pledge early in the process.

Instead, Ivey remains uncommitted two weeks after an official visit to Gainesville. He was in attendance for the team's heartbreaking loss to LSU on Oct. 11 and continues to weigh two main options, with Auburn and Florida hanging in the balance.

Those have been Ivey's two front-runners for quite some time, and his friendship with teammate and Tigers commit Chandler Cox adds another element to monitor here. Ivey visited Auburn with Cox earlier this year and is expected to return for an official visit, per Chris Hays of the Orlando Sentinel.

Alabama, LSU and Florida State are also in play for possible officials. Ivey has given the Gators ample opportunities to convince him a commitment makes sense, and signs of life from a struggling offensive attack this Saturday would surely be appreciated by the big man.

Recruit ratings courtesy of 247Sports unless otherwise noted.