Teams Who Could Benefit from Florida Recruiting Turmoil

The fallout from the end of the Will Muschamp era at Florida is continuing to have an immediate impact for a number of the Gators' chief competitors on the recruiting trail.

Given that Florida has been a traditional recruiting powerhouse, and the fact that several national prospects were heavily considering the Gators before Muschamp’s departure was announced, the door has been opened for others to land players who were thought to be headed to Gainesville. 

While Florida is among the country’s most desirable jobs, the new staff will be at a disadvantage due to the work that other schools are able to put in while the search for a new coach takes place.

Which schools are among the primary beneficiaries of the Gators’ struggles with the 2015 class? 

Florida State

It’s almost fitting that Muschamp’s final game at Florida will come next weekend in Tallahassee against hated rival Florida State.

Two years ago, Muschamp’s Gators were able to knock off the Seminoles, who haven’t lost a game since.

The Gators' downfall coincided with the rise of the Seminoles, and the balance of power that shifted toward Tallahassee began with Jimbo Fisher’s wins on the recruiting trail. 

With the Gators' recruiting efforts in a holding pattern until a new coach is hired, Fisher and his staff will try to make their move on talents such as 5-star defensive ends Byron Cowart and CeCe Jefferson, as well as 4-star offensive lineman Jalen Merrick.

Regardless of who the next coach is in Gainesville, his No. 1 priority will be to wrestle control of the Sunshine State away from the ‘Noles. 

Miami

Similar to Florida, Miami’s program has struggled on the field in recent years.

However, after a close loss to FSU last weekend, there seems to be a sense among recruits that Al Golden is close to getting the ‘Canes over the hump in the ACC. 

Golden and his staff will try to lure a few recruits who have interest in the Gators, such as Merrick, 4-star athlete Tim Irvin and 3-star receiver Antonio Callaway. 

With all three Sunshine State powers battling for prospects every year in the talent-rich hotbed of South Florida, the ‘Canes have a chance to make up some ground with the Gators program in its current weakened state. 

Alabama

Life in the SEC is difficult for coaches on the recruiting trail, as Muschamp opined recently to Chris Vannini of CoachingSearch.com:

"

But as much as anything, the recruiting trail is totally different from other places that I’ve been. It’s much more intense. Cut-throat may be a good word. If you’ve never been in this league before and recruited, especially in this area, that’s something that, if you’re not accustomed to, it’s very difficult.

"

An example of what Muschamp is talking about would be going up against giants like Nick Saban at Alabama on a daily basis.

Saban and the Crimson Tide have had their share of success luring top talent from the state of Florida in recent years. 

This year, his top remaining targets from the Sunshine State are the 5-star pass-rushing tandem of Cowart and Jefferson.

As noted by Charles Power of BamaOnline (subscription required), Jefferson was in Tuscaloosa for the second time in the last month for the Tide’s huge win over Mississippi State. 

Meanwhile, Cowart was thoroughly impressed with his trip to Tuscaloosa last month, as Power reported (subscription required).

While both players are unlikely to shut the door on Florida, Saban has proven over the years that he’s capable of winning battles in which the odds don’t appear to be in his favor. 

Auburn

Another SEC power that is in position to land a few studs from the state of Florida in the 2015 cycle is Auburn.

Gus Malzahn and his staff are hard at work in pursuing the likes of 5-star offensive tackle Martez Ivey and 4-star linebacker Jeffery Holland. Both players have been frequent visitors to Gainesville this year, and both are likely to become top targets for the new staff immediately upon their arrival. 

The biggest prize of the two is Ivey—a 6’6”, 270-pounder who rates as the nation’s top offensive line prospect. 

As GatorBait.net’s Dan Meyer (subscription required) reports, Ivey said that the Gators are still very much in the running for his services:

"

Not really, because you know coaches come and go. They get paid to win games, they don’t get paid to lose, and so you can’t base your decision on a coach because they come and go. You might be there for three years at a college and the head coach happens to get fired or they leave or step down or whatever. You can’t let that affect you or anything.

"

While it appears that Ivey will give the new staff a chance, Malzahn is hoping to build an insurmountable lead with the state of Florida’s top prospect in the 2015 cycle.

Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.

Follow @SanjayKirpalani