The 5 Recruits Who Can Save Florida's Recruiting Class

Florida is working against the clock in an effort to salvage its 2015 recruiting class as national signing day nears.

An underwhelming 2014 campaign and the eventual ousting of head coach Will Muschamp leaves the Gators with just nine commitments in a group that currently rates 81st nationally in 247Sports' composite rankings. Linebacker Rayshad Jackson and early enrollee tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe are the lone prospects to pledge since Jim McElwain took over.

A sense of desperation is beginning to surround the squad as it seeks capable athletes to serve as the foundational members of a new regime. Here's a look at five Florida recruiting targets who could send this class surging toward signing day.

5-Star OT Martez Ivey (Apopka, Florida)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 1 offensive tackle; No. 2 overall

High School: Apopka High School

Other Teams in Consideration: Auburn

Where He Stands with Florida

Despite some late flirtations with LSU, this recruiting battle has centered on Auburn and the Gators for a while. Martez Ivey, a 6'5", 275-pound prospect, is widely regarded as one of the most athletic offensive tackles to develop at the high school level in recent years.

Chris Hays of the Orlando Sentinel reports the U.S. Army All-American Player of the Year is being pulled to Auburn in large part by high school teammate and Tigers commit Chandler Cox, along with former Florida coach Will Muschamp, who now serves as defensive coordinator.

This decision is shaping up to be among the most difficult on signing day, especially now that he's developed a relationship with McElwain.

"Man, great impression of [McElwain]," Ivey told Hays. "I sat down with him. Had dinner with him...in-home visit, so it was pretty good, and I'm real pleased by him."

4-Star RB Jordan Cronkrite (Miami, Florida)

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 16 running back; No. 265 overall

High School: Westminster Christian School

Other Teams in Consideration: Louisville, West Virginia and Notre Dame

Where He Stands with Florida

Jordan Cronkrite was initially expected to sign with Miami, but he backed off that verbal commitment in September. He visited North Carolina, Notre Dame and West Virginia last spring, but he's been heavily trending toward the Gators lately.

The 5'11", 198-pound prospect is projected to sign with Florida by 63 percent of expert predictions in 247Sports' crystal ball.

Florida lost 5-star running back Dalvin Cook to Florida State late in the 2014 cycle and must acquire a top-tier rusher in this class. Cronkrite, who rushed for 2,500 yards and 25 touchdowns as an upperclassman, appreciated the respect he's been shown by a new Gators regime in recent weeks.

"Coach McElwain is definitely making me feel like more of a priority because the last staff didn't really talk to me much but Coach McElwain reached out to me right when he got the job," he told Andrew Spivey of GatorCountry.com.

5-Star DE Byron Cowart (Seffner, Florida)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 1 strong-side defensive tackle; No. 3 overall

High School: Armwood High School

Other Teams in Consideration: Auburn

Where He Stands with Florida

It's been an up-and-down journey with the 6'4", 250-pound defender for Florida. He's deeply explored other SEC options at Alabama and Auburn while weighing his prospects of playing at Florida State.

Byron Cowart, who tallied 140 tackles and 24 sacks as an upperclassman, caused some commotion this past weekend when he cut his official visit to Gainesville short by an entire day. ESPN.com's Derek Tyson reported "his mom got called in to work back in Tampa," but Cowart felt obliged to share an explanation on Twitter.

"I would never handle myself unprofessionally," he wrote. "I spent an hour with Coach Mac before I left campus, explaining why I had to leave early and explaining that I am still interested in the University of Florida."

He recently named the Gators and Auburn as his finalists.

"I would have to say, just to be honest, Auburn and Florida are my top two schools," Cowart told Tyson (via Keith Niebuhr of Auburn Undercover). "I have to keep it professional—I have to. Right now, truly, it will come down to Auburn and Florida. That's just being honest."

4-Star QB Deondre Francois (Orlando, Florida)

Credit: 247Sports

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 3 pro-style quarterback; No. 65 overall

High School: IMG Academy

Other Teams in Consideration: Florida State (committed)

Where He Stands with Florida

The most recent tug-of-war between Florida and Florida State centers on quarterback Deondre Francois, who played for IMG head coach Chris Weinke as a senior. You may remember Weinke as a Heisman-winning, title-winning quarterback for the Seminoles.

Francois opted to follow in his footsteps with a commitment to Florida State last summer. Things remained relatively quiet after that, and he enjoyed a career-best campaign with 1,294 passing yards and 19 total scores.

However, things changed when Florida shuffled its coaching staff. Fellow 4-star quarterback Sheriron Jones decommitted from the Gators and found a new home in Tennessee.

Given the Gators' recent offensive woes, a strong-armed field general like Francois could be just what fans are clamoring for in The Swamp. He spent the past weekend on an official visit at Florida.

"I'm just taking an official to see if anything has changed, to see if it's a different atmosphere now that (McElwain)'s there," Francois told Chris Hays of the Orlando Sentinel. "Just to make sure I made the right decision."

5-Star DE CeCe Jefferson (Glen Saint Mary, Florida)

247Sports' Composite Ranking: No. 2 strong-side defensive end; No. 7 overall

High School: Baker County Senior High School

Other Teams in Consideration: Ole Miss, Auburn, Alabama and LSU

Where He Stands with Florida

CeCe Jefferson limited his choices to five programs earlier this week, all of which focused on a collection of SEC squads. He explained the decision to Derek Tyson of ESPN.com.

"They are all great schools," he said "I have a good opportunity to go in and make an impact early at those schools and get a great education, be around good people and win football games and that's really what matters to me and I know I'll get that from all of those schools."

Florida must contend with Jefferson's established rapport with Muschamp, but it does offer desirable proximity. The Gators are projected to sign the 6'2", 275-pound defensive end by 63 percent of expert predictions in 247Sports' crystal ball.

Recruit ratings and information courtesy of 247Sports unless otherwise noted.