Florida's Pursuit of a Blue-Chip 2016 QB Recruit

The Florida Gators aren't settling for a single 2016 quarterback commit with less than four months remaining until national signing day.

Head coach Jim McElwain is implementing a cross-country quest to land another passer, further illustrated by his program's bye-week plans. The first-year Florida leader and assistants are attempting to capitalize on extra time by visiting key quarterback recruits.

Gators offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier is expected to visit 4-star Maryland commit Dwayne Haskins, while McElwain himself will travel to see in-state standout and LSU pledge Feleipe Franks, per Luke Stampini of 247Sports.

Both prospects earned Elite 11 honors this summer. Neither player has publicly wavered on his commitment, but that hasn't prevented Florida from moving forward with its pursuit. 

Kyle Trask, a 3-star passer from Manvel High School in Texas, pledged to the Gators in July immediately after receiving an offer. Though he possesses prototypical size (6'5 ½", 211 lbs), his rating of 90th overall among pro-style quarterbacks in 2016 composite rankings won't exactly fill the Florida fanbase with confidence.

He caught the staff's attention while competing at Florida’s Friday Night Lights camp in late July, earning his first Power Five conference offer. Houston Baptist, Lamar and McNeese State were Trask's only other collegiate opportunities at the time, according to 247Sports.

The plan all along, it appears, has been to pair two passers in this Gators class. 

Florida was a finalist for Haskins prior to his Maryland commitment in May. The Terrapins' pivotal in-state pickup told Bleacher Report the Gators and Rutgers were two other teams that entered the equation as he approached a decision.

Maryland dismissed head coach Randy Edsall earlier this month, creating room for doubt in the Terps' ability to carry Haskins' commitment to signing day. However, he's repeatedly used social media to reinforce his intentions and actually pinned the post of that May pledge to the top of his Twitter page.

Nonetheless, Nussmeier remains interested. He initially began recruiting Haskins as a member of Michigan's staff, maintaining that relationship after relocating to Gainesville. 

Credit: 247Sports

Franks, a 6'5", 220-pound Sunshine State product from Wakulla High School, committed to LSU shortly after his sophomore year. Though he's been steadfast with that loyalty, a recent Florida State visit signals Franks is at least willing to explore alternative options. 

Franks and Haskins are rated fifth and sixth, respectively, among pro-style quarterbacks in composite rankings, so Florida would certainly be willing to find a spot for either prospect should they both decide a commitment flip is in their best interest.

Though this duo may top the list, Franks and Haskins are hardly alone as potential Gators targets at the position.

Louisville pledge Tylin Oden traveled to campus earlier this season. The Cardinals currently carry two quarterback commits in this cycle, so increased interest from Florida could push the Tennessee product to reconsider his situation.

“Coach Nussmeier said that he was excited that I was there and to enjoy myself,” Oden told Andrew Spivey of GatorCountry.com. “[McElwain] told me to watch the offense and I thought the offense was good and it would prepare me well for the NFL. I think I would fit really well into the offense.”

Though Florida hasn't formally extended a scholarship offer, don't be surprised if the Gators turn toward Oden down the road.

“They want to get to know me more and I think once we get that relationship established then I think they will offer me a scholarship," he told Spivey. 

Credit: 247Sports

Auburn commit Ervin "Woody" Barrett is another athlete who may warrant an offer if Florida's search for a second quarterback continues deep into this cycle. The Orlando area standout is rated fourth nationally among dual-threat quarterbacks in composite rankings, displaying superior rushing abilities compared to other Gators targets.

Barrett, a Tigers pledge since June, spent time at The Swamp just a few weeks ago. He was in the bleachers when Florida defeated SEC rival Ole Miss, and this seems to be an open-ended situation that may depend on McElwain.

“Auburn is No. 1, and if, if I had a second choice, the Florida Gators I would take into consideration," Barrett told Stampini. "They said they will hit me up, so we will see what happens.”

For now, it looks like Franks and Haskins are No. 1 and 1A on Florida's quarterback board, while prospects like Oden, Barrett and perhaps Clemson pledge Zerrick Cooper could factor into fallback plans as things progress.

Florida failed to sign a player at the position last signing day, falling short in late attempts to flip Deondre Francois (Florida State) and Lamar Jackson (Louisville). McElwain certainly has more tangible proof of offensive proficiency to sell these days, as the Gators attack has jumped from 106th to 49th nationally in passing yards per game this fall.

Redshirt freshman Will Grier (10 touchdowns and three interceptions through six games) was a budding star prior to his suspension. Sophomore Treon Harris has improved his completion percentage by 12 points since last season while tossing four touchdowns and no picks. 

McElwain is assembling a young, dynamic supporting cast that continues to mature and complement its quarterbacks. Commitments from 4-star high school wide receivers Freddie Swain and Joshua Hammond, along with top-ranked junior college running back Mark Thompson, should help contribute toward future offensive strides.

Florida landed Jake Allen, a top-10 pro-style passer in the 2017 class, this summer. He presents significant promise in coming years, but Florida's main focus is on the present. 

Expect that to motivate McElwain and his staff for the remainder of this cycle, leading to another quarterback commit at some point. That player may not have an offer just yet, but the Gators should be willing to cast a wider net if that's what the situation ultimately dictates.

Tyler Donohue is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite rankings. Follow Tyler via Twitter: @TDsTake.