What Effect Did the Urban Meyer Mayhem Have on Florida Recruiting?

Larry Burton (PCB, Fl.) When Urban Meyer made the announcements last month that shook not only the Gator Nation but also all of college football to the bone, many wondered what effect it would have on recruiting.

The astounding and resounding answer is: It must have helped it!

Florida is just days away from possibly signing the best class in it's last 10 years, certainly the best in the Urban Meyer era if they can land just one or two of the final players they're courting.

ESPN has Florida rated as the No. 1 class; Rivals also has it at No. 1.

The list of recruits, according to Rivals, looks like this:

Players Committed to Floirda's 2010 Signing Class   

Name                Pos Stars Ht    Wt  40    RR    Enrolled       Hometown

Gideon Ajagbe    LB    *** 6-2   197 4.65  .7                  Coconut Grove, FL

Neiron Ball         DE  **** 6-4   210 4.55  .8      Yes       Jackson, GA

Mack Brown       RB **** 5-11  185 4.45  .8                  Lithonia, GA

Trey Burton       QB  ***  6-2   203 4.625 .7       Yes      Venice, FL

Gerald Christian  TE ****  6-3    220  4.65 5.9    Yes     West Palm Beach, FL

Robert Clark       ATH *** 5-9   170    -     5.5     Yes     West Palm Beach, FL

Jonathan Dowling ATH**** 6-3  178  4.52  5.8             Bradenton, FL

Quinton Dunbar   WR ****  6-3  170    -    5.8              Miami, FL

Chris Dunkley      WR **** 5-10 164  4.45  .9               Pahokee, FL

Dominique Easley  DT***** 6-3 258   4.7   6.1             Staten Island, NY

Matt Elam           DB***** 6-0   205   -    6.1     Yes     West Palm Beach, FL

Sharrif Floyd        DT***** 6-3   310   -    6.1              Philadelphia, PA

Jordan Haden       DB ****  6-0   198 4.41  5.8  Yes     Fort Washington, MD

Michael McFarland TE ***  6-6   230   -     5.7              Tampa, FL

Tyler Murphy        QB  **  6-2   190  4.75   .4              Wethersfield, CT

Leon Orr              DT **** 6-4  300   -    5.9    Yes       New Port Richey, FL

Solomon Patton    WR**** 5-10 175   -     5.8   Yes      Mobile, AL

Ronald Powell       DE ***** 6-4  230  4.52 6.1            Moreno Valley, CA

Cody Riggs           DB ****  5-8  156    -    5.9             Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Joshua Shaw        DB **** 6-1   195    -    6.0   Yes     Palmdale, CA

Ian Silberman        OL ****  6-4  257  5.13  5.9  Yes    Fleming Island, FL

Michael Taylor       LB ****  6-1  213 4.55  .8               Atlanta, GA

Lynden Trail          DE ****  6-7  220   -    5.9              Miami, FL

Travon Van         ATH **** 5-11  200    -  5.8               New Berlin, NY

Jaylen Watkins     DB ****  6-1  172  4.44  6.0    Yes    Cape Coral, FL

Look at how many have already early enrolled so they can take part in spring practice; it is indeed impressive.

Now the question has to be: Why has Meyer's announcements not hurt?

Florida has a lot of departing stars, and many feel that could help land incoming players valuable playing time, while others are simply sticking to their first commitment and trusting that Meyer will be their coach when the time comes.

Whatever the reasons, the list is very impressive.

Also doing a great job recruiting is No. 2 Texas and No. 3 Alabama, while Auburn is surprisingly No. 4 and Oklahoma, LSU, USC, Penn State, Georgia, and Tennessee round out the top 10.

So while six of the top 10 schools are from the SEC, none of the SEC teams stole recruits away from Florida because of the "Meyer Mayhem".

With results like this, Florida can weather whatever happens this spring with Meyer.