2012 CFB Recruiting: New Offensive System Impacting Gator Recruits

If you have followed Florida Gator football over the past six years, you would notice an obvious trend.

Gator offenses always consisted of dual-threat quarterbacks and small, but quick, running backs and wide receivers.

Not so much anymore.

It has almost been four months since his hiring, but the arrival of Will Muschamp in Gainesville is not only bringing a new energy to the team and fanbase, but a bigger and more physical style of play.

And it is showing in the recruiting trail.

Newly committed junior running backs Matt Jones and Mike Davis are evidence of this change.

Jones, a 6’2'', 200 pound back, possess a downhill running game in which he runs over opponents rather than dancing around them like many Gator fans are accustomed to with past Florida running backs.

He is a big and powerful back who has good speed, excellent field vision and the strength and aggression to run between the tackles.

Jones’ ability to run the ball will remind Gator fans a lot of former running back Ciatrick Fason. 

Jones also credited the switch to a pro-style offense as the reason why he committed to Florida, initially.

“Even though I have love for Urban Meyer, if he was still there, I wouldn’t have had anything to do with Florida,” Jones told Gatorbait.net.

“Talking to Coach Muschamp, he made me feel like I am what they needed to run their offense.”

Davis, who is 5’11'' and 195 pounds, will look to add to that tough running style along with Jones.  Recruiting analysts credit Jones for his field vision and balance between the tackles.  Davis is notorious for being able to grind out the tough few yards when his team has needed most, much like Tim Tebow did during his time at Florida.

Both Jones and Davis are expected to be two of the top running backs in the southeast for the 2012 class.

Class of 2011 commit and wide receiver JaJuan Story also emulates the shift in what type of football players the Gators will target on offense. 

Story comes in as a freshman in the upcoming season as a legitimate downfield threat.  Throughout high school, Story used his 6’3'' frame to bully cornerbacks on the routes.

Size at the wide receiver position is something Florida has lacked over the last several years, with the exceptions of Riley Cooper and David Nelson, and Florida fans have become accustomed to wideouts like Percy Harvin, Robert Clark and Solomon Patton.

Meyer stressed speed to his recruits and fan base. 

Muschamp stresses strength and aggression.  

This traditional smash-mouth football has reignited the Florida football program after a dismal 2010 season.

And the recruits are taking notice.