Florida Gators football adds five of six planned 2017 early enrollees

By Adam Silverstein
January 17, 2017
Florida Gators football adds five of six planned 2017 early enrollees
Football

Image Credit: ESPNI

The Florida Gators on Tuesday completed their announcement of five football commitments who have enrolled at the University of Florida for the spring 2017 semester.

Four-star offensive tackle Kadeem Telfort (Miami, FL) leads the group with four-star tight end Kemore Gamble (Miami, FL), three-star athlete Kadarius Toney (Eight Mile, AL), three-star linebacker James Houston (Fort Lauderdale, FL) and three-star prep school defensive tackle Kyree Campbell (Kingston, PA) rounding out the early entry class.

Three-star cornerback Shawn Davis (Miami, FL), who planned to enroll early, was unable to get a particular credit cleared; he remains committed to the Gators and plans to enroll this summer.

Head coach Jim McElwain has emphasized spring enrollment since he started at Florida. After seeing only two players enroll early from his 2015 class, McElwain got 12 players enrolled last spring, a surprising number for any program. The Gators’ class of five prospects this cycle is closer to the norm.

Aside from the five players enrolled, Florida has 10 additional commitments as part of its Class of 2017. The Gators are currently 20th nationally on the 247Sports Composite team rankings, behind seven SEC programs and both in-state rivals.

UF does not have a five-star commitment and is unlikely to add one for the second straight year. The class currently features seven four-star and eight three-star pledges, and should it not make a major move in these final two weeks, there’s a legitimate chance the Gators bring in a class outside the top 15 for the second time in three years — and outside the top 10 for the third straight cycle.

For now, let’s take a look at the five newest members of the Florida football team.

Four-star OT Kadeem Telfort (Miami, FL): Telfort is presently Florida’s fifth-highest rated recruit as the No. 231 player in the nation. With David Sharpe leaving a spot open on the Gators’ offensive line, a strong spring could give the 6-foot-7, 300-pounder a big-time presence up front this season, even if he never earns a starting role.

Four-star TE Kemore Gamble (Miami, FL): The Gators’ tight end play has left much to be desired, especially after a disappointing 2016 season for their incumbant players. Gamble is a 6-foot-4, 216-pound pass catcher with enough size and athleticism to contribute right away.

Three-star ATH Kadarius Toney (Eight Mile, AL): Though Toney has expressed a desire to play quarterback — and noted on more than one occasion that he will be given a chance to do so — it’s much more likely that he winds up as a playmaker on offense, most likely lining up at wide receiver and occasionally in the backfield. McElwain has shown no hesitation to put guys like that on the field as soon as possible.

Three-star LB James Houston (Fort Lauderdale, FL): Missing his entire senior season with an ACL injury, Houston is believed by many to be an “underrecruited” prospect. With Alex Anzalone and Jarrad Davis both moving on from the Gators, playing time will be available. If Houston can get healthy and prove he can be productive, he might pay immediate dividends. If not, a redshirt season would not be the end of the world.

Three-star DT Kyree Campbell (Kingston, PA): Campbell may be listed as a three-star now, but he’s a former four-star prospect and the No. 3 rated prep school player this cycle. Florida has a massive need for talent on the interior of its defensive line (Caleb Brantley and Joey Ivie are out), and this 6-foot-4, 320-pound behemoth should be able to play right away as long as everything goes to plan.

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