Florida adds 2019 LB commit, loses 2018 TE commit as recruiting dichotomy continues

By Adam Silverstein
June 14, 2017
Florida adds 2019 LB commit, loses 2018 TE commit as recruiting dichotomy continues
Football

Image Credit: ESPNI

The dichotomy between the Florida Gators‘ recruiting classes in 2018 and 2019 remains a mystery as the program lost a pledge in the upcoming class but added one in the latter group on Wednesday.

Early Wednesday, Florida picked up a commitment from 2019 linebacker Marcus Tillman Jr. (Orlando, FL), an unranked prospect with an impressive offer sheet that includes Ole Miss and Ohio State. Tillman (6-foot, 195 pounds) tweeted that he was “born a Gator, raised a Gator, going to be a Florida Gator.”

It was later Wednesday that 2018 three-star tight end Jalen Goss (Valdosta, GA) decommitted from the Gators just two months after offering a verbal pledge. Florida is by far the best offer Goss, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound offensive lineman and the 773rd ranked player in the nation, holds. He was UF’s lowest-rated commitment.

The Gators are absolutely rolling ahead with the 2019 cycle far in the future. Florida has the most commitments in the nation (nine), six of which are rated as four-star prospects. Among the other three are the 303rd player in the nation (45 spots away from being a four-star) and two prospects who have not yet been rated, one of which certainly has four-star potential.

As far as the 2018 class goes, the Gators have one fewer commitment (eight). Just three of those eight are four-star players, while the other five are ranked between 429th and 649th nationally. Included among those are four defensive backs, three offensive playmakers and a defensive lineman.

While Florida is starting faster than it perhaps ever has before when it comes to 2019, the Gators are quite far behind in 2018. UF’s class is ranked 30th in the nation, sixth in the SEC and behind both its in-state rivals (Miami is No. 1, Florida State is No. 7). Granted, Alabama is ranked 63rd nationally and 13th in the SEC for 2018 … but all three of its pledges are four-star prospects.

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