Sixteen members strong, the Florida Gators 2011 recruiting class could look totally different – or exactly the same – at the end of the week. With the vast majority of uncommitted high school football players announcing their decisions on National Signing Day this Wednesday, a handful of others may wait a few days to make their intentions known. Below OGGOA breaks down who Florida is still waiting to hear from, when they might learn of their decision and some of the latest insights on each player.

Linebacker Curtis Grant (Richmond, VA)
Accolades: No. 2 player in the country (No. 1 linebacker) according to Rivals; No. 46 player in the country (No. 3 linebacker) according to ESPNU
Leaders: Florida, Ohio State
Contenders: Virginia, North Carolina
Skinny: Though his hometown school and a regional choice are both in the picture, it is believed by most that this is a two-horse race between UF and OSU. The Gators have sent head coach Will Muschamp (two weeks ago) as well as defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, linebackers coach D.J. Durkin and tight ends coach Brian White (last week) in-home to see him. With Florida’s staff only coming together recently, Grant may feel more comfortable elsewhere. Then again, the press put on by UF may have impressed him and he would likely have the opportunity to play relatively early.
Announcement: NSD at 1:50 p.m.

Linebacker Stephone Anthony (Wadesboro, NC)
Accolades: No. 1 linebacker (No. 32 player in the country) according to ESPNU; No. 3 linebacker (No. 24 palyer in the country) according to Rivals
Leader: Clemson
Contenders: Florida, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, North Carolina State
Skinny: It appears that Anthony is favoring Clemson and Virginia Tech with the Tigers edging. In fact, almost every recruiting analyst predicting where Anthony will eventually declare tabs Clemson.
Update: Anthony eliminated UF on Monday.
Announcement: NSD at 11:30 a.m.

Defensive tackle Tim Jernigan (Lake City, FL)
Accolades: Consensus No. 2 defensive tackle in the country, listed at No. 17 on the ESPNU 150 and No. 29 on the Rivals 100
Leaders: Florida State, LSU
Contenders: Florida, Tennessee
Skinny: As OGGOA has previously reported, the Gators have put a full-court press on Jernigan. Assistant defensive line coach Bryant Young visited him in-home during his first day on the job, and he has also met personally with Muschamp and Quinn. Florida was thought to have a legitimate chance, but Rivals affiliate VolQuest reported that Jernigan loved his visit to UT over the weekend and it may have supplanted UF in his top three. Always in the back of Jernigan’s mind, however, may be that he and his family have been long-time Gators fans and his home is just 45 miles from The Swamp.
Update: The Orlando Sentinel reports that Jernigan is no longer considering UF.
Announcement: NSD at 10 a.m. on ESPN

Learn about eight more 2011 recruits…after the break.

Defensive tackle Jonathan Jenkins (Perkinston, MS)
Accolades: No. 6 JUCO recruit according to Rivals
Leaders: Florida, Georgia
Contenders: Oklahoma State, Auburn, Miami
Skinny: One of a handful of players to take their last official visit to UF, Jenkins – by all accounts – had a good time. He was committed to Oklahoma State but decided to open things up and has since been really interested in Georgia, which is considered to be his most likely destination. That being said, the trip to Gainesville may have swayed him.
Announcement: TBD – Saturday, Feb. 5

Defensive back Marcus Roberson (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Accolades: No. 2 cornerback (No. 37 player in the country) according to Rivals; No. 9 safety (No. 112 player in the country) according to ESPNU
Leaders: Florida, USC
Contenders: Auburn, Texas Tech
Skinny: A lot has changed for Roberson over the last week. Originally committed to Texas Tech (his uncle is the cornerbacks coach there), he changed his mind and switched his pledge to Auburn on Monday. That is why Roberson was not on this original list. Tuesday news broke that Roberson either decided not to play for Auburn or AU pulled their offer. Either way, Roberson is now available and Florida has been in the mix from the beginning. Rivals reports that he took a “surprise” visit to USC over the weekend, so they are very much in play as well. It would be strange for him to re-commit to either of his previous choices but not entirely impossible.
Announcement: NSD

Linebacker Curt Maggitt (West Palm Beach, FL)
Accolades: No. 3 linebacker (No. 63 player in the country) according to ESPNU; No. 12 linebacker (No. 198 player in the country) according to Rivals
Leaders: Florida, Tennessee
Contenders: Wisconsin
Skinny: Maggitt has long been expected to eventually pick the Gators, and he gave the team the benefit of the doubt by scheduling his final official visit there over the weekend. With three former teammates already enrolled (safety Matt Elam, tight end Gerald Christian and wide receiver Robert Clark committed in 2010), he seems to have always favored Florida and may be the most likely player to commit this week. Then again, Tennessee and Wisconsin have both made strong pushes for him recently.
Update: Maggitt committed to Tennessee on Tuesday.
Announcement: TBD – Thursday, Feb. 3

Defensive end Jermauria Rasco (Shreveport, LA)
Accolades: No. 8 defensive end (No. 168 player in the country) according to Rivals; No. 17 defensive end (unranked nationally) according to ESPNU
Leader: LSU
Contenders: Florida, Florida State, Texas
Skinny: Murmurs coming out of Rasco’s weekend visit to Gainesville, FL are that the Gators may have done enough to turn him away from his hometown Tigers. That, however, is going to be difficult considering how well LSU (like Texas) hangs on to in-state recruits. Muschamp has been recruiting Rasco for years and has developed quite a relationship with the young man. That is why Florida, which was not recruiting Rasco heavily to begin with, received the visit and remains in the hunt for his services.
Announcement: NSD at 2 p.m.

Quarterback Jacoby Brissett (West Palm Beach, FL)
Accolades: No. 3 quarterback (No. 75 player in the country) according to Rivals; three-star recruit and No. 25 quarterback according to ESPNU
Leaders: Miami, Wisconsin
Contenders: Florida, Washington
Skinny: Originally offered a (insulting) greyshirt by then-head coach Urban Meyer, no other player has been more heavily pursued by new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis. After one visit, Weis called Muschamp and offered Brissett a scholarship. Since then the coaches have visited him on at least two other occasions and even convinced him to come up to Gainesville for an unofficial visit. However, it appears as if Brissett is further along with other programs and will likely be headed elsewhere…probably Miami. It should be noted that he is best friends with Elam and does want to play basketball in college.
Announcement: TBD – Friday, Feb. 4

Wide receiver/tight end Junior Pomee (Moreno Valley, CA)
Accolades: No. 23 wide receiver (No. 194 player in the country) according to Rivals; No. 13 tight end (unranked nationally) according to ESPNU
Leader: USC
Contenders: Florida, Utah, UCLA, Arizona
Skinny: A former UCLA commit, Pomee was also teammates with Gators defender Ronald Powell at Rancho Verde High School. Believed to be a serious USC lean who recently took an official visit, Florida and Utah have emerged as legitimate options for him. The Gators flew across the country to visit him in-home over a week ago.
Update: Pomee’s father said Monday night his son has committed to USC though, according to Rivals, Pomee himself denied his father’s statement.
Announcement: NSD

Defensive tackle Elkino Watson (Miami, FL)
Accolades: No. 23 defensive tackle according to Rivals; No. 75 defensive tackle according to ESPNU
Leaders: Florida, Louisville
Contenders: Miami
Skinny: Formerly teammates with Gators freshmen Lynden Trail and Quinton Dunbar, Watson is giving Florida plenty of consideration. Always interested in Miami, their former defensive line coach recently joined Charlie Strong’s staff at Louisville and is doing his best to pull Watson. According to various reports, it may be working.
Announcement: NSD at 9 a.m.

Defensive end Tevin Westbrook (Coconut Creek, FL)
Accolades: No. 45 defensive end according to Rivals
Contenders: Florida, South Florida, Connecticut, Purdue, North Carolina
Skinny: The best thing the Gators have going for them in Westbrook’s recruitment is, simply put, they’re the biggest name. Muschamp has been after him recently and, like some of the others above, Westbrook gave UF his final official visit over the weekend. Whether or not he will pull the trigger for the orange and blue remains to be seen.
Update: Westbrook committed to UF on Tuesday.

Offensive tackle Jacob Fisher (Traverse City, MI)
Accolades: No. 42 offensive tackle acc. to Rivals; No. 82 offensive tackle acc. to ESPNU
Leaders: Michigan, Michigan State
Contenders: Florida, Oregon
Skinny: A Michigan commit, Fisher decided to open up his recruiting process after head coach Rich Rodriguez was fired. He checked out UF a week ago and took his final official visit to Oregon. Nevertheless, with both Michigan and Michigan State firmly after him, it will take a lot to pull him out of the state.
Announcement: NSD at 8 a.m.

OGGOA PREDICTIONS: Last year we were perfect on our commitment projections in this very post [Ten recruits to watch on National Signing Day]. This year things are not as clear-cut with Florida trying to overcome a coaching change and playing catch-up to some other big programs. In fact, a lot of commitments may depend on the decisions of other players. Maggitt, for example, is considering declaring after NSD. He could be waiting to see what Grant and Anthony decide to do. Westbrook may be the 2011 version of Kitchens, someone UF pulls if they do not get Rasco. OGGOA prognosticates Maggitt, Watson and Westbrook wearing orange and blue when the dust settles. Grant, who may be an undisclosed silent commit, is the most likely (if any) of the top three on the Gators board to head to Gainesville.

Currently 15 members strong, the Florida Gators 2011 recruiting class is being looked down on because of the commitments that have been lost rather than lauded for those players new head coach Will Muschamp has retained.

While three four-star commitments have departed for what they believe are greener pastures since Muschamp jumped on board, the nation’s top quarterback and a number of other integral players remain dedicated to the Orange and Blue.

Muschamp hopes his group of committed prospects grows significantly in the coming weeks, and it appears he has honed in on four-star defensive tackle Tim Jernigan (Lake City, FL) as his prime target with National Signing Day approaching on Feb 2.

Assistant defensive line coach Bryant Young visited Jernigan in his home during his first day on the job last Friday, and the Gators are doing whatever they can to get him to take one of his final two official visits to Gainesville, FL.

Craig Howard, Jernigan’s head coach at Columbia High School, said Florida is one of three schools vying for the chance to host the player on a visit. Though he will not narrow down his options, reports have Jernigan considering those three schools along with LSU; UF is coming on strong and doing the best they can to get in his ear as of late.

“I would say that Florida is semi back in it,” Howard told ESPN’s Jamie Newberg on Monday. “Coach Muschamp and those guys have done a good job with him.”

The Gators will send Muschamp, Young and defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Dan Quinn to Lake City on Thursday to meet with Jernigan, who is set to announce his commitment live on ESPN at 10 a.m. on National Signing Day, according to Howard.

Jernigan, listed at No. 17 on the ESPNU 150 and No. 29 on the Rivals 100, is the No. 2 defensive tackle in the 2011 recruiting cycle according to both scouting services. He would be the only player at his position committed to Florida for 2011, though UF did sign prominent five-star DTs Sharrif Floyd and Dominique Easley in 2010.

Photo Credit: Unknown

1 » Florida Gators four-star running back Mike Blakely (Bradenton, FL), an early enrollee already on campus at the University of Florida, is scheduled to have shoulder surgery this week that will keep him out of spring practice but hopefully allow him to be available in the summer. It is not known how Blakely injured his shoulder except that it occurred before he enrolled in January.

2 » Three-star offensive lineman commitment Chase Hounshell (Kirkland, OH), originally scheduled to join some of his future teammates as an early enrollee this month, instead decided to return to high school and take his time making his final decision. Hounshell announced Sunday that he received an in-home visit from Gators head coach Will Muschamp and offensive line coach/running game coordinator Frank Verducci, men he described as “first class” and “just great people.” He will be visiting Florida this upcoming weekend in what appears to be a reaffirmation trip.

3 » The Gators coaching staff, barring a packed suitcase and plane ticket to Gainesville, FL, is now complete. New defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, the defensive line coach of the Seattle Seahawks until they lost to the Chicago Bears in the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs on Sunday, has now fulfilled his commitment to his team and should be ready to hit the ground running any day now. A Scout.com report from Friday noted that Quinn’s assistant DL coach at Florida, Pro Bowl defensive tackle Bryant Young, was already hard at work recruiting. He was in the home of five-star DT Tim Jernigan (Lake City, FL), convincing him to take a trip and give UF some serious consideration.

4 » Though former Gators safety Will Hill decided to leave school early and declare for the 2011 NFL Draft, his classmate and teammate in the secondary, junior cornerback Janoris Jenkins, chose to stick around for his senior season. Hill was shocked by this occurrence, especially considering Jenkins was expected to be a first-round selection, and told the Orlando Sentinel his thoughts on the subject. “He was talking about leaving,” Hill said. “I haven’t heard or spoke to him for two months. Last time I spoke to him, he said he was leaving. That he’s coming back is kind of a surprise.”

5 » After meeting with four-star quarterback recruit Jacoby Brissett (West Palm Beach, FL) at his high school on Friday, new Florida offensive coordinator and QB coach Charlie Weis invited him to take an unofficial visit to campus over the weekend. Brissett obliged, watched most of the game with Weis and met up with some of his former Dwyer High School teammates including freshman S Matt Elam. Brissett, also a high school basketball player who could be in a unique position to play both sports at UF, reportedly came away from the visit impressed though he still has plenty of thinking to do. Muschamp extended a scholarship offer to Brissett after Weis left on Friday, something he had not been given under former head coach Urban Meyer.

6 » The Gators’ two basketball programs have had a pretty rough go of it this week. In addition to the men falling 72-69 at home to South Carolina, the women lost a pair of gut-wrenching games on Thursday and Sunday. Routed 83-40 at home by the No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers on Jan. 13, Florida blew a 16-point lead with 14:17 remaining in the game to fall 70-64 to the Georgia Bulldogs on the road in Athens, GA on Jan. 16. After getting out to a good start this season, the women have lost three of their last four games including a 73-56 throttling by Auburn on Jan. 6.

Over the last two weeks, plenty has been going on with the Florida Gators as far as recruiting for the 2011 season is concerned. Since June 10, the Gators have received in four commitments, including four-star wide receiver Javares McRoy (Lakeland, FL) [article], three-star fullback Hunter Joyer (Tampa, FL) [article], three-star offensive lineman Tommy Jordan (Ridgefield, CT) [article], four-star linebacker Ryan Shazier (Plantaiton, FL) [article].

Additionally, the team got a commitment without an official offer from three-star LB Rahim Cassell (Lakewood, CA) [article], and 2012 WR Latroy Pittman (Citra, FL) [article] is all but ready to pick Florida before his junior year of high school even begins.

However, the Gators still have plenty of work to do in order to enhance the current eight-person 2011 class, and the team made a lot of headway as recruits participated in football camps and took visits to the University of Florida in recent weeks.

Update yourself on some of the top 2011 recruits and targets…after the break!

» Five-star athlete James Wilder, Jr. (Tampa, FL)
- One of the top five players in the nation, Wilder is the best athlete available and arguably the most sought after recruit in Florida. With an outstanding offer from the Gators, he is still trying to cut his list down; Florida wants him to be the next to fit the Percy Harvin/Andre Debose mold, but will also allow him to play linebacker – it is an open offer. He happens to be recruiting friends with Joyner, who is in his ear about committing to UF, and many consider the Gators the team to beat.

» Five-star linebacker Tony Steward (St. Augustine, FL)
- Like Wilder, Steward is one of the best players in the nation and was pleased with his most recent visit to Gainesville, FL. Unlike Wilder, he has a leader – Clemson – and everyone else including FSU and Alabama are competing for second place. Coaches gave him a lot of individual attention, which he liked, of course.

» Four-star wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin (Belle Glade, FL)
- Strongly considering Florida, Florida State and Miami, Benjamin had a good time at his unofficial visit and will return for Friday Night Lights in late July. He has the Gators high on his list and speaks with WR coach Zach Azzinari quite often.

» Four-star cornerback Nick Waisome (Groveland, FL)
- Plans to make a decision in August and had a nice experience visiting UF two weeks ago. Florida and FSU are recruiting him the hardest, and the Gators want him bad. He has yet to narrow his list down, but most expect he will stay in state.

» Four-star defensive tackle Tim Jernigan (Lake City, FL)
- Some believe Jernigan wants to get the recruiting process over as soon as July, and Florida has been consistently making headway. However, anything can happen with him at this point and plenty of teams are vying for his services.

» Four-star running back Mike Blakely (Bradenton, FL)
- Like Mack Brown last year, the Gators have focused their attention on recruiting Blakely as their 2011 rusher. He named Florida his leader after visiting the campus last week and will attend FNL to get a better look at the school with his family. One of the top backs in the country, he is not ready to commit yet, but he did put UF above Auburn – his previous leader. A strong showing at FNL coupled with approval from his parents (all Gators fans) and a push from Florida could see him commit in July.

» Four-star quarterback Jerrard Randall (Hollywood, FL)
Always wanting to attend UF, Randall committed to Oregon after the Gators chose to accept the commitment of four-star QB Jeff Driskel (Oviedo, FL). Randall did not expect to get an offer from Florida as the team is only expected to take one quarterback in 2011, but he did receive one to play wide receiver after working with Azzinari during camp. “If I wasn’t already going to Oregon, I would probably go [to Florida] to play receiver,” he told Rivals. The Gators want him in the 2011 recruiting class but will not overload their quarterback position to do so.

» Three-star wide receiver Willie Snead IV (Muskegon, MI)
- The son of former Florida receiver Willie Snead III, he has yet to get an official offer from UF but had coaches eying him throughout his entire time on campus. Snead will not get an offer just because he is a legacy, but he probably did enough at camp to get one from the Gators on his own merit. Stay tuned.

» Three-star cornerback Chris Johnson (Ocala, FL)
- Received an offer from Florida after working out with the coaches recently and came away with both sides being impressed with each other. He is waiting for an official written offer to arrive and, once it does, he will likely commit – most likely before the end of July.

» [Unrated] cornerback Louchiez Purifoy (Pensacola, FL)
- Blew the coaching staff away with a 4.38-second 40-yard dash at the Gators’ camp and came away with an immediate offer from head coach Urban Meyer when he returned home. With his first big-time offer coming from UF and the fact that he grew up as a fan of the team coming into play, Purifoy told Rivals it was a “dream come true” and he “considered committing but didn’t” immediately.

» Four-star defensive end Aaron Lynch (Cape Coral, FL)
- Once known for calling Florida “arrogant” and insisting that the team should not bother recruiting him, Lynch camped with the Gators recently and came away impressed with his mind completely changed. I “fell in love with Florida,” he told Rivals. Do not expect a commitment soon with Lynch – he still has plenty of deciding to do and is awaiting offers.

» Four-star linebacker Lamar Dawson (Danville, KY),
Has the Gators even with Kentucky and Louisville – two hometown schools – at the moment but had a nice time at camp two weeks ago. Holds Florida in high regard and would probably commit to UF if he goes out-of-state.

» [Unrated] center/long snapper Nathan Theus (Jacksonville, FL)
- Has not received an offer yet from Florida because the team simply does not know if they will take someone at his position. However, if a long snapper is desired, Theus will likely get an immediate offer, likely because…

» 2012 offensive lineman John Theus (Jacksonville, FL)
- …is brothers with Nathan and received an offer from the Gators after working out in Gainesville two weeks ago. The Theus brothers would like to attend the same school, and offering Nathan may go a long way to convincing John that UF is right for him, too.

Though there were likely dozens more than we could uncover, at least 40 more recruits have been in-and-out of Gainesville over the last two weeks. Just a few of the more notable visitors: four-star LB Kent Turene (Lauderdale Lakes, FL), four-star OL Trip Thurman (Dover, DE), four-star DE Ray Drew (Thomasville, GA) and three-star CB Jordan Montgomery (Groveland, FL).

Check out the Gators’ top five positions of need for 2011 after the jump!

DEFENSIVE LINE
Departing Players: Brandon Antwine, Duke Lemmens, Lawrence Marsh, Terron Sanders, Justin Trattou

Despite bringing in one of the most talented defensive line groups in the history of college football recruiting, the position is a top priority for the Gators in 2011. UF loses five defensive ends and tackles in 2010, putting a solid dent into the depth and experience of the line. Additionally, the attrition of Gary Brown and Edwin Herbert makes adding tackles even more crucial for defensive line coach Dan McCarney. Luckily for them, the top DT in the nation lives forty minutes away from campus. Tim Jernigan (Lake City, FL), a die-hard Florida fan, has had the Gators as the leader from the beginning of his recruitment and is an absolute must-get for McCarney. At DE, the pool of prospects is so impressive that the Gators should have no problem fulfilling their needs. Not only are they in good shape with in-state players, UF also has a legitimate shot at arguably the top end in the nation in Jadeveon Clowney (Rock Hill, SC). South Carolina and Florida are in front, but Clowney’s father is a Gators fan, and head coach Urban Meyer will be personally recruiting this relentless pass rusher.

Other Top Prospects: Sterling Bailey (Gainesville, GA), Anthony Chickillo (Tampa, FL), Jadeveon Clowney (Rock Hill, SC), Ray Drew (Thomasville, GA), LaMichael Fanning (Auburn, AL), Brandon Fulse (Ft. Meade, FL), Lonnie Gosha (Lake Butler, FL), Curt Maggitt (West Palm Beach, FL), Jeoffery Pagan (Asheville, NC)

OFFENSIVE LINE
Departing Players: Marcus Gilbert, Maurice Hurt, Carl Johnson, Mike Pouncey

After next season, Florida will lose three starters and a very experienced back-up in Hurt; fortunately, the staff did a good job of adding depth to the line in 2009 and bringing in two four-star tackles in Chaz Green and Ian Silberman in 2010. The OL prospects are relatively weak compared to last year, particularly in the state of Florida. However, offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Steve Addazio has a chance to reel in some good ones. Christian Westerman (Chandler, AZ), the second rated offensive tackle according to Scout.com, has been high on the Gators all along and actually has a family tie to the university (his grandmother graduated from UF). Addazio just recently offered a scholarship to guard Angelo Mangiro (Succasunna, NJ), and the accomplishments of the coaching staff and the program are positives for him.

Other Top Prospects: Bobby Hart (Fort Lauderdale, FL), Marcus Jackson (Vero Beach, FL), Tommy Jordan (Ridgefield, CT), Georgio Newberry (Fort Pierce, FL), Jordan Prestwood (Plant City, FL), Brandon Shell (Goose Creek, SC)

LINEBACKER
Departing Players: Lorenzo Edwards, Brandon Hicks, A.J. Jones

Even with these three graduating, the linebacker position is a necessity not because of who is coming out but more because of who has not come in. Although the coaching staff brought in a few athletic linebackers in 2010, they failed to sign a highly touted playmaker at the position. They will have that chance this year amid the abundance of talent in the Southeast region of the country. All the discussion at linebacker starts and ends with James Wilder, Jr. (Tampa, FL), the “Ronald Powell of 2011” because of his athleticism and versatility. Wilder favors Florida if he decides to play defense in college (where the majority of analysts feel he has the most potential), but the staff has offered him a scholarship as an athlete due to his offensive ambitions. Another player with a great skill set is inside linebacker, James Vaughters (Tucker, GA), has visited UF several times and would be a great grab for the Gators.

Other Top Prospects: Norkethius Otis (Gastonia, NC), Denzel Perryman (Coral Gables, FL), Ryan Shazier (Plantation, FL), Tony Steward (St. Augustine, FL), Lateek Townsend (Bennettsville, SC), A.J. Johnson (Gainesville, GA)

SAFETY
Departing Players: Ahmad Black, possibly Will Hill

Now that Dee Finley has moved to linebacker, if four-star Jonathan Dowling ends up at wide receiver, there could be real problem at safety. The Gators would only have Matt Elam, Josh Evans and Jordan Haden on scholarship after the 2010 season (assuming Hill goes pro), and two would be coming off their freshman season. Therefore, this is another critical position for Florida, but defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach Teryl Austin and co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Chuck Heater have the ability to overcome any holes. Junior Day attendee Brian Randolph (Marietta, GA) has great size and speed and named the Gators his leader following the visit. Two more prospects, Ha’Sean Clinton-Dix (Orlando, FL) and Wayne Lyons (Fort Lauderdale, FL), are both Florida fans and have UF towards the top of their respective lists.

Other Top Prospects: Ha’Sean Clinton-Dix (Orlando, FL), Erique Florence (Valley, AL), Gerrod Holliman (Miami, FL), Marqise Lee (Gardena, CA), Christian Jones (Adamsville, AL), Malcom Mitchell (Valdosta, GA)

QUARTERBACK
Departing Players: None

Like the linebacker position, UF didn’t sign a big-time QB in 2010. Part of that was due to the lack of quality quarterbacks, but that is not the case in 2011. There are plenty of prospects that quarterbacks coach Scot Loeffler can pursue who are capable of running Meyer’s spread offense. Jeff Driskel (Oviedo, FL) may be The Gators’ top target at the position, especially after he completed several standout performances in combines over the last few months. Christian Lemay (Matthews, NC), another top-tier passer, has a history with UF began that his father filling the role of team chaplain before his family moved to North Carolina in 2006. There is no doubt that Lemay will be one of the highest priorities for the staff this year.

Other Top Prospects: Teddy Bridgewater (Miami, FL), Keihl Frazier (Springdale, AZ), Braxton Miller (Hube Heights, OH), Marquise Williams (Charlotte, NC), Max Wittek (Corona Del Mar, CA)

Now that football recruiting for the 2010 term is in the books and Florida Gators head coach Urban Meyer has assembled one of the best classes of all-time, OGGOA brings you a look ahead to the Gators’ (in our opinion) top 20 targets for 2011. These are prospects that the coaching staff has already targeted and is pursuing the hardest as of press time. Perhaps even more important, the 20 targets listed below have a mutually high level of interest in Florida. [Preliminary star ratings provided by Scout.com.]

1. DT Tim Jernigan (Lake City, FL) – 6’2” 275 lbs.
Nicknamed “Hercules” for his superior size and strength, Jernigan also runs a remarkable 4.6 in the forty yard dash. He received his very first scholarship offer from Florida as a ninth grader and has visited on several occasions including this past summer when he dominated at the Urban Meyer Football Camp. In an interview with The Gainesville Sun following National Signing Day, Jernigan revealed that if he had to sign his letter of intent now, the Gators would be the recipient of his highly sought after signature.

2. ATH James Wilder, Jr. (Tampa, FL) – 6’2” 223 lbs.
Rivals’ “Junior of the Year,” Wilder, Jr. is the 2011 version of Ronald Powell with the athletic ability to play running back, linebacker and defensive end at the next level. He favors the Miami Hurricanes at the moment because they are recruiting him at running back, the position his father played in the NFL and his position of choice. However, most recruiting analysts project Wilder as an outside linebacker, and Florida is his leader if he chooses to play on defense in college.

Check out 18 more 2011 recruits the Florida Gators are targeting after the jump!

3. QB Christian Lemay (Matthews, NC) – 6’3” 200 lbs.
Lemay is an extremely efficient passer and has 4.6 speed to compliment an impressive arm. He is very familiar with the Gators’ program and coaches because his father, Pastor Stacey Lemay, was the team chaplain in 2005. Christian also worked with Florida QB coach Scot Loeffler at summer camp, improving his mechanics and fundamentals. Meyer and Co. would love to bring this gun slinger back to Gainesville for good next February.

4. RB Mike Bellamy (Punta Gorda, FL) – 5’10” 175 lbs.
Clocking in at 4.4 in the forty yard dash, Bellamy has top-end speed that helped him become a 200-meter sprint champion in the state of Florida. He was one of the top junior prospects at the Under Armour Combine in January, and put on show at Florida’s Friday Night Lights. On his Facebook page, Bellamy states that he is going to play for the Gators on a full ride for football. Take that for what it is worth.

5. WR Sammy Watkins (Fort Myers, FL) – 6’1” 180 lbs.
Watkins has great hands and tremendous speed with the potential to grow into a big receiver that will make plays on both the inside and outside. He is very high on Florida and was on hand for Friday Night Lights and the 2009 conference opener against Tennessee. WR coach Zach Azzanni will try and make sure Watkins follows in the footsteps of his older brother and 2010 four-star DB commitment Jaylen Watkins.

6. DE Curt Maggitt (West Palm Beach, FL) – 6’3” 205 lbs.
Maggitt is a bit small weight-wise, but his speed and agility make him one of top pass-rushers in the state of Florida. He has a strong relationship with defensive line coach Dan McCarney, which was developed during summer camps and unofficial visits. Combine that with the potential influences of his former Dwyer High School teammates who committed to the Gators (Matt Elam, Gerald Christian, Robert Clark) in 2010, and Maggitt looks to be all Orange and Blue.

7. ATH Teddy Bridgewater (Miami, FL) – 6’3” 180 lbs.
Bridgewater uses both his arm and his feet to make plays on the field. He visited Gainesville for the Tennessee game and Friday Night Lights, where he had a spectacular showing working out at receiver. Although he favors Georgia early, Bridgewater grew up a Gators fan and dreamed of playing wideout at UF. If the coaching staff has anything to say about that, his dream will come true.

8. CB Nick Waisome (Groveland, FL) – 5’10” 168 lbs.
One of the top corners at every event he has competed in, Waisome’s light shined bright at Florida’s summer camp and Friday Night Lights. The Gators led early and then lost some ground with the departure of former CB coach Vance Bedford. But make no mistake, Meyer has time and with the South Lake High School pipeline of Jeff Demps and Jonotthan Harrison on his side, there remains a good chance that this elite prospect lands in The Swamp.

9. WR Kelvin Benjamin (Belle Glade, FL) – 6’6” 215 lbs.
Benjamin is a physical freak; possessing the leaping ability to win any jump ball and the athleticism to be elusive in the open field. He has already visited Gainesville for Friday Night Lights as well as the Tennessee and FSU games and will be on hand for the Gators’ Junior Day on Feb. 13.

10. OT Christian Westerman (Chandler, AZ) – 6’5” 288 lbs.
Arguably the top offensive linemanof the 2011 class, Westerman has been under the watchful eye of many top programs in the country, including Florida. He had a high level of interest in the Gators last spring, but at the moment there does not seem to be a definitive leader for his services. If Westerman travels for an official visit next season, it will pay dividends for the coaching staff.

11. TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins (Gig Harbor, WA) – 6’7” 250 lbs.
Seferian-Jenkins has been on every major program’s radar for years because of his unique skill set and big body frame. The Gators have a great shot at landing him because of the relationship he has with TE coach Brian White. White was at Washington when Austin received his first scholarship offer, and the strong bond that they forged could very well win him over in the end.

12. QB Jeff Driskel (Oviedo, FL) – 6’3” 225 lbs.
Actually being compared to Tim Tebow by some scouts, Driskel has all the qualities needed to excel in Florida’s spread offense. He received a scholarship offer shortly before his standout performance at the Under Armour Combine. Driskel has visited Gainesville many times and is really intrigued at the possibility of working with Scott Loeffler and suiting up for the Gators.

13. S Wayne Lyons (Fort Lauderdale, FL) – 6’0” 190 lbs.
Lyons has fantastic cover skills, breaks to the ball extremely well and is also stout against the run. He was very successful at the U.S. Army Combine in San Antonio and at Friday Night Lights this past summer. Lyons even visited when the Gators hosted the Volunteers. He has a family full of Florida fans, and his sister currently attends UF. Don’t be surprised if he carries on tradition next year.

14. DE Brandon Fulse (Fort Meade, FL) – 6’5” 247 lbs.
Fulse is a two-way lineman who has shown plenty of versatility at the U.S. Army Combine and Friday Night Lights. The Gators are in good hands with Fulse, who is currently being coached by former Florida receiver Jemalle Cornelius. He has unofficially visited twice and enjoyed the environment that he experienced in The Swamp.

15. DT Lonnie Gosha (Lake Butler, FL) – 6’3” 260 lbs.
A force for Union County High School between the hedges, Gosha’s stock will certainly rise as the year progresses. He had a productive performance at Friday Night Lights and attended almost every home game last season. It could be only matter of time before Gosha pledges to Florida.

16. WR Charon Peake (Roebuck, SC) – 6’3” 185 lbs.
Peake is a prominent pass catcher who has the speed to burn SEC secondaries. He favors the spread offense, so he is very comfortable with the system and coaching staff in Gainesville. Florida and Clemson are his front runners, and the Gators have snagged recruits out of South Carolina before.

17. TE Nick O’Leary (West Palm Beach, FL) – 6’3” 215 lbs.
O’Leary reminds many of Aaron Hernandez with his pass-catching skills and blocking ability. He was on campus for Friday Night Lights and has also visited unofficially. Meyer hopes to tap into his Dwyer pipeline yet again and land hall of fame golfer Jack Nicklaus’ talented grandson.

18. OT Bobby Hart (Fort Lauderdale, FL) – 6’4” 285 lbs.
Only 15 years old, Hart has incredible upside for his age. He came up big at the U.S. Army Combine and was in town for Friday Night Lights and Florida’s two rivalry games against Tennessee and Florida State. The coaching staff has had previous success out of St. Thomas Aquinas with Marcus Gilbert, Major Wright and Cody Riggs; it hopes that trend continues this year with Hart.

19. LB James Vaughters (Tucker, GA) – 6’3” 233 lbs.
Vaughters has the athleticism and discipline to play all three linebacker positions. He participated in Friday Night Lights and visited for the Tennessee and Arkansas games. Although he will be hard to steal from the Peach State, the fact that Vaughters is showing a high level of interest is a positive sign for the Gators.

20. DE LaMichael Fanning (Auburn, AL) – 6’6” 285 lbs.
Fanning is a physical specimen and has scouts across the country drooling over his potential. He was one of the most impressive prospects at Friday Night Lights and is definitely getting the attention of the coaching staff. The Gators might be able to steal another prospect from the state of Alabama (like they did with Solomon Patton in 2010) if they can bring him to town for an official visit.

EDITOR’S NOTE 2/4/11: We have noticed a large number of visitors have been reading this article since the 2011 National Signing Day concluded. The 20 recruits listed above were an informed projection by a contributor to our site. Recruiting charts/lists change drastically over the course of 12 months due to the interests of both the team and recruits changing over time. Who the Gators may have been considering in Feb. 2010 could be drastically different from who they were pursuing in July 2010, for example. Noting that Florida only received a commitment from “one of 20 recruits on their list” is an erroneous and inaccurate statement. That being said, the Gators did only receive a commitment from one of the 20 recruits on the above list. Thanks for reading!

2 » Though the Gators’ 2010 recruiting class is stellar from top-to-bottom, the most impressive area of the class is the incoming defensive line talent that head coach Urban Meyer was able to put together. Florida may have acquired three five-star and two four-star recruits on the defensive front, but local product and 2011 defensive line recruit Tim Jernigan (Lake City, FL) still holds the Gators as the early leader for his services. “When I first heard about all of those guys coming in, I was like, ‘Wow,” he told the Gainesville Sun. “But then I thought, ‘You can’t be selfish.’ It started hitting me that if I go there and you mix my name in there with Dominique [Easley], Sharrif [Floyd] and [Ronald] Powell … fireworks.”

Two more BITS on basketball’s rebounding and Steve Addazio…after the jump!

3 » Florida basketball fans may have found it difficult to suffer through the team’s shooting woes over the past few weeks, but the Gators are still winning and it is partially because of their dedication to hitting the glass. Fourth in the Southeastern Conference, Florida is outrebounding opponents by about three boards per game. “It’s just the will,” junior forward Chandler Parsons told Kevin Brockaway of the Sun. “It’s just the effort. Coach talks about doing the physical things and really you can be undersized and there’s always going to be a mismatch in the game. It’s really about who wants the ball more and position and working hard.”

4 » Though the Gators are in the process of hiring a new defensive coordinator, it is interim head coach and offensive coordinator Steve Addazio leading the charge, not Meyer. Gerry DiNardo, the former Indiana Hoosiers head coach and one of Addazio’s previous employers (2002-04), has all of the confidence in the world that he will succeed. “I think he’s prepared most of his professional life to be a head coach,” DiNardo said. “I think he’ll provide the leadership that the university needs and the team needs. It’s certainly an unusual situation. You have to put your ego away because it’s not your program. It’s Urban’s program. I think you need a strong individual to do that. I think Steve’s that kind of (coach). He’ll handle it fine. He works harder than most coaches do. He’s passionate about the performance of the group and his unit. He lives the job. Everything he does, you can’t tell if he’s at work or at play. It’s one of those deals, it’s not just a job for him. It’s more than him.” Learn more about Addazio’s coaching style and successes in the Panama City News Herald.