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Post by tapsgator on Dec 8, 2023 12:23:51 GMT -5
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Post by Mojave Gator on Dec 9, 2023 2:54:01 GMT -5
The portal takes, but the portal also gives. First a 5' 9" wide out from Missouri State was looking our way, now we are getting sniffs from a former All-Ivy leauge D-lineman from the Penn Quakers! The hits just keep on coming. Link - All-Ivy League Future Gator?I see. Even Group of Five is beyond our reach now. Raid Dartmouth!
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Post by tapsgator on Dec 9, 2023 22:45:29 GMT -5
When we lose Filsaime this will be why. A tale of two visits: longhornswire.usatoday.com/2023/12/08/five-star-florida-commit-xavier-filsaime-receives-in-home-visit-from-steve-sarkisian/“On Thursday night, head coach Steve Sarkisian and safeties coach Blake Gideon visited Xavier Filsaime at his house. Filsaime is a five-star safety in the 2024 class and is currently committed to the University of Florida, but the native Texan could flip his recruitment if Sark can work his magic.” So Sark has time to go in person and brings, imagine this, his safeties coach, despite being in the playoffs. Meanwhile: 247sports.com/article/xavier-filsaime-florida-gators-commit-in-home-visits-texas-oregon-222605678/amp/“Florida came in with defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong. A source near the family said the visit went well touching on the familiarity that both sides had with each other. The family was hoping to hear who might be hired to replace Corey Raymond as the Florida defensive backs coach, but there was no clarity on that point yet. Still, the source we spoke with emphasized the long-standing commitment with the Gators and the comfort with that program. We were originally told that Billy Napier would be on the trip, but he wasn't present this week. This means Napier will likely join next week to make a big pitch before Filsaime visits Texas.” We sent Austin Armstrong who couldn’t provide any update on who his position coach would be. Oh yeah and Napier will “probably” visit in person next time. Totally makes sense since we’re prepping for our bow…..nevermind he was in Louisiana getting mocked by a 15 year old. If recruits love one thing it’s a good mystery. Where’s real deal Billy? I don’t know. Who is going to be my position coach? Time will tell whereas last year. I’ve said too much. Complete and total clown show. This is on par with “recruiting season,” Mullen was just clearly an asshole and had a show cause. Napier seems like a nice enough guy, but he’s completely clueless, and he keeps doubling down. It’s not working but somehow keeps going. Unreal
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Post by tapsgator on Dec 13, 2023 15:35:37 GMT -5
As we head down the stretch without a Defensive Line Coach and 2 of our top 4 expected to flip, maybe the most frustrating thing to me is that we're not even in it for the big names in the portal. 4 kids took visits so far Slackman is 4 stars, 21 overall and 4 DL and everybody wants him, no projections yet, but he cancelled a Michigan visit to visit Auburn this weekend. Bridges is 3 star and the 7 CB and 90 Overall and 3 stars. The other 2 kids Jules the DL from Pitt and Dike a WR from Wisconsin (Badgers reunion y'all) aren't good enough to get ranked or graded as transfers. Meanwhile we've got no coach, and our 2-3 biggest positions of need in Offensive Line, LBer and Safety we've got nobody visiting, and we haven't made any moves as far as the offensive coaching staff. This is the most critical off-season in recent memory and so far we've lost our 2 best players and only real 1-3rd round NFL prospects until Wilson is draft eligible if he stays that long (and that's a big IF) and firing our two most respected assistants, one of whom we haven't replaced in over 2 weeks with NSD a week away.
Is General Real Deal Billy with the Good Hair taking a dive? I know it's a bridge too far to try to get a game changing QB (in a good way not to be confused with the game changing unit that commits penalties, can't count, and is evidently run by a player coach who listens for a secret word) rather than a game manager because Graham Mertz (who cannot throw downfield but sure is gutsy) has become a folk hero alongside Big Desmond Watson, but are we thinking about maybe trying to get some better talent and better coaches at clear positions of need? No? Aight cool, gonna be a fun year.
In other more pressing news, I was today years old when I found out that Gutsy Graham the check down man is dating Ms. Wisconsin, the 2nd runner-up in the 2023 Miss America.
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Post by gatordoll on Dec 13, 2023 21:55:07 GMT -5
Tebow married Miss Universe. He wins...
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Post by tapsgator on Dec 14, 2023 11:45:35 GMT -5
Miguel Mitchell transferring, he wasn't great by any means but he was a body. Hopefully maybe possibly that helps recruiting since he was a starter? We're now over 50% of the initial class having left the building. Not great.
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Post by tapsgator on Dec 14, 2023 12:36:49 GMT -5
Evidently there's smoke Slackman not a fit by "mutual decision due to injuries" and Jules just committed to South Carolina. Not sure how the one decently well regarded guy we got to take a visit we "mutually decided" it wouldn't work or what kind of injury situation you would discover on a visit that would make it not a fit, but okay. Maybe the imaginary Defensive Line coach decided he wouldn't fit his imaginary scheme.
I see industry people starting to question whether he's just collecting paychecks and waiting on the buyout.
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Post by tapsgator on Dec 14, 2023 12:44:22 GMT -5
There's a bunch of good stuff here, but @ 16-22 I think is spot on.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Dec 14, 2023 21:36:55 GMT -5
Two of our portal guys are in the top ten of available players, and both are the #1 players at their positions (Princely and Etienne).
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Post by wahhappen on Dec 15, 2023 7:59:12 GMT -5
Ha - Take that Bama! Can we use that for recruiting? We might not be able to get you ready for the NFL, but we can put you in position to be drafted #1 in the portal.
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Post by tapsgator on Dec 15, 2023 9:11:45 GMT -5
Princely projected to Ole Miss, evidently Kiffin stopped in Gainesville despite, get this, having a bowl game to prep for.
Etienne is projected to Georgia because they do this weird thing where they put the best guys on the field.
Fortunately Princely takes plays off and Etienne can't block so I wouldn't expect to hear anything from either of them moving forward. Read that on Gator Country so I know it's true.
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Post by SoTxCaiman on Dec 15, 2023 10:00:05 GMT -5
Knowing what we know, there may be a record number of sacks in the GA game if Etienne goes there. If Etienne is in the game we blitz! I am sure Stretch Armstrong is already scheming and plotting all new ways of isolating Etienne on a blitzing LB. Princely is going to be sorry he missed it!
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Post by wahhappen on Dec 15, 2023 11:20:32 GMT -5
Princely projected to Ole Miss, evidently Kiffin stopped in Gainesville despite, get this, having a bowl game to prep for. Etienne is projected to Georgia because they do this weird thing where they put the best guys on the field. Fortunately Princely takes plays off and Etienne can't block so I wouldn't expect to hear anything from either of them moving forward. Read that on Gator Country so I know it's true. Well the joke’s on them, because while those guys are focused on bowl game prep and recruiting, we are hard at work planning and evaluating for next season. We will be one step ahead of them once spring rolls around. Big Des and company will be just fine on their own until we find a suitable replacement for the D-line. Hell, Des will be on autopilot at this point now that he has had two full years of the new disciplined regime and most of the other bad influences are gone.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Dec 17, 2023 2:19:06 GMT -5
ewwww I think I see the vision now, we are intentionally not hiring a Defensive Line Coach and instead recruiting Ivy League kids who can serve as player coaches. Since they're more smarter whereas the process of hearing a word will not be a confusing deal. Right? Maybe this is Napier's plan for fixing the special teams issue. Ladies and gentlemen, the Game Changer Laureate. "We have an Ivy League guy listening for the magic word and sending the field goal unit on now. That's a deal right there, let me tell you."
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Post by Mojave Gator on Dec 17, 2023 2:42:08 GMT -5
The video that Taps posted raises some valid points. Napier is about two years behind, operating like there is no NIL or transfer portal. Dabo Swinney is operating in a similar manner, and the effects are already being felt at Clemson. The way that Nick Saban operated while Napier was at Alabama no longer works. Saban has adjusted and Napier hasn't. "My way or the highway" doesn't work when your better players have other options. It also isn't a magnet for transfers in.
I called Etienne to Georgia before he entered the portal. That may well happen.
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Post by SoTxCaiman on Dec 17, 2023 21:21:33 GMT -5
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Post by wahhappen on Dec 18, 2023 8:58:49 GMT -5
The video that Taps posted raises some valid points. Napier is about two years behind, operating like there is no NIL or transfer portal. Dabo Swinney is operating in a similar manner, and the effects are already being felt at Clemson. The way that Nick Saban operated while Napier was at Alabama no longer works. Saban has adjusted and Napier hasn't. "My way or the highway" doesn't work when your better players have other options. It also isn't a magnet for transfers in. I called Etienne to Georgia before he entered the portal. That may well happen. Genius. He is soon-to-be-named player DL game changer, so two birds with one stone. He’ll be looking for a promotion to associate head coach next season. I hear those contracts have more guaranteed money than NFL rookie deals.
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Post by tapsgator on Dec 18, 2023 11:35:48 GMT -5
Never did I ever think that an Ivy League DLineman (terribly undersized for TM who prefers his front 3 be anywhere from 350-450), an OT from San Diego State, and a guy who lost his spot in the DB rotation at Oregon would constitute the best news we've had in months and momentum, but here we are so whereas the process of the moment such as the year gone by. NSD on Wednesday. Need to hold on to at least 70% of our top kids to stay in the top 10. We can do this.
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Post by SoTxCaiman on Dec 18, 2023 11:41:10 GMT -5
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Post by tapsgator on Dec 18, 2023 15:40:28 GMT -5
When we lose Filsaime this will be why. A tale of two visits: longhornswire.usatoday.com/2023/12/08/five-star-florida-commit-xavier-filsaime-receives-in-home-visit-from-steve-sarkisian/“On Thursday night, head coach Steve Sarkisian and safeties coach Blake Gideon visited Xavier Filsaime at his house. Filsaime is a five-star safety in the 2024 class and is currently committed to the University of Florida, but the native Texan could flip his recruitment if Sark can work his magic.” So Sark has time to go in person and brings, imagine this, his safeties coach, despite being in the playoffs. Meanwhile: 247sports.com/article/xavier-filsaime-florida-gators-commit-in-home-visits-texas-oregon-222605678/amp/“Florida came in with defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong. A source near the family said the visit went well touching on the familiarity that both sides had with each other. The family was hoping to hear who might be hired to replace Corey Raymond as the Florida defensive backs coach, but there was no clarity on that point yet. Still, the source we spoke with emphasized the long-standing commitment with the Gators and the comfort with that program. We were originally told that Billy Napier would be on the trip, but he wasn't present this week. This means Napier will likely join next week to make a big pitch before Filsaime visits Texas.” We sent Austin Armstrong who couldn’t provide any update on who his position coach would be. Oh yeah and Napier will “probably” visit in person next time. Totally makes sense since we’re prepping for our bow…..nevermind he was in Louisiana getting mocked by a 15 year old. If recruits love one thing it’s a good mystery. Where’s real deal Billy? I don’t know. Who is going to be my position coach? Time will tell whereas last year. I’ve said too much. Complete and total clown show. This is on par with “recruiting season,” Mullen was just clearly an asshole and had a show cause. Napier seems like a nice enough guy, but he’s completely clueless, and he keeps doubling down. It’s not working but somehow keeps going. Unreal 247sports.com/college/texas/article/xavier-filsaime-commits-to-texas-longhorns-football-recruiting-223219785/Dropped us to 10 in recruiting rankings. This class overall will probably end up about where last year's class was when it's all said and done. If we're lucky. Williams is universally considered gone and Hayes is widely assumed to be leaving. But we've got Joey and I think we can beef him up into that 380-390 range by next Fall.
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Post by tapsgator on Dec 18, 2023 16:00:56 GMT -5
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Post by Mojave Gator on Dec 18, 2023 16:24:59 GMT -5
To players entering the portal: If you go somewhere else and suck, give us a call. We'll take you back.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Dec 18, 2023 16:27:48 GMT -5
Never did I ever think that an Ivy League DLineman (terribly undersized for TM who prefers his front 3 be anywhere from 350-450)... Four bills at a minimum to even see the field. Big Des can take him under his wing and put him on his own nutrition program to have him up to 400 by the season opener.
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Post by SoTxCaiman on Dec 18, 2023 16:50:08 GMT -5
To players entering the portal: If you go somewhere else and suck, give us a call. We'll take you back. You can't make this crap up............
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Post by SoTxCaiman on Dec 19, 2023 13:54:13 GMT -5
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Post by tapsgator on Dec 22, 2023 14:02:50 GMT -5
Kimber in the portal, started 11 games last year. That new DB coach is kicking ass and taking names. Can't wait until Marshall leaves.
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Post by SoTxCaiman on Dec 24, 2023 12:40:43 GMT -5
Who needs the portal when you have Preferd Walk On's
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Post by bimigator on Dec 24, 2023 13:27:11 GMT -5
Kimber in the portal, started 11 games last year. That new DB coach is kicking ass and taking names. Can't wait until Marshall leaves. It's not the 11 games you start. It's the 1 game where you didn't. He's obviously trash and we're better without him. Addition by subtraction.
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Post by tapsgator on Dec 24, 2023 22:50:29 GMT -5
Kimber in the portal, started 11 games last year. That new DB coach is kicking ass and taking names. Can't wait until Marshall leaves. It's not the 11 games you start. It's the 1 game where you didn't. He's obviously trash and we're better without him. Addition by subtraction. Yeah I heard his blocking is terrible.
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Post by SoTxCaiman on Dec 25, 2023 10:43:14 GMT -5
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