Florida adds commit to uneven 2018 recruiting class in midst of coaching search

Football

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It is generally accepted that while a college team is undergoing a coaching change, the focus of the remaining staff is to keep its current commitments pledged to the team so the eventual new hire and his staff can evaluate those commitments and adjust the class as necessary.

Let’s just say the Florida Gators have gone in a different direction. Gators interim head coach Randy Shannon on Sunday accepted a pledge from athlete Nigel Bethel (Miami, FL), yet another three-star recruit from Northwestern High School.

Bethel, now the lowest-rated of UF’s pledges, has long been expected to pick Florida if given the opening, though his list of offers was not extensive outside of Georgia, Miami and Louisville.

He is actually the second recruit to commit to Florida over the last two weeks as four-star offensive tackle Richard Gouraige (Tampa, FL) pledged to the Gators on Oct. 20, before Florid and former head coach Jim McElwain parted ways. Gouraige, the 106th ranked player in the nation, chose UF over Clemson.

Though recruiting had been an issue under McElwain, Florida actually has the No. 7-ranked class in the nation and No. 2-ranked class in the SEC at this time.

However, the Gators have 19 of approximately 25 spots filled, meaning there is not much room to add players. Furthermore, eight of Florida’s 10 four-star pledges are offensive players … a massive issue considering the Gators need a tremendous talent boost on the defensive side of the ball. Six of its nine three-star commitments are defensive players and UF only has one linebacker — a position of tremendous need — committed for 2018.