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Yes, we are still roughly 11 months from the madness of National Signing Day 2017, so a lot can happen until then.
But one glance at the top 10 recruits from Florida says one thing for sure, and loudly, about how valued Sunshine State prospects are. Of the top 10, only three are predicted to attend an in-state school, according to 247Sports.com.
Florida’s prospects are so coveted, this whole scenario could change dramatically, but it’s worth noting now how the big board looks.
There are subplots though among the top 10 prospects’ destinations, starting at the top.
Florida’s No. 1 prospect, five-star outside linebacker Dylan Moses, is actually from Baton Rouge, La., LSU country. He transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton in January to finish his high school career, but he is predicted by 247Sports to return home and attend LSU.
The SEC looks like it also will scoop up Florida’s No. 2 prospect as well, with five-star offensive tackle Calvin Ashley of Orlando having committed to Auburn last May.
Interestingly, after the top two, the SEC might only get two more of the top 10, according to 247Sports.
Ohio State has one commitment and is favored to land two more, which if nothing else shows the weight Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer still carries in the state where he led the Gators to two national titles.
A Florida school finally enters the top-10 fray at No. 6, with Florida State the favorite to land Tedarrell Slaton as well as No. 8 Stanford Samuels. Samuels is a South Florida product from Flanagan High. But you could say FSU had an inside track on this one, considering Samuels’ father played there.
The board right now for the top of Florida’s 2017 class doesn’t look that much different from last year’s class, as only four of the top 10 players picked Florida schools: a pair chose Florida and another pair chose Florida State.
The two things we can count on are that the Top 10 players list will continue to change, as well as the destination of said recruits over the next 11 months.
| Player | Rating | Position | 247 Sports Prediction |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Dylan Moses | 5-star | OLB | LSU |
| 2. Calvin Ashley | 5-star | OT | Auburn* |
| 3. Trevon Grimes | 4-star | WR | Ohio State |
| 4. Shaun Wade | 4-star | CB | Ohio State* |
| 5. Joshua Kaindoh | 4-star | WDE | Ohio State |
| 6. Tedarrell Slaton | 4-star | OT | Florida State |
| 7. Jarez Parks | 4-star | WDE | Florida |
| 8. Stanford Samuels | 4-star | CB | Florida State |
| 9. Jerry Jeudy | 4-star | WR | Alabama |
| 10. James Robinson | 4-star | WR | Clemson |
*Already committed.
Cory Nightingale, a sports copy editor at the Miami Herald, lives for Saturdays. He especially enjoys the pageantry, tradition and history of SEC football.
