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Take Two returns with another offering tackling a handful of issues in the college football landscape. Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney lays out the situation and then receives takes from National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and an expert from the Rivals.com network of team sites.
THE STORYLINE
The state of Florida is being raided by outside powerhouses and it could be a growing problem for in-state powers Florida, Florida State and Miami.
In the last four recruiting classes (2016-2019) and focusing on top 10 players, Alabama has come into the state and landed the most recruits out of any school with seven, including RB Trey Sanders and OL Evan Neal from Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy along with DB Jordan Battle from Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas this recruiting cycle.
Ohio State has also made the state of Florida a top recruiting priority and the Buckeyes have had the second-most success there, landing six players. Georgia has dipped in for five top prospects.
As for the in-state schools that should dominate the state? Florida State has landed five and then Florida and Miami have signed three each. Out of the top six players in the state, five of them have signed with either the Crimson Tide or the Bulldogs. The No. 7 recruit is IMG running back Noah Cain, who’s going to Penn State. The only recruit in the top seven to stay in-state is five-star DB Akeem Dent, who signed with FSU but Alabama was pushing late in the process.
Can Florida coach Dan Mullen, Florida State’s Willie Taggart and new Miami coach Manny Diaz keep those national powers out? Or will Alabama, Ohio State and others continue to poach top recruits from Florida?
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FIRST TAKE: ANDREW BONE, BAMAINSIDER.COM
“Things are getting a little tougher in the Sunshine State as expected with the new coaching staffs at the big three: Florida, Florida State and Miami. Alabama is still able to recruit at a very high level in any part of the country. Alabama signed two top 10 players in Sanders and Neal in December. The Crimson Tide also went into South Florida and signed Battle and Braylen Ingraham in 2019.
"Alabama will continue to heavily recruit the Sunshine State especially with the connections the new coaches like Sal Sunseri and Charles Kelly have in Florida. Alabama’s success with some of the best to come out of the state like Derrick Henry, Trent Richardson, Amari Cooper, Calvin Ridley, Jerry Jeudy, Eddie Jackson, HaHa Clinton-Dix and Ronnie Harrison will continue to help in selling the program to future elite players in Florida.”
SECOND TAKE: MIKE FARRELL, RIVALS.COM
“Alabama will continue to raid the state and take whomever it wants because they’re taking those kids and producing NFL-level talent. That’s going to help.
“Ohio State might take a step back although Ryan Day does do a good job recruiting Florida. Urban Meyer is just a different level of recruiter. Georgia might step into that role.
"Somebody in the state of Florida – and the Gators are the strongest candidates – has to start keeping these kids home on a consistent basis. We’re talking not only high school kids but also IMG kids. I don’t see it changing much other than Dan Mullen and Florida. He doesn’t usually recruit the five-stars and four-stars because he didn’t have that opportunity at Mississippi State. But when he was with Urban at Florida, he did, so I think he’ll take that next step soon.”