Thursday, February 03, 2000
Florida wins 2000 recruiting wars
Michigan, Notre Dame not in top 10
The Associated Press
As Steve Spurrier likes to say, it's great to be a Gator!
Some of the nation's most promising prospects agreed with the Florida coach on Wednesday, becoming baby Gators on the first day high school stars can sign letters of intent.
“We did get most all the guys we went after this year,” Spurrier said. “A few weeks ago, I didn't think we were recruiting enough players to sign 21 or 22. But it seemed like they all wanted to come play for the Gators this year.”
With an incoming class led by quarterback Brock Berlin, USA Today's offensive player of the year, All-American linebacker Darrell Lee and a flurry of impressive last-minute sig nees, Florida came out the winner in Recruiting Wars 2000.
“A landslide for the Gators, an easy win,” Allen Wallace, publisher of Laguna Beach, Calif.-based SuperPrep magazine, said. “What an incredible day they had.”
“Florida was amazing — lots of big names on signing day,” added Bobby Burton of Austin, Texas-based The National Recruiting Advisor.
Tom Lemming of Schaumburg, Ill.-based Prep Football Report also gave the nod to Florida, while Max Emfinger of Covington, La.-based National Blue Chips had Tennessee first with the Gators a close second. Alabama, Florida State, Penn State and Texas showed up in at least one of the four recruiting gurus' top-5 lists.
Michigan and Notre Dame, usually in the top 10, didn't fare so well. The Wolverines lost out on several players, including All-American wide receiver Charles Rogers from Detroit, who chose Michigan State.
The Irish didn't have a star player in their incoming class, said Emfinger, who rated Notre Dame 15th.
Emfinger said Tennessee signed “some of the most dominant players in the country,” including Moeller offensive tackle Michael Munoz.
Also, top quarterbacks Casey Clausen and John Rattay, brother of Louisiana Tech's Tim Rattay, made early commitments to the Vols and are set to take part in spring practice.
So is the 6-1, 190-pound Berlin, the Gators' prize recruit from Shreveport, La., who threw for 4,219 yards and 36 TDs in his senior year at Evangel Christian. In four years, his team was 60-0 with four state titles.
While Florida made a huge move Wednesday in signing 29 players, it paled by comparison to Florida State's surge. The Seminoles, despite a perfect season and national championship, weren't on many top 10 lists — until wacky Wednesday.
By the time the day ended, Florida State was third on Emfinger's and Wallace's top 10 list, fourth on Lemming's and seventh on Burton's. Burton said the Seminoles began the day rated 24th on his list.
Coach Bobby Bowden, that crafty recruiter who shows up at a prospect's doorstep for one last-minute pitch, came through again. He convinced Parade and USA Today All-American Travis Johnson, a 6-5, 240-pounder from Sherman Oaks, Calif., to head to the Sunshine State.
The Seminoles also grabbed two other All-Americans on Wednesday — defensive back Bryant McFadden from Hollywood, Fla. and linebacker Eric Moore from Pahokee, Fla. All-American defensive back Yohance Buchanan from Atlanta made good on an earlier verbal commitment.
Michael Boulware, brother of former Florida State All-American Peter Boulware, also signed with the Seminoles.
Until Wednesday, Penn State coach Joe Paterno had himself the top class, no one spectacular, but a solid all-around group.
“Penn State dictated the process for seven months,” Wallace said, “and Florida took over on signing day.”
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