Florida Gators Football Recruiting Wish List: 10 Players To Watch

Florida Gators football recruiting wish list as 2016 National Signing Day approaches.

It was a magical first season for Jim McElwain and the Gators. Florida started 6-0 before Will Grier was suspended for violating NCAA rules on performance enhancing drugs.

From that moment on, Florida was brought back down to Earth. The Gators lost two regular-season games to LSU and Florida State before falling to Alabama in the SEC championship. And even though the Citrus Bowl against Michigan is up next, it seems as though the attention of Gator fans is on recruiting.

So far, it’s gone pretty well, too. The Gators picked up 3-star linebacker David Reese, who might see some early playing time with Antonio Morrison graduating. They also got a commitment from 4-star defensive end Jordan Smith, who will help rush the passer.

Florida flipped the nation’s No. 1 kicker, Eddy Pineiro, from Alabama. McElwain also flipped 4-star quarterback Feleipe Franks from LSU, which has been the biggest recruiting win of the 2016 cycle for UF.

With a few more scholarships left to dish out, the Gators are looking to put the finishing touches on their 2016 class. So, let’s take a look at the Florida Gators football recruiting wish list for 2016. The list is comprised of five-star and four-star prospects, as well as a few three-star athletes flying under the radar who could turn out to be steals.

Note: 247Sports Composite rankings and star ratings used in this article.

2016 Florida Gators Football Recruiting Wish List

1. Lyndell Wilson, 5-star OLB

Wilson has quick feet, speed and athleticism to be solid in pass coverage. Although, it’s his run-stopping ability that stands out the most on film. He sniffs out running lanes before they open and closes quickly on pursuit angles. Wilson also has a talent for inflicting big hits on ball carriers, and that’s a useful skill to have. He’s a playmaking outside linebacker, who can take a defense to the next level.

2. Nate Craig-Myers, 4-star WR

He’s versatile, and that’s huge. You can line Craig-Myers up on the outside, in the slot — wherever. He’s shifty and has excellent vision to make plays on screen passes. He has the size (6-foot-2, 205 lbs) to go over the middle and be used as a jump-ball threat in the red zone. The kid has breakaway acceleration and can turn a glimmer of daylight into a touchdown. He needs to do a better job of attacking the football at its highest point and catching it instead of letting it come to him, but Craig-Myers is a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver.

3. Kristian Fulton, 4-star CB

Fulton could thrive in a zone scheme. He reacts very well to the ball in the air, and more importantly, he wraps up consistently instead of going for arm tackles or throwing his shoulder into ball carriers. He needs to work on jumping routes and shadowing, but there’s no denying his skill. When he does end up with the ball, the other 10 guys need to immediately turn into blockers because Fulton is a pick-six artist. He’s hunting for the end zone every time he picks off a pass.

4. Binjimen Victor, 4-star WR

Victor is the definition of a deep threat. He needs to work on refining his route running, but he’s the kind of guy who can hit the century mark on a handful of catches because the majority of his work is done running fly routes. At 6-foot-4, he has the kind of size that makes him a real threat in the red zone. As long as he attacks the ball at its highest point, the other stuff will come. Victor is a home run threat, and offensive coordinators love home run threats.

5. Shavar Manuel, 4-star DT

Pick a technique — any technique — on the defensive line, and Manuel can get it done there. He explodes off the ball and has a quick first step that allows him to slide out and play defensive end in a 3-4 defense. But Manuel can also line up inside in a 4-3 front and overpower guards or split double teams. He hits hard and wraps up well. He should develop into a solid all-around defender who can russ the pasher and stop the run.

6. Jayvaughn Myers, 4-star CB

He was committed to Florida for a while and then backed off his commitment to get a better feel for his options. If the Gators can get him back, it’ll be a big win. Myers can shadow with the best of them. He flips his hips seamlessly and has decisive footwork. When the ball’s in the air, he’s guaranteed to make a play on it. Ideally, he’d wrap up and drive through his tackles more while throwing himself at ball carriers’ legs less.

7. Brian Burns, 4-star DE

Burns is dangerous … if you’re a quarterback. He shoots out of his three-point stance like a rocket. But his versatility is most impressive. Yes, he can put his hand in the dirt and rush the passer from a 4-3 set, but he can also stand up in a 3-4 scheme and come off the edge. His pad level gets a little high at times, and he needs to work on keeping a line of vision and disengaging when defending the run, but Burns is an athlete who can make plays. Having watched his basketball film, too, the agility is easy to see. Burns is extremely athletic and could thrive at Florida.

8. Tre Nixon, 4-star WR

Nixon has quick feet off the line of scrimmage, and he is a legitimate threat to stretch the field. But in order to maximize his skill set, he projects as a slot receiver. Nixon’s initial burst of speed allows him to make plays on screen passes — in the middle and on the perimeter. He has good vision when running after the catch, too. Nixon is the type of guy who can take what should have been a 5-yard completion and turn it into a 25-yard gain.

9. Marcus Tatum, 3-star OT

Florida has been high on Tatum for a while, and it has good reason to be. At 6-foot-6 and 255 pounds, Tatum is built to run block. He’s quick, agile and can get to the second level in a hurry. He needs to get stronger, and it would be nice to see him get a little bit nastier when he finishes blocks — really drive his hands through a defender’s breast plate. There are times in pass protection when his pad level is too high and his kickback is delayed or choppy, but he’s athletic. It’s always good to have athletic offensive linemen.

10. Nick Eubanks, 3-star TE

The Gators would love to add Eubanks to their collection of tight ends. He’s 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds. Eubanks is definitely a balanced tight end, who isn’t afraid to run block and has the ability to mow a path. He needs to work on ball drills — specifically catching the ball out in front of him and turning up field. He lets the ball get to his stomach too often. But he’s athletic and could serve as a safety blanket for whoever’s at quarterback for Florida.