Florida put the final touches on its 2014 recruiting class of 24 members on National Signing Day. When the dust settled, the Gators ended with the No. 7 class in the country, according to Rivals.com.
This is the third year in a row coach Will Muschamp has put together a top-10 class.
One of the most notable UF storylines of the day came from Miami Booker T. Washington High when No. 3 dual-threat quarterback Treon Harris announced he would flip on his verbal commitment with Florida State and sign his letter of intent with Florida.
Harris took an official visit to Gainesville on Jan. 17 and should fit perfectly in new offensive coordinator Kurt Roper’s up-tempo spread offense. As a senior, Harris threw for more than 2,000 yards and racked up 28 touchdowns.
Harris will join redshirt junior Jeff Driskel, redshirt sophomore Skyler Mornhinweg and early enrollee Will Grier in the quarterback corps. Harris also received offers from Miami and Auburn.
“You want to have four quarterbacks on scholarship,” Muschamp said. “Then you want to sign one every year because of the attrition sometimes you go through at that position.”
Former FSU wide receiver commit C.J. Worton also signed his LOI to the Gators on Wednesday. Worton decommitted from FSU last week following his official visit to UF.
Worton chose Florida over West Virginia.
The Gators need all the help they can get at wide receiver. The 2013 offense finished the season ranked 116th in the nation in passing yards per completion. Additionally, it lost leading receiver Solomon Patton to graduation.
Another talented playmaker Florida welcomed is four-star receiver and tight end Moral Stephens, the No. 27 receiver in the 2014 class.
Stephens will likely be used at the slot position or at tight end. In addition, tight ends Deandre Goolsby and C’yontai Lewis look to revamp the position, which lacked production last season.
“I think [tight end] was a very offensive position when Jordan Reed was here,” Muschamp said. “It was an offensive position last year.”
However, Florida missed on a couple five-star targets Wednesday. The No. 2 offensive tackle in the 2014 class, Damian Prince, chose to stay home and sign with Maryland. Prince’s hometown of Forestville, Md., is just 20 minutes outside of College Park.
The No. 9 overall recruit in the 2014 class, Adoree’ Jackson, from Gardena, Calif., also chose to stay close to home, signing with USC.
UF was considered a favorite to sign Jackson because of his desire to pursue a track career while in college, but he decided to sign with the Trojans.
Jackson is primarily a cornerback, a position that is full at UF with Vernon Hargreaves III and early enrollee Jalen Tabor on campus. Four-star cornerbacks Quincy Wilson and J.C. Jackson also signed with UF on Wednesday, and three-star athlete Deiondre Porter will play corner, Muschamp announced during his National Signing Day press conference.
“We think (Porter) will project very well to the defensive back position,” Muschamp said.
Florida needed to build depth along the offensive line, and it did just that Wednesday. The 2014 class has six offensive linemen, including four-star offensive tackle David Sharpe, a Jacksonville native.
Included in the class is JUCO transfer Drew Sarvary. Both players are talented enough to see playing time during the 2014 season.
Florida signed explosive playmakers along the defensive line, with four-star defensive tackle Thomas Holley and defensive end Gerald Willis leading the group. Defensive tackle Khairi Clark and end Justus Reed are also big pickups.
“Those guys will be given every opportunity to step in and help us,” Muschamp said.
Follow Morgan Moriarty on Twitter @Morgan_Moriarty
Will Muschamp speaks at a press conference in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Jan. 13. The Gators signed 15 players to finish 24-member recruiting class that was ranked seventh nationally, according to Rivals.com.
