Zach’s Mail Stack: UF’s most improved position, biggest concern

This edition of Zach’s Mail Stack covers recruiting, Florida’s position groups that are most improved and have the biggest concerns and the new NCAA vote allowing unlimited and unrestricted coaching staffs .

What position group will be the most improved this year? — @GatorGolfer

Although there are concerns about the guard position, Florida’s offensive line could be the most improved unit on offense. And for the Gators to have the season they desire, that has to be the case.

UF addressed its need at offensive tackle by signing two of the nation’s top six transfers — per PFF — in the 2024 class: redshirt senior Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson and redshirt junior Devon Manuel .

With those additions, coupled with Jake Slaughter returning, Austin Barber being healthy and some addition by subtraction at guard, the offensive line should be better and have more chemistry in 2024.

Defensively, the most improved position will be safety. Florida returns ESPN Freshman All-American Jordan Castell and added Washington transfer Asa Turner , one of the top safeties available in the portal.

The room is deep as well with two more redshirt senior transfers — D.J. Douglas and Trikweze Bridges — and returning starter Bryce Thornton , who started four games as a true freshman last season.

Which position will be worse/are you most concerned about? — @GatorGolfer

As mentioned above, my biggest concern is offensive guard. I don’t think the position will be worse, but both projected starters are unproven at guard, so there’s still some uncertainty with the lineup changes.

Damieon George has moved from tackle to guard, while Knijeah Harris is now working as a full-time starter after making one start as a true freshman. How they fare in their new roles remains to be seen.

But the bigger concern with guard is the lack of depth at the position to challenge George and Harris for playing time and, more importantly, serve as backup options if they get hurt.

Two reserves, redshirt freshman Bryce Lovett and true freshman Jason Zandamela , have zero experience, and redshirt sophomore Christian Williams has made five appearances in two years.

On defense, Florida’s worst weakest spot is STAR because it’s the most inexperienced position. The Gators have to replace Jaydon Hill , a multi-year starter in the secondary who transferred to Texas A&M this offseason.

They have with two promising second-year players in sophomore Sharif Denson , the projected starter, and redshirt freshman Aaron Gates , as well as two safeties that can play nickel if needed in Bridges and Douglas.

I’m not concerned about the STAR position as much as offensive guard, and I think the UF staff feels the same way. For what it’s worth, offensive line coaches Rob Sale and Jonathan Decoster have confidence in their guard group.

What is changing with how the Gators are doing things after the NCAA loosened the rules on assistant coaches/analysts/support staff? More attention to special teams this year? — @mulegator , @FSUCKS , @Steviebgator1

In case you missed it, the NCAA Division I Council voted last month to expand college football coaching staffs, allowing an unlimited number of assistants to provide technical and tactical instruction to athletes during practice and games.

This will immediately benefit Billy Napier’s staff and his army of analysts and quality control coaches, specifically on special teams. For the past two seasons, Chris Couch has served as the GameChanger Coordinator in an analyst role.

Under the previous rule, Couch was allowed to watch film, provide expertise to the staff and create a plan and strategy for games. But on game day, he was not allowed to instruct players and coach them on the sideline.

Couch coordinated special teams with limitations on his involvement, and he had to rely on graduate assistants and coaches to relay information to players before a field goal, kickoff or punt while standing off to the side on a headset.

That dynamic contributed to Florida’s gaffes on special teams last year but will no longer be something that holds the unit back. Couch and senior analyst Joe Houston can now communicate directly with players and eliminate the middleman.

That same can be said for offensive analyst Ryan O’Hara. He has been coaching the QB position with Napier but will now be able to work more directly with the quarterbacks and instruct them on the field during games and practices.

The new vote from the NCAA Division I Council also allows head coaches at the FBS level to designate any 10 staffers as countable coaches who can recruit off-campus. Several UF analysts and support staff members could hit the road.

Quarterbacks have spoken very highly of O’Hara in recent cycles, and he’s definitely someone that Napier will send out to recruit. Some other candidates include graduate assistant David Doeker and quality control coach Chad Lucas.

Should I be concerned with our recruiting class yet? I know it’s still early, but I was hoping we’d have more by now. Can we recover and change the narrative? — @Dadx4 , @G8rsports13 , @GatorBrian

It’s not time to hit the panic button, but there’s definitely cause for concern right now with Florida. UF has just eight commitments (fewest in the SEC) and its 2025 class ranks 55th nationally and 15th in the SEC.

The good news is that there’s five months until signing day and a whole 2024 schedule to play. UF still has time — and an opportunity — to create some momentum ahead of and during the fall.

I do think it will ultimately come down to this: Florida will end up signing a good class if it has a good or great season, or Florida will end up signing a bad class if it has another down year or losing season.

The Gators had the No. 2-ranked class last summer, then went 5-7 and lost several commits down the stretch (although they still finished with a top-10 class ). Perhaps the opposite could happen this year.

If Florida can win seven or eight games and have some big recruiting weekends against Miami and/or LSU, that could turn the tide and propel UF to a strong finish in the 2025 cycle and a top-25 class.

To make that happen, the Gators need to land some of their top remaining targets and flip a few recruits from other schools. But that will be hard to pull off if they have to a poor start (or finish) to the season.

What position group still has the most talent available? — @FrmrAntelope22

Based on Florida’s recruiting board right now, I would have to say the wide receiver position still has the most talent available that UF could land.

The Gators currently have one commitment from four-star WR Joshua Moore , who is a top-100 overall recruit (57th overall) in the On3 rankings.

They are in the mix for a few more targets, including a couple five-stars. In addition to Moore, Florida hosted five other receivers on official visits in June.

That includes five-star WRs Vernell Brown III and Caleb Cunningham . The Gators are the favorite to land Brown, but Alabama leads for Cunningham.

Two of the official visitors last month, Donovan Olugbode (Missouri) and Cortez Mills (Oklahoma), have since committed to out-of-state schools.

The other OV for the Gators was four-star WR Naeshaun Montgomery . They are in a good spot for him, and he plans to decide late summer or early fall.

RELATED: Change of plans for Florida Gators target Naeshaun Montgomery

Another target to monitor is four-star WR Koby Howard . He named Florida his leader in May and will officially visit on Nov. 15 for the LSU game weekend.

UF will also try to get five-star WR Dallas Wilson , an Oregon commit, back on campus for an official visit, but he canceled his scheduled trip last month in favor of Miami.

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