Take 2: Who is the Florida Gators’ most important remaining defensive target?

Welcome to Take 2, where Gators Online staffers Corey Bender and Keith Niebuhr give their thoughts on Florida Gators football recruiting.

Today’s topic: Take 2: Who is the Florida Gators’ most important remaining defensive recruiting target?

Here are their respective takes …

COREY BENDER: I might surprise people with this pick. If the Gators were not as high on his list, I would be rolling with another prospect, but my pick is Alabama-based EDGE Jordan Ross.

Last cycle, Sean Spencer knocked it out of the park with a flurry of All-American signees along the defensive line. He is expected to lean on multiple transfers as well in Caleb Banks and CamRon Jackson. The same goes for Corey Raymond in the secondary. It was an impressive haul for the 2023 cycle that features nearly a dozen All-American defenders.

But the Gators could use an elite prospect who can wreak havoc in the backfield and put pressure on the quarterback. The Gators recently signed some prospects who can take on multiple roles, but Ross is a pure EDGE UF needs in this class. The JACK position is a very important one for the Gators.

Like I said, if the Gators did not have a shot here, Ross would have not crossed my mind. The fact is the Gators could very well be his leader right now, and if not, they are right there at the top with a few others like Georgia and Tennessee.

Billy Napier’s staff has filled several needs this cycle behind a total of 17 commitments; now, the focus is winning these nationally-recognized battles against Georgia, Alabama and others.

KEITH NIEBUHR: My pick is for Daytona Beach (Fla.) Mainland 4-star defensive lineman LJ McCray. And to me, this was an easy choice.

To be an elite program in the SEC, you must have elite players up front. Period. And Florida definitely has a major need on the defensive line — even though it already has landed a couple 4-stars there this cycle. Quite frankly, you never can have too many talented guys here.

As a player, you start with McCray’s body. He not only has an elite frame (he’s listed at 6-foot-6.5, 260 pounds with long arms), he has the skillset to match. NFL body. High-level ability. Plus … he’s got a high football IQ and a solid motor.

How athletic is McCray? He played receiver in 7-on-7 this summer.

Now, let’s take a look at who you’re recruiting against. First and foremost, you have Georgia, you’re historical No. 1 SEC enemy. In-state rivals Florida State and Miami also are heavily pursuing him. The same goes for Auburn and many others. McCray isn’t low-hanging fruit. If you land him, you’ve beaten some big-name schools.

Add it all up, and to me he’s the clear No. 1 defensive target on the board.

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