Kids and Water Coolers.

Tomorrow, a whole bunch of 17 year olds decide whether they'll be Gators or losers. The Gators did not get the recruiting bump that they expected, but the word is that they'll get it next year. But next year's recruiting is not what we're talking about. 

The rumor mill always churns out shit for consumption. I try to not keep too abreast of recruiting news because the vacillating commitments and doublespeak drive me nucking futs. One must understand that writers have deadlines and need to print news-- even if there is no news. This demand creates supply. They'll have you believe that today is the first day of the Exodus if you let them, so don't. The shit you hear about Debose and others wavering on their verbals is likely just that: shit. Until such shit is substantiated, then it's speculation, and likely, speculation created to keep you coming to the site, and consequently, adding page impressions and click-throughs. 

I keep hearing about Debose riding out to go to that school out west. I think this is a load of horse hockey. Debose can play right away. He won't be the primary target, even secondary, or tertiary, but he'll have a spot on the receiving corps soon enough. It is probably the case that Debose will have to earn his spot by first playing on special teams, as had every other player under Meyer has had to. Should Debose excel in practice and in the Orange and Blue game, he will be rewarded and possibly start. But bear in mind that while the National Champions lost Percy and Murphy, they still have Thompson, Moore, Cooper, James, and Nelson returning. If one of those players goes down or plays poorly, one can expect to see Debose in the slot in a five receiver set. 

The fact is if Debose jumps ship and heads up north he'll play sooner than if he stays with the Gators. If he believes that playing immediately serves his interests more than training and competing for a spot, so be it. It's that sense of entitlement that has fucked up this country and her youth. This is a meritocracy. Competition begets excellence. This is a team. Teams don't serve the interests of its constituent parts, its constituent parts serve the interests of the team. I'll take a team player over a great player everyday and twice on Saturday. If you don't believe me, look at the Ft. Lauderdale Rainshowers. If he leaves, fuck him, I hope he enjoys his free shoes. If he stays, good for him, and us. 

It appears that Jelani Jenkins will be going to the University of Florida. This is not certain, but the consensus has it that he will not go to Penn. St. Jenkins would be a great catch for the Gators. He's the top outside linebacker prospect in the country. He runs a sub 4.5 40 yard dash. His most impressive quality is his 4.0 GPA. Intelligence is an asset that holds its value well on defense. If Spikes takes this kid under his tutelage, the sky is the limit for him. He will compete for playing time, but the Gators are returning all 11 starters and are one deep at every position. That doesn't mean that he won't play, it just means that he'll have to earn it. 

In the final analysis, the Gators are returning a very strong and deep team next season. The return of Timbow, Spikes, and friends evinces how deep the ties that bond the Gators run. They want to be here. So should every other kid worth his salt. The pundits are already picking the Gators to win next year's national championship. Such predictions aren't made with recruiting in mind. Whether we get Jenkins or Debose or which ever other 3-, 4-, 5-star kid, we will contend for a national championship. How many stars is that worth?

Go Reload.

Go Gators.