The Florida Gators ended the summer with one of the smallest classes on the recruiting trail. Eleven high school seniors decided to make a verbal commitment to UF and that number was recently reduced by one. The first domino has fallen with the Gators highest rated recruit deciding to flip to Ohio State. What’s worse is another of the top rated commits is starting to open up his options with the uncertainty about Will Muschamp’s future. That means it’s time to make a decision, one way or another, at head coach.

Florida’s 4-8 season last year definitely got the Gators off to slow start on the recruiting trail. Most of the talent is decent, but not the elite athletes Florida has been picking up on a consistent basis for the past 25 years. The Gators highest commit so far is four-star ATH Derrick Dillon, coming in at 157 on 247Sports composite rankings. The previous highest rated recruit, Jerome Baker made his commitment to Florida’s former coach Urban Meyer. It’s not only Baker: Fellow four-star LB Adonis Thomas (No. 171), has started to look around at other programs because of Florida’s struggles on the field this season. Baker and Thomas were two of the three highest rated commitments of the 2015 class. Not good for the Gators future.

But despite their ineptitude on the field, Florida still has a shot with some of the most elite talent of the class. Top 10 talents like OT Martez Ivey (No. 2), DE Byron Cowart (No. 4), and DE CeCe Jefferson (No. 6) all are strongly considering spending their time in college at the University of Florida. It’s not just them. There’s plenty of other talent looking at the state of Florida’s program every week. Check out the visitor list for the past two home games. I’m not sure another team in the nation has had that much talent in their home stadium on back-to-back weekends.

Here’s the list of players who came for the LSU game (h/t GatorCountry):

2015 visitors Miami running back commit Dexter Williams Running back Bryce Love Running back Ray-Ray McCloud Florida State running back commit Johnny Frasier Running back Jacques Patrick Receiver Antonio Callaway Receiver Javarius Davis Receiver Ryan Davis Florida receiver commit Derrick Dillon Arkansas receiver commit K.J. Hill Florida receiver commit Kalif Jackson Florida offensive lineman commit Mike Horton Offensive lineman Martez Ivey Florida offensive lineman commit Tyler Jordan Offensive lineman Mirko Jurkovic Offensive lineman Jalen Merrick Florida offensive lineman commit Brandon Sandifer Offensive lineman William Sweet Offensive lineman Tyree St. Louis Tight end Devonaire Clarington Florida tight end commit Camrin Knight Defensive end Byron Cowart Defensive end CeCe Jefferson Florida defensive tackle commit Andrew Ivie Defensive tackle Kendrick Norton Florida linebacker commit Jerome Baker Linebacker Tevon Coney Linebacker Derrick Graham Linebacker Jeffrey Holland Linebacker Roquan Smith Cornerback Davante Davis Cornerback Jeremy McDuffie Safety Hunter Dale Safety Tim Irvin Cincinnati safety commit Josh Norwood 2016 visitors Running back Tony Jones Jr. Running back Antonio Williams Receiver Marquez Callaway Receiver T.J. Chase Receiver Tre Nixon Receiver Eli Stove Receiver Dredrick Snelson Tight end Jacob Mathis Defensive end Jordan Woods Defensive tackle Nyles Pinckney Linebacker Jaleel Laguins Florida cornerback commit Tre Jackson Florida cornerback commit Chauncey Gardner Cornerback Craig Watts Safety Romeo Finley Safety Khalil Ladler Safety Saivion Smith Athlete Mecole Hardman 2017 visitors Athlete Bruce Judson Offensive lineman Adrian Ealy

The list was none too shabby for the Mizzou game as well (h/t GatorCountry):

2015 Visitors Clemson receiver commit Deon Cain Florida offensive lineman commit Tyler Jordan Florida tight end commit Camrin Knight Florida defensive tackle commit Andrew Ivie Defensive tackle Kendrick Norton Linebacker Jeffrey Holland Linebacker Adonis Thomas Cornerback Mike Hughes

It’s a tough double-edged sword for AD Jeremy Foley. Most of these highly rated prospects WANT to play for Muschamp. Muschamp is an ace recruiter and certainly can relate to his players. Those who have played for him have a fierce loyalty. But the result could mean the Gators suffer on the field. It’s obvious that this team has regressed under Muschamp this season and he’s not the right fit at head coach, but he’d still be a great defensive coordinator. If you could somehow get him to stay on at DC, Florida could score a major coup recruiting. But it’s highly unlikely anyone from this staff will be retained if Foley decides to pull the trigger. But it’s certainly something to think about.

Muschamp and Florida have whiffed on some big in-state prospects because recruits are waiting to see what happens. Guys the Gators usually get. The offensive struggles have made the likes of WR Deon Cain and RB Ray-Ray McCloud commit to Clemson and WR George Campbell pledge to Florida State. But Florida has a pretty decent shot at getting Ivey, Cowart, and Jefferson if Foley can commit one way or another to Muschamp. But defense has never been the problem. What you’re not seeing in this year’s class, or player’s considering UF, is top-tier offensive skill player talent. Dillon is probably the only commit to possess the elite speed needed in the SEC. QB Sheriron Jones could end up panning out. He’s impressed at camps like Elite11 and The Opening. But as far as players to receive the football from Jones, there’s only Dillon, WR Kalif Jackson (a possibly under-the-radar WR), and TE Camrin Knight. If the Gators want to get better, they need to get that gamebreaking player, much like a Percy Harvin. And they likely won’t get that until Foley decides Muschamp’s fate, which at this point is clear to pretty much everyone.