247 Sports thinks Florida is closing the recruiting gap with Georgia football.
Since Dan Mullen became the head coach of the Florida Gators, Georgia football coach Kirby Smart has recruited the number one, number two, number one, and number four recruiting classes in the nation according to the 247Sports’ composite. Over that same time, Mullen has recruited the number 14, number nine, number nine, and number 13 recruiting classes in the nation.
The average score per recruit for Smart over that time was 93.50 compared to the average score per recruit for Mullen being 90.60. This actually reflects the gap between Georgia football’s and Florida’s 2021 recruiting classes with Smart locking in an average of 93.50 and Mullen finishing with an average of 90.38.
As you can see, the gap in recruiting hasn’t closed. That is evident by the talent Georgia football continues to sign compared to the talent the Florida signs. So why do 247 Sports think that Dan Mullen and Florida are closing the talent gap? Well, here is what Brandon Marcello said about Mullen closing the recruiting gap on Kirby Smart:
"Georgia was certainly the deepest team between the two in 2020. The Bulldogs ranked No. 1 inMore from Georgia Bulldogs NewsNick Chubb is America’s running back, and he will returnGeorgia Football: Report cards for Week 3 game against South CarolinaGeorgia Football: The AFCA Coaches Poll ranks Dawgs #1Top 5 SEC Stadiums according to a Georgia fanGeorgia Football: Heavy favorites in SEC Football Media Poll247Sports’ Talent Composite. They had 16 five-star players on the roster while Florida had only four. Still, the Gators had the better receivers and quarterback, and won 44-28. Mullen closed the gap on paper and surpassed the Bulldogs by developing two-star quarterback Kyle Trask into a Heisman Trophy finalist and Kyle Pitts into the best tight end in the country and Florida history. Meanwhile, the staff flipped transfers into stars on defense (former Georgia signee Brenton Cox) and offense (former Ohio State receiver Trevon Grimes)."
That math doesn’t seem to check out. How can you point out that Georgia football had 16 five-stars on their roster to Florida’s four, but then go on to say coaching up four more players close the gap? That still comes out as 16 to eight, which means Georgia still has twice as many. So that doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Even with Kyle Trask, Kyle Pitts, Breton Cox, and Trevon Grimes, Georgia football lost that game due to miscues by their own quarterback due in part to him injuring his shoulder early in the game. Not to mention Georgia lost receiver Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint in that game and already had Jordan Davis, Julian Rochester, Quay Walker, and Richard Lecounte out for that game.
If the only way Mullen and the Gators can close the gap is by having players out for Georgia is that really closing the gap? No, no it is not.