If you read the internet tea leaves, Florida's 2017 recruiting class was supposed to be a dud.
Some around the program worried heading into the recruiting home stretch that Jim McElwain's third class would look more like a transitional group than one headed by a guy who's been at an elite school for two-plus years and held two divisional titles. The class plummeted in all recruiting services after a devastating decommitment from ESPN 300 cornerback Elijah Blades. ESPN 300 tackle Kai-Leon Herbert went from Gator lean to Miami commit. Top prospects were visiting Gainesville, but few were biting.