GAINESVILLE, Fla. --- With 11 of Florida's 16 commitments in the new ESPN 300, including seven in the top 150, the Gators have jumped out to a fantastic start in building their 2013 recruiting class.
Four-star running back commit and Florida legacy Kelvin Taylor (Belle Glades, Fla./Glades Day) leads the way for Florida commits at No. 21. Taylor is ranked as the No. 1 running back in the country. Four-star defensive tackle Caleb Brantley, who dropped 12 spots in the updated rankings, is the highest-ranked Florida defensive commit at No. 31.
Daniel McMillian (Jacksonville, Fla./First Coast), a four-star outside linebacker commit, dropped three spots from No. 38 to No. 41 overall. Six-foot-4 wide receiver Ahmad Fulwood (Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenny) also dropped slightly from No. 44 to No. 48 overall. Four-star safety commit Keanu Neal (Bushnell, Fla./South Sumter) dropped one spot from No. 64 to No. 65.
Making the biggest jump of any Florida commit was four-star outside linebacker Quinton Powell (Daytona Beach, Fla./Mainland). Powell, who earned linebacker MVP at the Orlando NFTC and an invite to The Opening, jumped 26 spots from No. 109 to No. 83 overall. Powell said he was honored to be mentioned with some of the other great recruits in the country and said he believes Florida's class will continue to get stronger.
"It feels great to be in the ESPN 150," Powell said. "I never thought in a million years I would be so high on this list. It really is awesome, though. Our class seems to be growing by the second."
Not all was good news for Florida commits. Four-star safety commit Nick Washington (Jacksonville, Fla./Trinity Christian), who is coming of labrum surgery, dropped 73 spots from No. 58 to No. 131 overall.
Ranked just outside the top 150 at No. 166 is four-star running back Adam Lane (Winter Haven, Fla./Winter Haven), who is coming off a broken fibula as a junior. Lane rushed for 213 yards and five touchdowns on 15 carries in his spring game.
Florida's most recent commit, Marqui Hawkins (Columbus, Ga./Carver), debuts at No. 204, while four-star linebackers James Hearns (Tallahassee, Fla./Lincoln) at No. 269 and Dillan Lawson (Crestview, Fla./Crestview) at No. 279 round out the list for the Gators.
With roughly six to eight spots remaining in this class, the Gators will likely increase their numbers in the ESPN 300. Here are some other top remaining prospects Florida has a shot of landing: No. 3 Laremy Tunsil, No. 4 Vernon Hargreaves III, No. 6 Mackensie Alexander, No. 24 Demarcus Walker, No. 34 Stacy Coley, No. 36 Ryan Green, No. 39 Leon McQuay III, No. 50 Alvin Bailey, No. 61 Priest Willis, No. 66 Alex Anzalone, No. 68 Marcell Harris, No. 73 Demorea Stringfellow, No. 85 Elijah Daniel, No. 96 Tyrone Crowder, No. 99 Greg Gilmore, No. 105 Ebenezer Ogundeko, No. 121 Josh McNeil, No. 124 Levonte Whitfield, No. 129 Marquez North, No. 168 Demarcus Robinson, No. 187 Adrian Baker, No. 206 Stacy Thomas, No. 240 Jordan Sherit, No. 244 Francis Owusu, No. 249 Scott Pagano, No. 257 Asiantii Woulard, No. 270 Darius Latham, No. 276 Carlos Burse and No. 300 Antonio Riles.