The UF football coaches headed into National Signing Day expecting a relatively calm morning of collecting faxes, but it didn't take long for a few kinks to slow the celebration.
Two verbal commits who were supposed to send their letters of intent to Gainesville instead directed them elsewhere, as Melbourne Palm Bay High linebacker Ramon Buchanan chose Miami, and Lakeland Lake Gibson High guard Ricky Barnum signed with Michigan. Both players had committed to UF in January.
"To see coaches fire cell phones across the office when you lose a guy - every coach is a competitor, but he also understands that you can't win every game you play," Meyer said. "It's disappointing, but it happens."
Then Buford (Ga.) High defensive tackle Omar Hunter - who was supposed to send his letter in at 7:30 a.m. - kept Meyer on pins and needles as his signature didn't roll through the printer until around 11.
"Those were three tough hours," Meyer said.
Then, things took a turn for the better, as the holes left by Buchanan and Barnum were plugged by Lakeland Kathleen High receiver T.J. Lawrence and Edwardsville (Ill.) High offensive tackle David Young.
Lawrence, a three-star prospect rated the No. 55 wide receiver by Scout.com, chose the Gators two weeks ago but kept it quiet until an announcement on ESPNU on Wednesday afternoon.
"He always wanted to go to Florida, but he didn't know how he would fit in with all those great athletes," Kathleen head coach Irving Strickland said. "The coaches really built up his confidence by telling him he's a great athlete and not to sell himself short."
Lawrence starred at receiver, defensive back and returned kicks at Kathleen, and he also plays baseball and basketball.
"He's a hard person to get to open up, but the light switch goes on when he puts on his cleats and helmet," Strickland said. "He's so humble that you wouldn't believe he's the same kid on the field. Once he puts his pads on and ties his shoes, he's a different kid. I really can't explain it."
Young - a 6-foot-6 290-pounder who will likely play offensive tackle - also signed with UF after being cleared by the Gators' doctors.
"He had a rare injury in both knees, broken kneecaps," Meyer said. "He struggled his senior year. Once [team physician Pete Indelicato] gave us the 95 percent or better that he was going to be fine, we signed him."
The Gators brought in 22 new players, with two junior college transfers who signed in December.
UF came away with Scout.com's No. 11 class after finishing in the top two in each of the last two years.
Because the Gators addressed nearly all of their areas of need in the class, Meyer isn't hung up on the lower ranking.
"It's hard to say this isn't my favorite class if you look at the amount of time and research spent on each player," Meyer said. "There's always going to be issues that pop up, but I'm awfully proud of our staff."
The Gators signed four five-star prospects, eight four-stars and nine three-stars according to Scout.com, including several players Meyer believes can make an impact right away.
Defensive linemen William Green, Hoover (Ala.) Spain Park High, and Hunter both drew heavy praise from the coach, who compared Green to former UF and current Denver Broncos defensive end Jarvis Moss.
But he made it no secret whom he thought could have the biggest influence on next season's squad.
"Omar Hunter is the guy," he said. "We had to have him, we got him, and like I told [athletics director Jeremy Foley] and everybody else, if we get that one I'm going home. I didn't go home, but we got him so that's good."
