For the second time in as many seasons, the status of UF's recruiting class is in question.
Florida's 2011 class currently has 17 oral commitments and is ranked by Rivals.com as the ninth-best class in the nation, but that could change with Urban Meyer's decision to resign as coach.
When Meyer took a leave of absence last year -- just more than a month before National Signing Day -- the Gators not only kept their class intact, but managed to put together the No. 2 class in the country.
"I think to some degree, and this is a credit to Urban Meyer and his staff, they've gotten Florida to the level where kids are identifying with Florida every bit as much as they are identifying with Urban Meyer," ESPN recruiting analyst Tom Luginbill said.
Whether the Gators can do the same this year remains to be seen, but Luginbill said he couldn't think of an instance when a dramatic coaching change like this has caused a recruiting class to fall apart.
As the news of Meyer's decision spread, many UF oral commits were caught off guard and limited their comments as they tried to make sense of the situation.
"I was disappointed and confused," Plantation High four-star linebacker Ryan Shazier said.
Shazier, who said he spoke to other recruits Wednesday as the news circulated, said some are talking about taking visits to other schools -- something he discussed with his family and will do, despite saying he remains committed to UF. He still plans to take his official visit to Gainesville this weekend.
Meanwhile, Mary Driskel, the mother of Oviedo Hagerty High four-star quarterback Jeff Driskel -- the nation's top-rated passer -- said the family is trying to process the news and declined to comment further on her son's commitment.
Driskel and nine other commits planned to enroll early at UF in January, so whoever athletics director Jeremy Foley hires could factor into which recruits, if any, decide to decommit.
UF assistant coaches were out on the recruiting trail Wednesday when Foley made calls to inform them of Meyer's decision.
All of the Gators' assistant coaches are still under contract, and will remain with the team for the time being, though the new head coach could bring in his own staff.
However, the current staff's strong relationships with the recruits could help keep the class together.
With Foley hoping to have a new coach hired within two to two and a half weeks, Luginbill said he thinks Mississippi State coach and former UF offensive coordinator Dan Mullen would be a candidate who could also keep the Gators' recruiting class intact.
"[Mullen] has an intimate knowledge of the university and the landscape of the state of Florida and the landscape of the southeast region of the United States," Luginbill said. "There's an identity with him and the University of Florida that may ease the transition a little bit."
Most recruits aren't making hasty decisions regarding their commitment to UF, though.
While Luginbill said coaches from other schools will start to pursue UF's recruits, like sharks circling when chum is thrown, he doesn't see the Gators losing anyone right away.
"Florida is strong enough to withstand something like this," Luginbill said. "Could they lose some guys? Absolutely, they could, especially with the resurgence in recruiting of Florida State. I think you'll see this thing work its way out for the positive."
