Cleaning out an old drawer, I found an old Gator Bait featuring the 1998 Recruiting Class. Looking over the list, it really spelled out how little talent from this class (who would be experienced 5th year Seniors this season) we had on the field this year. Sure, a lot was due to the usual attrition over 4-5 years. But, it's safe to say this class really turned out to be below par. My Grades: 1. Donald "Reche" Caldwell - Became an All-SEC Calibur 1,000 yd. receiver. But left early (doesn't every great Gator receiver!). Was a B+, for this year: F 2. John Capel - a few big plays as a Frosh, but left the team to pursue track dreams and eventually ill-fated NFL career. Grade: F 3. Tabious Carter - no contribution, left team early in career. Grade: F 4. Derrick Corker - Bob Stoops hand-picked guy. Discipline problem who never contributed and eventually left school. Grade: F 5. Robert Cromartie - Steady, consistent contributor, and surest tackler in secondary in last five years. However, too small and slow to be an impact player. Came back from serious injury to have decent Senior year. Grade: C+ 6. Aaron Deal - I thought he was too thin and a talent reach when recruited. Had back problems and forced to leave team. Grade: F 7. Robert Gillespie - played first four years and never red-shirted. Decent player who made some big plays. Too small and lacked power to be every down dependable tailback (see Auburn '01). Was a B, this year Grade: F 8. Earnest Graham - good player throughout career. Fumbling and injury problems hampered early years. Became solid back as a junior and senior, but too slow to ever be a game breaker. Grade: B 9. Marcus Oquendo-Johnson - tons of athletic ability but far too undersized to find an every down niche on the DL. Looked to have unstoppable potential as a Freshman but never really reached it. Grade: C 10. Todd Johnson - Excellent 4 year starter and All-SEC Calibur player. Tough, smart player who seldom made bad plays. Had awesome Junior season with all his picks and turnovers and headed for solid A, but a little bit of drop-off during Senior season. Grade: B+ 11. David Jorgensen - Way too hyped out of high-school. Fell into what I have come to call the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast jinx... players from there usually just aren't as good as those from the Southeast and Midwest. Decent contributor during career but too small and lacked power to be dominate blocker. Also had horrible '01 Mississippi State game. Grade: C 12. David Kearley - Hard worker who tried to stick it out for a long time. But bad back and injuries never let him contribute. Had to leave team during Senior season. Grade: F 13. Chuck Marks - undersized and injured before career began. A bit of a reach during recruiting and likely got taken based soley on All-world game vs. Tall. Leon going for 300+ yards and 6 TD. Left sophomore year. Grade: F 14. James McGriff - tragic, horrifying passing before ever getting to campus. RIP James - Once a Gator, Always a Gator. Unfortunate death earns Grade: Incomplete 15. Lester Norwood - actually started as true Freshman but horrendous game vs. Alabama and Shaun Alexander sent him to bench for rest of career. I will always admire his positive attitude and sticking it out until his 5th year. Some decent contribution this season on special teams. Grade: D+ 16. Mike Pearson - on his way to be the best OL in school history (well maybe 2nd to Lomas Brown), but left after for NFL early after less than stellar Junior year. Excellent as a RS Freshman and Sophomore. Was a B+, this class Grade: F 17. Chris Reynolds - stuck it out until his 5th year. But far too small to ever be an impact DL in the SEC. Great, well spoken kid who I guessed might have been a reach on recruiting day. Probably would have been an All-American in D1AA. Was in the rotation a lot late this season and played a ton in the Michigan game. Grade: D+ 18. Aaron Walker - excellent, steady player throughout career. Unfortunately Florida offense doesn't feature tight end enough to truly tap his full potential. Caught some big TDs and made some big drive sustaining catches, but never a dominate SEC TE. I think he has the biggest chance at a prosperous NFL career from this class. Grade: B 19. David Wasielewski - big kicker/punter recruit out of high school who never panned out and left school. Unfortunately booed by Florida Field crowd during tough game his True Freshman season and I'm not sure he ever recovered from it. Either that or he was punting a baked potato. Grade: F 20. Kirk Wells - on the way to outstanding career. Big catches early career but lack of size kept him from being at all effective as a blocker, and lack of speed to be a slot WR/TE. Honorably quit team to pave way for AWalk and up and coming Ben Troupe. Was a B, this class Grade: F 21. Marquis Westbrook - decent player but never became a starter or key defensive contributor. Fast player but lacked ideal size to cover SEC wide-outs. Some special teams contributions. Grade: D So in total of 21 recruits... 0 A's, 3 B's, 3 C's, 3 D's, 11 F's (2 leaving for NFL, 1 finished in 4 years), and 1 Incomplete. IMO, that unfortunate class attrition and lack of talent just won't cut it in the SEC and playing out of conference vs. FSU and Miami. Perhaps 5 losses and wins vs. arch rivals Georgia, Tennessee, and Auburn isn't that bad of a first season for Zook and his coaches after all??