GAINESVILLE - Jim McElwain is a Montana native who spent most of his coaching career outside the Southeast. But it is no secret to him where much of the nation’s top talent - and the Gators’ recruiting lifeblood - resides.
Hired on Dec. 4, the 53-year-old McElwain set his sights on the top in-state players and proved he could compete for them.
A national signing day surge carried Florida into the top 20 of the recruiting rankings. On the final day, McElwain and his staff inked two five-star recruits from Florida - offensive tackle Martez Ivey and defensive end CeCe Jefferson - and four in-state playmakers - wide receiver Antonio Callaway and running backs, Jordan Scarlett, Jordan Cronkrite and De’Anfernee McGriff.