Recruiting disaster for UGA rival? Florida’s top 2019 signee reportedly enters transfer portal
Georgia has dominated its SEC East counterparts the last two seasons, in part because the Bulldogs have done so well on the recruiting trail. And that gap appears to have gotten even wider on Thursday, as Florida’s top-rated 2019 signee, cornerback Chris Steele, has reportedly put his name into the transfer portal.
Steele was the No. 42 overall prospect in the 2019 recruiting cycle and the highest signee Mullen landed in the 2019 class. Steele enrolled early at Florida and went through spring drills. When Steele signed with Florida, his position coach was set to be Charlton Warren. But in January, Warren left Florida to become Georgia’s defensive back coach.
Many in the college football community regarded Steele’s decision to enter his name into the transfer portal as a significant blow to the Gators. Matt Zenitz of Al.com was the first to report Steele’s decision to enter the transfer portal.
Florida CB Chris Steele becomes the second top six ranked recruit from the state of California in the 2019 signing class to look to transfer (Bru McCoy is the other) and their class hasn't even graduated from high school yet.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) May 9, 2019
The transfer portal is getting crazier and crazier by the week https://t.co/7zz7EpgcZB
— Sam Spiegelman (@samspiegs) May 9, 2019
Chris Steele was frustrated with Mullen after the handling of the Jalon Jones situation. Requested to be moved from a room with Jones due to concerns but was written off. Mullen flew to Cali to try to make amends yesterday. Per @GrahamHall_
— Ainslie Lee (@ainsliestwobits) May 9, 2019
Does Dan Mullen still get credit for being an improved recruiter if the majority of his elite signees leave?
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) May 9, 2019
The coaches were counting on Steele to play significant minutes at the depth shy corner positions. He had a strong spring.
— Robbie Andreu (@RobbieAndreu) May 9, 2019
— Benjamin Wolk (@benjaminwolk) May 9, 2019
Florida's highest-rated recruit this year may already be gone. https://t.co/mM36Hz9EbH
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) May 9, 2019
Steele is the second member of Florida’s 2019 signing class to enter the transfer portal. Four-star quarterback Jalon Jones entered the portal last week. Shortly after that, it came out that Jones, who was Steele’s roommate, had been accused but not charged with sexual battery.
According to Zach Abolverdi of Gatorsports.com, Steele had made a request to have a roommate other than Jones, but that request was denied. According to Graham Hall, Mullen flew to California, where Steele is from, to try and resolve the situation.
Earlier in the offseason, Mullen took a pretty clear shot at Georgia for how it handled Justin Fields and his decision to transfer after just one season at Georgia.
“I’d think we did a poor job recruiting if guys were coming in and then immediately walking out the door because it was something different than what they thought it would be and we lied to them during recruiting, or we sold them on a dream that wasn’t true,” Mullen said.
A number of Georgia fans called out Mullen following the Jones’ news and are doing so again after the Steele news.
“I’d think we did a poor job recruiting if guys were coming in and then immediately walking out the door because it was something different than what they thought it would be and we lied to them during recruiting, or we sold them on a dream that wasn’t true,” -Dan Mullen https://t.co/a7OqT5KvRS
— UGA Spike Squad (@UGASPIKESQUAD) May 9, 2019
“I’d think we did a poor job recruiting if guys were coming in and then immediately walking out the door because it was something different than what they thought it would be and we lied to them during recruiting, or we sold them on a dream that wasn’t true,”
-Dan Mullen 💀💀💀💀 https://t.co/TgeLAMmsBP— Axel….Period! (@Axel_dawgg) May 9, 2019
https://t.co/Jy2iOAFu81 pic.twitter.com/cAOOCa5ew7
— blakejmorgan (@bIakejmorgan) May 9, 2019
Florida's Top recruit in the 2019 has entered the transfer portal a few months after arriving.
No matter the reason, on or off the field, one has to believe the coaches didnt do their jobs to the best of their ability.
House of cards and all that
Yada yada— Dawgsontop (@dawgsontop2017) May 9, 2019
— Chris Landers (@Chris_A_Landers) May 9, 2019
It’ll never get old. Dan Mullen is a clown. pic.twitter.com/8UmqgAWPtH
— blakejmorgan (@bIakejmorgan) May 9, 2019
Dan Mullen has gone from telling jokes to becoming one. https://t.co/rcuYeA2P92
— Brandon Adams (@DawgNationDaily) May 9, 2019
Georgia has beaten Florida in each of the last two seasons by a combined score of 78-24. Kirby Smart has beaten Mullen in each of the last two seasons by a combined score of 67-20 when Mullen was the coach at Mississippi State and Florida.
The two teams will meet once again this year on Nov. 2 in Jacksonville, Fla.
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