Football: These 5 schools were surprisingly quiet recruiting Florida in the Class of 2023

It’s obvious to tell which schools did the best job recruiting the state of Florida.

In addition to the in-state college programs, Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma and others had a lot of success landing Florida’s top athletes.

But there were some schools that were conspicuously quiet.

Recruiting is not a simple process. It has to be a perfect relationship of desire and opportunity for both the school and the players. But some programs that heavily recruit the state — or at least have a tradition of success in Florida — struggled this year.

Here are five programs that didn’t do as well as expected signing Florida players during the 2023 recruiting cycle.

Recent:Which colleges did the best job recruiting Florida players in the class of 2023?

More:Takeaways and favorite signings from National Signing Day

Tennessee

ennessee coach Josh Heupel, left, and quarterback Joe Milton III (7) stand behind the trophy after the team's win over Clemson in the Orange Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Milton played at Olympia High School in Orlando.
ennessee coach Josh Heupel, left, and quarterback Joe Milton III (7) stand behind the trophy after the team's win over Clemson in the Orange Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Milton played at Olympia High School in Orlando.

The Vols signed a top-10 class according to most rankings. They just didn’t sign any players from Florida. It wasn’t for a lack of trying. Based on published offers, Tennessee offered more than 95 players from the state. The Vols were in the mix for players who revealed their shortlists, including Trinity Christian running back Treyaun Webb (signed with Florida), Boone wide receiver Aidan Mizell (Florida) and Buchholz wide receiver Jaren Hamilton (Alabama). It’s the first time in more than a decade that Tennessee didn’t sign at least one Florida player.

Michigan

Michigan linebacker Jaylen Harrell reacts after sacking Purdue quarterback Aidan O'Connell during the first half of the Big Ten championship game on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Indianapolis. Harrell graduated from Berkeley Prep in Tampa.
Michigan linebacker Jaylen Harrell reacts after sacking Purdue quarterback Aidan O'Connell during the first half of the Big Ten championship game on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Indianapolis. Harrell graduated from Berkeley Prep in Tampa.

For the first time since 2013, and the first time since Jim Harbaugh was hired, Michigan didn’t sign any Florida players. The Wolverines have signed 25 Florida athletes since Harbaugh arrived before the 2015 season. Michigan had a commitment from Lincoln’s Raylen Wilson — the top-ranked linebacker in the state — but he signed with Georgia. Michigan offered more than 60 players from Florida in this class.

Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech defensive back Zamari Walton (7) intercepts a pass intended for Virginia running back Demick Starling (6) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022, in Atlanta. Walton played at Melbourne Central Catholic High School
Georgia Tech defensive back Zamari Walton (7) intercepts a pass intended for Virginia running back Demick Starling (6) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022, in Atlanta. Walton played at Melbourne Central Catholic High School

To be fair, Georgia Tech did have a midseason coaching change and that usually has an impact on recruiting. But the lone Florida signee for the Yellow Jackets was IMG running back Evan Dickens, who played his junior year in Roswell, Georgia. Georgia Tech had a pair of Florida players decommit during the last cycle: Miami Norland All-American running Ja’Vin Simpkins (Coastal Carolina) and Pine Forest defensive lineman Elijah Douglas (Southern Miss). More than 100 Florida seniors reported Georgia Tech offers in 2023.

Notre Dame

As far as this class goes for Notre Dame recruiting Florida, 2023 will be remembered more for who didn’t sign than for who did. Berkeley Prep’s Keon Keeley (Alabama), the top-ranked edge rusher in the state, and Columbus running back Sedrick Irvin Jr. (Stanford) both decommitted from Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish are balancing finding players who fit both athletically and academically, so they offered fewer than 30 Florida athletes in this class.

USC

Southern California tight end Lake McRee, from left, defensive back Briton Allen (25) and wide receiver Michael Jackson III celebrate a touchdown against California during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in Los Angeles. Allen played at IMG Academy.
Southern California tight end Lake McRee, from left, defensive back Briton Allen (25) and wide receiver Michael Jackson III celebrate a touchdown against California during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in Los Angeles. Allen played at IMG Academy.

Do the Trojans typically land a bunch of players from Florida? No. Only two Florida high school players have signed with USC in the past five years. But they got a spot on the list based on how hard USC coach Lincoln Riley was recruiting Florida skill position players when he was at Oklahoma in 2021. American Heritage-Plantation wide receiver Brandon Inniss (Ohio State) and Treyaun Webb (Florida) both committed to Riley as juniors before decommitting once he went to USC. USC offered more than 30 Florida players in the Class of 2023.

Jon Santucci is the statewide high school recruiting reporter. He can be reached at jsantucci@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Recruiting: These 5 schools were surprisingly quiet in Florida in 2023