This past year, the Florida Gators gave an offer to Greensboro (GA) Greene County four-star defensive lineman Kevin Wynn, but he had yet to visit campus until Thursday. Wynn went into the day with little expectation or understanding of what he would see, and the Gators team made sure to give him a comprehensive look of all they had to offer on campus.
“Basically, they had a complete schedule of stuff for me to do because it was my first time down there,” Wynn explained. “They took me around their campus, including the study hall, education building, training room, and weight room. Basically gave me a tour of their school, facility, locker room, and other areas. Everything looked very new and great. Everyone was really nice there.”
The Florida Gators have long been interested in Elba (AL) four-star running back Alvin Henderson, despite the fact that his recruiting has received little attention. He’s been on the Florida staff’s radar for a while now, having extended an offer in June. The Gainesville team has been striving to bring Henderson to school this year, and their efforts paid off on Thursday, when he arrived for his first visit.
Teams such as Auburn, Florida State, Miami, and Penn State have been mentioned frequently in his recruiting process, and he has stated that a commitment could be made soon. With little to lose, Florida attempted to create an impact with their visit, and coming out of it, things seemed to have gone well.
College football teams that have a large number of returning starters from the previous season are frequently well-positioned for success in the following season. While experience does not always lead to favorable outcomes, it can certainly aid in stressful situations. In the era of the transfer portal, roster restructuring appears to be more broad than ever, with movement occurring across the board. For the time being, rosters for the upcoming 2024 season have been set, with most programs around the country now in spring practice.
However, another wave of adjustments will occur when the spring transfer portal opens on April 15. So, which big conference college football clubs now have the most returning starters for 2023?
The number of returning starters for each team is calculated using Pro Football Focus data. A player must have made at least six starts in the 2023 season, including conference championship games, bowl games, and playoffs. The overall number of returning starters includes offense, defense, and special teams (kicker and punter).
Virginia Tech has the ability to take another significant stride forward in Year 3 under Coach Brent Pry. In 2024, the Hokies could be ranked in the preseason top 25. A big reason for Blacksburg’s excitement is the number of returning starters from last season, when Virginia Tech had its first winning record in four years. The defensive line is the only question mark for the Hokies as they attempt to improve the interior of their front. Virginia Tech’s entire starting offense returns, led by breakout quarterback Kyron Drones.
