Tampabay.com
NOVEMBER 18, 2009

Urban Meyer well aware he could lose several top players

Florida coach Urban Meyer said he won't engage in any potential NFL talk with players until after the SEC championship game, but he realizes he could lose several of his best players to the NFL at the end of the season.

"I count seven juniors that are NFL quality players,'' Meyer said. "I haven’t really done the research, I’ll help them with it if I’m asked. But that’s seven, so you have to get seven (commitments) to fill those seven. And right now with all the early commitments, you’re kind of hanging on.''

Meyer said he offers to help players seek advice from the proper people, if the players are interested, but he doesn't personally give advice.

"I don’t advise, because I can’t advise, I don’t want to do that,'' he said. "They’ll ask my opinions a lot of times and I’ll put them on the phone with general managers and head coaches of the NFL. And I’ll ask them myself. I have some really good friends that I’ll say watch some film for me and tell me what you think. And that’s the best advice you can give them. It’s been pretty good. It’s been better than it’s ever been.''

Among the players expected to have decisions to make are CB Joe Haden, DE Carlos Dunlap, S Major Wright, offensive lineman Mike and Maurkice Pouncey and TE Aaron Hernandez.

"It’s a positive, it’s called really, really good recruiting,'' Meyer said. "But it’s a nightmare as far as what spots we have available. It’s a good situation, a lot of people wish they were in.''

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