Gator Clause

Analyzing the Florida Gators 2010 recruiting class ... So far, it's ridiculously good

GAINESVILLE -- Hurry up, recruits. The spots are filling up fast at the University of Florida.

That's the message UF's coaching staff is sending out this recruiting cycle. I don't know if UF has totally reversed its stance of limiting its early commitments, or if the kids UF already has onboard are just so good there is no need for hesitation. Either way you look at it, the floodgates have opened and some of the best players in the state of Florida are pouring into Gainesville. National Signing Day 2010 is still 10 months away but Florida already has 12 commitments (and 10 of them are ranked nationally in the Rivals.com 250). By all accounts it's shaping up to be a talented class.

The two latest commitments are Gerald Christian, a 6-3, 230-pound athlete from West Palm Beach Dwyer, and Jordan Haden, the younger brother of UF cornerback Joe Haden. Jordan Haden [PICTURED, Great hair!] is a 6-0, 198-pound defensive back, who will likely play safety at UF.

Here's a list of the 2010 commitments with the some analysis of each player ...

Despite excellent class, Gators struck out in Miami-Dade and Broward

GAINESVILLE -- The Gators landed one of the best recruiting classes in the nation on Wednesday, but for the fourth consecutive year Florida struck out in Miami-Dade, one of the state's and nation's most fertile counties for producing talented football players.

UF also missed on its recruiting target in Broward County, Denard Robinson of Deerfield Beach. Robinson signed with Michigan on Wednesday, snapping a streak that began in 2004 of at least one player from Broward to UF.

On Wednesday, Florida coach Urban Meyer addressed the struggle of pulling players from Miami-Dade County. UF safety Dorian Munroe, who will be a redshirt senior next season, is the last scholarship player from Miami-Dade County to sign with UF.

"It's difficult," Meyer said. "We have to just keep grinding. We haven't had a player from Miami in awhile. Broward County and Palm Beach have obviously been very good to us but Miami -- it has been hard to go in there and get them. We're doing OK where we're at...We need to just keep grinding."

There are a few early signs the trend will end with the 2010 class. Second-year UF assistant Vance Bedford, the Gators' cornerbacks coach, is making new inroads in Miami-Dade and is hopefully his relationships with Miami-Dade coaches will lead to commitments as early as next season.

-jo-

UF predictions for National Signing Day

GAINESVILLE -- Weary eyes from reading recruiting websites. Weary ears from calling high school coaches. Weary fingertips from text messaging high school students. National Signing Day is here.

Florida's NSD press conference is at 1 p.m. You can watch it live on GatorZone.com (for a fee) or you can just read my blog (for free).

Florida coach Urban Meyer is known as a great closer in the world of recruiting. He had his work cut out for him over the past three weeks. Florida returns 19 of 22 starters, including all 11 defenders, for the 2009 season. In years past, Meyer was able to sell recruits on the prospect of early playing time. The sales pitch was slightly different this time around. Play for a champion. Plain and simple.

Florida enters today with 10 oral commitments (six players of the 2009 recruiting class are already enrolled). Those 10 oral commitments are non-binding agreements until players sign their official letters of intent and fax them to Florida's coaching office this morning. Here are my predictions for what to expect today. We'll see soon enough how things shake out.

Before we get to the high school players who haven't committed to a school, let's a take a close look at a few UF commitments who might pull a NSD switch-a-roo.

1. Gary Brown, defensive tackle, Quincy West Gadsden: Brown is a five-star talent, according to Rivals.com. That means he's supposed to be pretty darn good. Brown has been committed to Florida since March 5 of last year. That means little in recruiting, though. One former UF commitment, Greg Reid of Georgia, was the Gators' first commitment of the 2009 class. He announced on Tuesday night that he's heading to Florida State. Could Brown follow Reid's lead? Brown visited Florida State last weekend. Did the Seminoles steal Brown from the Gators? I don't think so. Brown's parents like Urban Meyer. Meyer does a great job of recruiting parents. Gator Clause prediction: Gary Brown to UF.

2. Andre Debose, receiver, Sanford Seminole: Like Brown, Debose also visited Florida State last weekend. Like Brown, Debose is still likely headed to Florida. Expect Debose, another five-star talent, to fax his letter to UF this morning. With the loss of Percy Harvin to the NFL Draft, Debose is one of the few players of this signing class who could contribute immediately on offense. Gator Clause prediction: Andre Debose to UF.

3. Nu'Keese Richardson, receiver, Pahokee: Richardson committed to Florida way back on 30 May 2008. That didn't stop Tennessee and its new coaching staff of persuading Richardson's parents to fly their son to Knoxville, Tenn., last weekend for an official visit. Tennessee pulled out the Gators' depth chart in an attempt to steal Richardson from the Gators. UF returns five underclassmen receivers next season, including three redshirt freshmen. Just a guess, but I suspect Tennessee told Richardson that if he signs with Florida, then he can expect to redshirt next season. Was it enough to scare Richardson into signing with the Vols? Doubt it. Richardson loves the Gators. One of his best friends and former high school teammates, UF sophomore-to-be Janoris Jenkins, is a Gator. No way he jilts his true love for an SEC East rival. Gator Clause prediction: Richardson to UF.

4. Marsalis Teague, athlete, Paris (Tenn.) Henry County: Teague committed to UF on Dec. 19 of last year. If Phil Fulmer was still the coach at Tennessee, then Teague would be headed to Florida. I don't think that's the case anymore. Gator Clause prediction: Teague to Tennessee.

Now for the uncommitted players UF spent the past three weeks trying to bring to Gainesville. In recruiting lingo, these players are referred to as targets. With Teague staying home and headed to Knoxville, Tenn., UF will likely sign three or four of these players.

1. Joshua Evans, athlete, Irvington (N.J.) High: Evans is expected to play safety in college. He visited Pittsburgh last weekend and is also considering Purdue and Oklahoma. With Teague likely gone to Tennessee, expect Evans to sign with the Gators today. Thanks to UF assistant Steve Addazio, UF has built a pipeline from New Jersey to Gainesville. Gator Clause prediction: Evans to UF.

2. Jarvis Jones, linebacker/defensive lineman, Columbus (Ga.) Carver: Jones is apparently a longtime Florida fan. But UF's defensive depth chart is loaded down with returning players and UF's rivals are using that against the Gators. In addition to UF, Jones is considering Texas, Southern Cal, Georgia and LSU. This one is too close to call, but I'll make a prediction anyway. That's what this blog post is all about, right? Gator Clause prediction: Jones to UF.

3. Trent Richardson, running back, Pensacola Escambia: Richardson, committed to Alabama, is close friends with several of the Crimson Tide's players. UF made a valiant effort to steal Richardson away from UA but this guy will be in the Crimson Tide's backfield next season. Gator Clause prediction: Richardson to UA.

4. Denard Robinson, quarterback/athlete, Deerfield Beach: Robinson is considering Florida, Central Florida, Michigan and Tennessee. When Tebow returned for his senior season that was enough to push Robinson away. Gator Clause prediction: Robinson to Michigan.

5. Jelani Jenkins, linebacker, Olny (Md.) Our Lady of Good Counsel: Jenkins could be the crowning jewel of the Gators' 2009 recruiting class. He is also considering Penn State but the recruiting websites believe Jenkins is headed to Gainesville. After talking with Jenkins' high school coach, so do I. Gator Clause prediction: Jenkins to UF.

6. Orson Charles, tight end, Tampa Plant: Charles is not signing with a school on Wednesday. Instead, Charles will take an official visit to Southern Cal this weekend. In addition UF and USC, Charles is considering FSU, Georgia and Tennessee. Charles' high school quarterback, Aaron Murray, graduated early from Tampa Plant and is already enrolled at Georgia. Gator Clause prediction: Charles to Southern Cal.

7. Dre Kirkpatrick, cornerback, Gadsden (Ala.) City High: Kirkpatrick wants to play as a freshman and he'll get his chance at Alabama. Gator Clause prediction: Kirkpatrick to Alabama.

For those counting at home, the subtraction of Teague and the additions of Evans, Jones and Jenkins gives UF 18 players for the Class of 2009. That seems like a low number. Could Denard Robinson be headed to UF? Will Teague remain true to his commitment? What about Trent Richardson or Orson Charles? We'll have to wait and see what happens.

-jo- 

Robert Marve still considering Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE -- A quick blog post today before we fire up the grill for a little Super Bowl cookout.

I spoke with Eugene Marve, father of former Miami Hurricanes quarterback Robert Marve, on Sunday while working on a recruiting story about the University of South Florida. According to Eugene, "there is an outside chance" that his son could pay his own way to Florida next semester and walk on the Gators' football team in the fall.

As you all probably know, Robert Marve cannot transfer to Florida and receive and atheltic scholarship next season due to transfer restrictions handed down by the University of Miami. Robert Marve is not enrolled in school this semester. According to Eugene, Robert is considering offers from South Florida, Oklahoma State, Purdue and Oklahoma.

Florida's high academic standards could prevent Robert Marve from transferring to UF as a general-population student, according to Eugene Marve. Universities generally lower their entrance standards for students on athletic scholarships. Of course, if Florida coach Urban Meyer really wants Robert Marve, I'm sure he could work it out with UF's admissions office.

-jo-

Gators end recruiting cycle with look to future, Junior Day

GAINESVILLE -- This is the final weekend of the 2009 recruiting cycle. Across the nation, schools are inviting prep football players to their campuses for one more sales pitch. But not here in Gainesville.

Florida coach Urban Meyer does things a little differently. UF hosts Junior Day today and focuses on the future rather than the present. There will not be any official visits today for players graduating in 2009. Instead, there are plenty of 2010 graduates buzzing through The Swamp. Think of it as Meyer's way of staying one step ahead of the competition. Is this a good idea? Debates rage on message boards whether or not its wise to forego the last weekend of the current recruiting cycle to focus on the next.

Visiting Gainesville this weekend is a player many consider to be the next Jeffery Demps or Chris Rainey. His name is Corvin Lamb [PICTURED] and he is a 5-10, 180-pound running back for Miami Northwestern. Lamb is somewhat of an enigma in the world of recruiting. He is already considered one of the nation's best running back recruits in 2010 but he wasn't a starter for the Bulls last season. This might be the reason Florida hasn't offered Lamb just yet. While Florida is shrewdly waiting to see what Lamb can do on the field of play before offering him a $40,000 scholarship, the Gators do know a little bit about him. Lamb ran the fastest time (4.3 seconds) at the Gators' Friday Night Lights recruiting showcase before the 2008 season.

Lamb seems to be favoring Florida. Lamb Sr. even told me that Corvin wants to bring a few of his teammates to Gainesville. It would be a major coup for the Gators to land just one player from Miami Northwestern, aka The West, aka Baby Canes Factory, aka Miami's junior varsity squad. Florida hasn't signed a scholarship player from Miami-Dade County since 2005.

If UF gets a commitment from Lamb, how will this affect UF's ability to recruit future players from Miami-Dade County?

The four players of the 2010 recruiting cycle who have already committed to Florida will also be on hand today in Gainesville. Among them is Demar Dorsey, a 6-1, 175-pound cornerback from Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson. Dorsey apparently has blazing speed and, like Lamb from Miami Northwestern, is expected to be one of the top recruits in the country next season. Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson is the home of current Florida cornerback Moses Jenkins

Florida's 2010 commitment list also includes Matt Elam of West Palm Beach Dwyer. Elam, a 6-0, 205-pound linebacker, is expected to be ranked as a five-star recruit by Rivals.com. Elam will be in Gainesville this weekend as will the rest of Florida's 2010 commitments: offensive lineman Ian Silberman (6-5, 257 pounds) of Fleming Island and dual-threat quarterback Trey Burton (6-3, 203 pounds) of Venice. 

CLASS OF 2009
Here's a link to my story in today's paper on Florida's recruiting class. CLICK ME!

Writer Antonya English of the St. Petersburg Times centered her recruiting story around lineman Xavier Nixon of Fayetteville, N.C. Very nice. CLICK ME!

Pahokee receiver Nu'Keese Richardson is visiting Tennessee this weekend. CLICK ME! Three other players UF is recruiting -- tight end Orson Charles of Tampa Plant, receiver Marlon Brown of Memphis (Tn.) Harding Academy and offensive tackle Brandon Moore of Montgomery (Ala.) Carver -- are also visiting Tennessee this weekend.

Deerfield Beach quarterback Denard Robinson is not taking an official visit this weekend, according to his high school coach. Robinson will choose between UF, Michigan, Tennessee and Kansas State on Wednesday.

Sanford Seminole receiver Andre Debose is visiting Florida State. We assume he is visiting FSU as a recruiter for the Gators, since he is already committed to UF. Debose's target: Trent Richardson, the Pensacola Escambia running back who is committed to coach Nick Saban and Alabama. Apparently, UF is recruiting Richardson pretty hard.

Linebacker Jarvis Jones (6-3, 226 pounds) of Columbus (Ga.) Carver is visiting LSU this weekend. Jones is thought to be favoring UF. Defensive back Joshua Evans (6-2, 185 pounds) of Irvington (N.J.) High is visiting Pittsburgh. UF is in the hunt for Evans as well.

-jo-

Maryland LB prospect Jenkins 'top one percent of one percent'

Another recruiting spotlight today...

GAINESVILLE -- When Urban Meyer took over as head coach of the Florida Gators, he told fans that it was his goal to recruit the nation's best of the best. On and off the field, "the top one percent of one percent," Meyer said. 

Naturally, the "top one percent of one percent" is hard to come by. There is a high school linebacker in Maryland who some believe has the potential to one day be mentioned among the nation's best of the best both on and off the field. His name is Jelani Jenkins and he attends Our Lady of Good Counsel in Olney, Md.

With a 3.9 GPA, natural leadership qualities and excellent athletic ability, Jenkins could be the nation's best all-around student-athlete of the 2009 football recruiting cycle. He is only 16 years old and is already 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds.

"He won't go to bed before he has his academics taken care of," said Good Counsel coach Bob Milloy. "He hasn't let all this attention go to his head, he hates being taken out of class for any reason. It's very unusual for a kid his age."

Jenkins will turn 17 years old at the end of March. According to Milloy, Jenkins was never held back "because he was always the brightest kid in the class."

Jenkins will choose between Penn State and Florida on Wednesday, National Signing Day. When Meyer said "top one percent of one percent," he was speaking about players like Jenkins. A commitment from this student-athlete could lay the groundwork for life after Tebow and linebacker Brandon Spikes.

Just my opinion, but Jenkins should be considered the most important recruit for the Gators since Tebow.

-jo-

Florida recruiting Deerfield Beach's Robinson as quarterback

GAINESVILLE -- Florida coach Urban Meyer is recruiting Deerfield Beach star athlete Denard Robinson as a quarterback, according to former Deerfield Beach coach Art Taylor.

Robinson [PICTURED], the Bucks' starting quarterback for three seasons, received an in-home visit from Meyer on Wednesday. Known as 'Shoelace' by his friends and coaches, Robinson is a gifted athlete who could also play receiver or defensive back in college. He wants to play quarterback at the next level, according to Taylor.

"Shoelace runs a 4.3, has a canon for an arm and is very smart," Taylor said. "He can play quarterback anywhere in college."

As a three-year starter for Deerfield Beach, Robinson was at his best against some of the toughest competition in the nation. Led by Robinson, Deerfield Beach defeated both Miami Northwestern (preseason) and Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas in 2007.

Robinson is also being recruited by Kansas State, Michigan, Central Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. Robinson's high school teammate, Adrian Witty, a cornerback, is also a top prep prospect and is being recruited by Kansas State, Central Florida and Michigan.

Florida is not recruiting Witty, which could hurt the Gators' chances of landing Robinson next Wednesday on National Signing Day. According to Taylor, the two high school friends would like to remain teammates in college.

"They would like to have an opportunity to play in college together," Taylor said. "They're going to have that opportunity."

-jo-

Meyer makes final pitch to recruits

GAINESVILLE -- Across the country, college football coaches are delivering their closing arguments this week to the remaining high school football prospects not yet committed. In other words, millionaire coaches are spending thousands of university dollars (or UAA dollars) to fly all over the South in an attempt to further confuse teenagers.

--On Monday, Urban Meyer and running backs coach Kenny Carter visited Escambia running back Trent Richardson. Richardson, committed to Alabama, is considered one of the best running back prospects in the nation. While UF has plenty of running backs, the thought here is that, well, UF needs more running backs.

--Last week, Meyer flew to Maryland for an in-home visit with linebacker Jelani Jenkins. Keep an eye on this kid. Coaches refer to him as a natural-born leader. Coming to Florida Field next season, a defense that features three players with the Jenkins surname: Jelani, Janoris and Moses.

--Speaking of surnames, if UF signs Columbus, Ga., linebacker Jarvis Jones, then UF will have four players with that family name. The others are A.J., Bryan and John.

--For the fourth consecutive year, it appears Florida coach Urban Meyer isn't going to sign any players from Miami-Dade County. If that wasn't upsetting enough for South Florida Gators fans, there is a chance UF's five-year streak of signing at least one player from Broward County could also end. UF currently does not have any commitments from Broward County. Denard Robinson of Deerfield Beach could keep the streak alive, however, if he chooses UF over Michigan. Robinson played quarterback for the Bucks but would likely play receiver or cornerback if he signed with UF.

--UF only has 16 commitments, is anyone a bit worried about this? By comparison, Tennessee already has 19 commitments. Tennessee, by the way, finished the 2008 season 5-7. Around the SEC East, Vanderbilt has 17 commitments, South Carolina has 26 commitments, Georgia has 17 commitments and Kentucky has 26 commitments.

--Don't look now but Louisiana State (21 commitments) might end up with the SEC's best recruiting class of 2009. The Tigers are loaded down with future stars, including quarterback Russell Shepard of Houston and safety Craig Loston of Aldine, Texas. Homegrown superstars include defensive back Janzen Jackson and defensive tackle Chris Davenport, a 6-4, 318-pound monster.

-jo-

UF's national title not helping secure recruits

GAINESVILLE -- UF won a national title on Jan. 8. Why, then, are committed football recruits possibly turning their backs on the Gators?

Since the week leading up to Florida 24, Oklahoma 14, the Gators' coaching staff has been scrambling to not only add a few more talented players to its 2009 recruiting class but also keep the prospects who are already committed. 

• Days before the national championship game in Miami, one of the Gators' top oral commitments, Georgia cornerback Greg Reid, figuratively punched the Gators' coaching staff in the gut by wavering on his word. He is now believed to be headed to either Georgia, Florida State or Alabama.
• Last week, defensive end Nick Kasa of Colorado did the same thing. It seems the pass rusher wants to stay close to home.
• This week, another cornerback, this time Marsalis Teague of Tennessee, is also having second thoughts.

If you're counting, that's three headaches the Gators' coaching staff are having to deal with in the final weeks of the recruiting cycle. When UF could be focusing its energy on securing one, two or three more recruits, coach Urban Meyer and his staff are now having to shore up relationships with players already committed. The Reid situation is one of particular frustration for Meyer. After all, Reid was the Gators' first prospect of the 2009 recruiting cycle to commit. He did so last February. That's almost an entire year of work (more than that, really) down the drain when you consider that UF could not not only now lose Reid but also lose the cornerbacks they could have recruited if Reid wasn't committed for an entire year.
 
So, what's the problem? You'd think recruits would be flocking to UF after the Gators won the national championship and seem to be favorites to repeat. If you think like a normal person, then that's a good reason to go to Florida. If you think like a recruit...God help you if you think like a recruit.

Here are a couple explanations for the recent rash of turncoats:

1. Blame opposing coaches and their dirty, dirty recruiting tactics. All is fair in love and recruiting, right? Coaches are filling players' heads with ideas of inactivity. Just look at Florida's depth chart, Nick Saban is saying. When are you ever going to play with all these underclassmen starters and reserves? We all know little Nicky Kasa and wee Gregory Reid don't want to ever sit the bench.
2. Once again, blame opposing coaches for their dirty, dirty recruiting tactics. Sure, UF is going to be great next year, Lane Kiffin is saying. But that's when you're not playing. What happens when you're the starter and Tim Tebow and his merry men are gone? UF won't be on top anymore. (And, yes, when clarifying recruiting tactics it is absolutely necessary to modify the word with the double dirty.)
3. Recruits make change about as often as Toll Booth Willie. 

In recruiting news ...
UF COMMITMENT IS STATE'S BEST PROSPECT
On Tuesday evening, Flavarsity.com released its final list of the top 100 football prospects in the state. CLICK ME!The Gators landed three current oral commitments in the top 10, including the No.1 prospect, Seminole receiver Andre Debose. Miami Northwestern fans should be plenty familiar with Debose. He's the player who caught that remarkable touchdown pass in the final minutes of the Class 6A state championship game.

UF's other Top 10 state commitments, according to Flavarsity.com, are defensive tackle Gary Brown of West Gadsden and offensive lineman Nick Alalajajian of Naples. (A good lineman is a lot harder to find than a great receiver, just my opinion.)

SCRATCH DEERFIELD BEACH DUO OFF THE LIST
According to an Internet report, Deerfield Beach quarterback Denard Robinson and cornerback Adrian Witty have narrowed their offers down to two schools and Florida isn't one of them. CLICK ME! 

A website covering Kansas State recruiting reported on Tuesday that Robinson and Witty visited Kansas State over the weekend and Deerfield Beach coach Art Taylor listed Michigan, Georgia, Kansas State and perhaps Tennessee as the schools vying to sign the players.

-jo-

Gators recruiting TV Guide for prep all-star games

GAINESVILLE -- Further contributing to the exploitation of America's youth, the TV guys (NBC, Fox and ESPN) will air their national high school all-star football games this weekend. Naturally, the biggest game of all is sponsored by the United States Army.

In this blog post, we will contribute to the degeneration. Consider this the Gators' TV Guide to the all-star showcase weekend. There are three high school all-star games: Fox Sports' Offense-Defense All-American Bowl in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on Friday, NBC's U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio on Saturday and ESPN's Under Armour All-American Game in Orlando on Sunday. Players committed to UF and players who might commit to UF play in each game.

As much as we hate it, the editorial board at Gator Clause realizes that college-football recruiting is to football fans what the soap opera The Young and the Restless is to, well, everyone else: day-time crack-tra-vision. Or, put another way, recruiting "is but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

For example: On Saturday, a young man named William Campbell of Detroit (five-star general!) will stand in front of a television camera wearing a football jersey advertising the U.S. Army and tell the good viewers of NBC where he would like to play football for the next three to five years and perhaps major in family sciences or general studies but most likely X-Box 360. Campbell has received scholarship offers from countless universities but he says he is only interested in three: Florida, Miami and LSU. (Florida, on account of its world-renowned family sciences major, might have the edge.)

Middle-aged men in Cleawater or Kendall or Baton Rouge, La., will listen to Campbell announce his choice with an unbreakable concentration of dorkness that can only be compared to a Klingon tractor beam in deep space. Campbell, a 6-5, 315-pound defensive tackle, will then have exactly one month and one day (or maybe longer, see also Terrelle Pryor) to change his mind as many times as he likes (National Signing Day is Feb.4). The red flag on Campbell: He originally committed to Michigan, a home-state school, but apparently is no longer considering the Wolverines on account of Michigan's lack of family sciences. Is this true that Campbell has in fact "de-committed" from Michigan, or is it all just a ploy by NBC producers to boost their ratings? Tune in to NBC at 1 p.m. on Saturday to find out!

WHO TO WATCH
U.S. ARMY ALL-AMERICAN BOWL, 1 p.m. Sat., San Antonio, NBC
FLORIDA COMMITS: 6-7, 245-pound DE Nick Kasa of Broomfield, Colo. Kasa is a four-star general and chose UF over his hometown Colorado Buffaloes; 6-4, 280-pound OT Nick Alajajian of Naples. Alajajian is a four-star general, according to his service record on Rivals.com. 
OTHER RECRUITS OF INTEREST (a few of these guys might commit to UF): DT William Campbell of Detroit, DE Ryne Giddins of Seffner Armwood, OL Xavier Nixon of Fayetteville, N.C., TE Orson Charles of Tampa, LB Jarvis Jones of Columbus, Ga., LB Jon Bostic of Wellington.

UNDER ARMOUR HIGH SCHOOL ALL-AMERICAN GAME, 8 p.m. Sun., Orlando, ESPN
FLORIDA COMMITS: 5-11, 160-pound Nu'Keese Richardson of Pahokee, an athletic wide receiver with the ability to turn short passes into long gains; 5-9, 175-pound Greg Reid of Valdosta, Ga., named Georgia's best prep football player by the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, will likely play cornerback for the Gators, an excellent return specialist, returned two punts for touchdowns during the Georgia high school all-star game; 6-3, 275-pound Gary Brown of Quincy West Gadsden, a defensive tackle with a quick first step and a solid body.
OTHER RECRUITS OF INTEREST: WR Andre Debose of Sanford Seminole, S Ray Ray Armstrong of Sanford Seminole, LB Jelani Jenkins of Wheaton, Md., LB Frankie Telfort of Miami Gulliver Prep,

OFFENSE-DEFENSE ALL-AMERICAN BOWL, 5 p.m. Fri., Myrtle Beach, S.C., FOX SPORTS
FLORIDA COMMITS: 6-4, 290-pound Jonotthan Harrison of Groveland South Lake. An offensive guard, Harrison will enroll at UF in January and begin school after the winter break. Harrison is a former high school teammate of UF freshman running back Jeffery Demps. 6-4, 218-pound Desmond Parks of Greer, S.C. Greer had 19 receptions for 299 yards and three touchdowns this season. Like Harrison, Greer graduated a semester early from high school and will begin taking classes at UF in January.

-jo-

Urban Meyer spotted at St. Thomas Aquinas

GAINESVILLE -- Florida football coach Urban Meyer attended the South Florida heavyweight high school match-up on Friday night between Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas and Deerfield Beach. Florida is recruiting players from both schools, including Deerfield Beach quarterback Denard Robinson.

Robinson has been offered a scholarship by Florida and he would likely be converted to a defensive back if he committed to the Gators.

Meyer arrived near the end of the first half, according to Miami Herald writer Bob Emanuel Jr., and stood on the St. Thomas sideline. Florida's coach has built a pipeline of sorts from St. Thomas to UF. Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Marcus Gilbert and sophomore free safety Major Wright are St. Thomas grads.

CALATHES CLEARED TO PRACTICE
The Florida men's basketball team's medical training staff cleared sophomore guard Nick Calathes for practice on Friday, the first day of preseason basketball practice.

Calathes injured his hip several weeks ago during a training drill. Florida coach Billy Donovan said on Wednesday that Calathes could be limited for as many as three weeks.

That's all I've got today. In Birmingham, Ala., this weekend visiting family. Attending a Hoover Bucs youth football game on Saturday. Just had Thai food in Montgomery, Ala. This was a bad idea.

-jo- 

LIST: Plenty of talented recruits in Gainesville today

GAINESVILLE -- Anyone online this Saturday morning? If so, here are a few UF-related links for y'all (or you guys, depending on where you're from.) Plus some other fun stuff.

FIRST THINGS FIRST
Here's my official prediction. I've crunched the numbers, studied the trends, consulted the mystics and drank a cup of coffee to come up with this: UF 36, LSU 28.

THE RECRUITS, ACCORDING TO RIVALS.COM
Four high school recruits are in Gainesville this weekend for their official visits, according to Rivals. Florida already has 11 commitments, so spots are filling up fast. Here's the list of recruits attending today's game on official NCAA visits:

DE NICK KASA (6-7, 245 pounds) Broomfield (Colo.) Legacy High
Kasa is a four-star recruit, according to Rivals, and nation's fifth-ranked strong-side defensive end. In the mold of Matt Patchan. Florida already has one commitment from a defensive end and are pursuing several other pass rushers.
OL KYLE KOEHNE (6-6, 290 pounds) Indianapolis Cathedral
Another Steve Addazio special. Koehne is a three-star recruit, according to Rivals, and the nation's 34th-ranked offensive guard.
CB BRANDEN SMITH (5-11, 171 pounds) Atlanta Washington
A battleground recruit, Smith is the No.3-ranked cornerback in the nation, according to Rivals, and a four-star recruit. He is also interested in Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia and Tennessee.
ATH MARSALIS TEAGUE (5-10, 170 pounds) Paris (Tn.) Henry Co.
The No.49-ranked athlete in the nation, according to Rivals, and a three-star recruit. Also considering Miami and Vanderbilt.

THE CENTER OF UF'S INTERNET WORLD
Here's the link to the center of the UF Internet world. Click the link and bookmark this page! CLICK ME!

GAME DAY PREVIEW
Florida Gators plan to be tough against LSU

LSU TALK'N SOME NOISE
Pair of South Floridians playing for LSU at center of pregame chatter

JEAN-FRANCOIS OUT
LSU DT and Miami Carol City alum Ricky Jean-Francois didn't make the trip to Gainesville for today's game, according to USA Today.

SPECIAL TEAMS
UF, LSU return specialist are key

-jo-

Harvin still limited; UF lands major commitment

GAINESVILLE -- Florida receiver Percy Harvin practiced on Wednesday afternoon for the first time this week but was limited, according to UF coach Urban Meyer. Meyer says he thinks Harvin will be able to play on Saturday against LSU.

Other injury updates to report: Meyer said that redshirt junior linebacker Ryan Stamper and freshman safety Will Hill are both "good to go" for Saturday's game. Stamper missed the Arkansas game with a sprained ankle while Hill played sparingly against Arkansas with a sore hamstring.

--Left guard Jim Tartt (shoulder) and Marcus Gilbert (ankle) both practiced on Wednesday but were limited. Meyer said that redshirt sophomore Carl Johnson will start at left guard on Saturday night.

--Freshman defensive tackle Omar Hunter (ankle) did not make the trip to Arkansas last week and has not practiced this week. (Sounds like a typical medical redshirt situation to me.)

--I watched Harvin and running back Emmanuel Moody walk off the practice field on Wednesday. Harvin appeared healthy but Moody had a considerable limp.

ANOTHER 2010 COMMITMENT
Florida picked up its third commitment for the 2010 recruiting cycle on Wednesday and it was a big one. West Palm Beach Dwyer athlete Matt Elam (6-0, 205) orally committed to attend the University of Florida. Elam is projected to be the top recruit in the state of Florida next season.

Oral commitments are non-binding and Elam won't sign with Florida until February of 2010. According to Rivals.com writer Adam Gorney, Florida is the only program in the country with three commitments for the 2010 recruiting cycle.

Not too long ago, Meyer did not like to receive early commitments. His philosophy is changing slightly, he said on Wednesday. Florida's 2010 oral commitments include Elam, Venice quarterback Trey Burton and Fleming Island lineman Ian Silberman.

"It's risky," Meyer said. "You're talking about taking them off of sophomore tape and they're playing their junior year right now. I'm not a big fan of it but like I said if you already know them, know their families and know what they're all about."

Elam, a two-way star for Dwyer but projected as a safety for UF, first met Meyer 10 years ago when Meyer was an assistant at Notre Dame. Elam's brother, Abram, was recruited by Meyer as a receiver for the Fighting Irish.

"I do remember him then," Elam told Rivals.com. "[Meyer] actually taught me a wide receiver's stance then. After that we didn't talk at all. Then I heard he was at my high school my freshman season to recruit a teammate of mine. So I found him and introduced myself. Coach Meyer remembered me and the rest is history. That's when I really starting liking Florida."

MEYER DENIES LSU PATRICK PETERSON'S CLAIM
Back in January, former Pompano Beach Blanche Ely cornerback Patrick Peterson (at the time his name was Patrick Johnson) caused a stir when he told reporters that Florida had alerted the NCAA of problems with Peterson's ACT score. Peterson called Florida "cowards" at the time. On Wednesday, Meyer said Florida never contacted the NCAA about Peterson's ACT scores.

-jo-

The Day After: Gators-Canes still on the brain

Florida coach Urban Meyer did not have a Sunday teleconference today. A spokesman for the Gators told me receiver Carl Moore's diagnoses on Sunday is still a "hip pointer."

GAINESVILLE -- Here are some random thoughts popping into focus as I watch the NFL today, reflect on last night's game and flip through the pages of my reporter's notebook...

--I used to like Brett Favre.

--Why was Florida tackle Phil Trautwein flagged for that personal-foul penalty? I couldn't figure it out from the press box. Whatever the reason, it ruined the Gators' momentum in the first quarter.

--Trautwein's personal-foul penalty wasn't as costly as the one charged to UM lineman Orlando Franklin at the end of the first half. It led to Jeffrey Demps' blocked punt.

--Florida receiver Louis Murphy apologized after the game for his smack talk earlier in the week. I don't know what to think about this. On one hand, it seems commendable. On the other hand, it's not like Murphy called out someone's mom. Whatever...

--Florida free safety Major Wright only had two tackles.

--Florida strong safety Ahmad Black appeared to hold his own against Miami's athletic skill players.

--Miami's only scoring drive featured a Wondy moment. Does anyone remember this? I had to chuckle a little bit in the press box.

--Florida tight end Aaron Hernandez said after the game that he was benched for the season opener because he didn't practice hard enough the week before Hawaii. Yeah, right...

--Linebackers: How many future first-round picks were on Florida Field last night? Two, I say. Florida middle linebacker Brandon Spikes and UM freshman reserve linebacker Sean Spence.

--The fourth quarter was Tebow time. That's a good sign for the Gators.

--Several reporters who cover Miami keep telling me that Florida will lose at least two games this season. Doesn't say much for Miami, I guess. I thought the Canes were pretty good.

--UM quarterbacks Robert Marve and Jacory Harris are both going to be excellent. Will one transfer?

--Tebow has 130 pass attempts without an interception, a new Florida record. Danny Wuerffel held the previous record at 121 pass attempts.

--Florida has not committed a turnover in each of its last four games.

--Florida had five penalties for 35 yards. Not bad for the Gators. One of those penalties was on redshirt sophomore guard Marcus Gilbert (Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas), who filled in for Jim Tartt. Meyer said he wants to get Tartt back into the line-up as soon as possible.

--The Gators started the second half with two fruitless offensive drives. Tebow appeared to be pretty frustrated after the second drive. He was seen on the sidelines screaming at Meyer to leave the offense on the field for a fourth-and-two from the UF 48. Meyer punted.

-jo-

RECRUITING: If the Gators can land Patchan they can land anyone

Today's UF-related links from The Miami Herald ...
LINK: UF football hopes to make strong impression with recruits
LINK: UF's Hicks proves to be a special player
LINK: Aubrey Hill, once a Gator, thriving as UM receivers coach

GAINESVILLE -- UF defensive lineman Matt Patchan grew up a Miami Hurricanes fan. His dad played for the 'Canes and so did his uncle. Why, then, did Patchan end up a Florida Gator? Maybe it had something to do with Miami's embarrassing 48-0 loss to Virginia last season in the Hurricanes' last game at the Orange Bowl.

I bring this up only to supplement my story in today's Miami Herald about how the Gators plan on impressing recruits from South Florida this weekend when the football team hosts Miami. Most recruits will tell you that when they attend a game as a guest of the home team, it doesn't matter if the team wins or loses. Guess what, folks? That's bologna!

About a dozen high-profile recruits from South Florida are attending Saturday's game as guests of the Florida Gators. You better believe it matters who wins and who loses. A Florida blowout WILL sway recruits. A Miami upset WILL sway recruits.

Florida coach Urban Meyer refers to the recruitment of Patchan as one of the most intense battles of his career. Patchan was such a Miami Hurricanes fan that it pained him to watch the 'Canes get blanked by Virginia last season. Everyone remembers these quote, right?

"There's too many guys that it doesn't bother them that they lost the game," Patchan told the Internet fan website, canesport.com. "There's too many guys now at the U that [say], `It's OK we lost. Well, what am I going to do tonight?' Like it doesn't mean anything. They need to get rid of those types of guys. Half those guys in Miami uniforms shouldn't be there -- they physically don't cut it.''

With that in mind, landing Patchan would have helped the 'Canes. The Gators' coaching staff is in love with the kid and his effort level. Patchan played more than 20 snaps in the Gators' season opener and Meyer said on Monday that Patchan deserves even more playing time against the 'Canes. Besides that, Meyer said that Patchan is "out of his mind" with emotion this week to play Miami.

Florida defensive line coach Dan McCarney didn't help recruit Patchan but he certainly appreciates him. McCarney is one of the guys who helped morph South Florida defensive end George Selvie into one of the best players in the country. McCarney thinks he can do the same with Patchan.

“If we could bring four Matt Patchans into the program every year, if I’m guaranteed four Patchans, then I’ll promise you we will be making a run at the national championship on the defensive line,” McCarney said.

If Florida can successfully recruit the Matt Patchans of the world, then why can't Florida make a dent in UM coach Randy Shannon's recruiting monopoly in Miami-Dade County? A shutout on Saturday certainly would help the cause. Miami is starting a freshman quarterback with no experience. It could happen.

And you can go ahead and mark down a 15-yard penalty for excessive celebration if Patchan sacks Robert Marve.

-jo-

Here's a list of South Florida recruits who are expected to attend Saturday's game, according to Rivals.com recruiting expert Adam Gorney: Denard Robinson (senior quarterback, Deerfield Beach), Jared Wheeler (senior offensive tackle, Plantation American Heritage), Jaamal Berry (senior running back, Miami Palmetto), Eugene Smith (senior quarterback, Miramar), Antwan Lowery (senior defensive tackle, Miami Columbus), Michael Carter (senior cornerback, Pompano Beach Blanche Ely), Rantavious Wooten (junior receiver, Belle Glade), Korvin Lamb (junior running back, Miami Northwestern), Todd Chandler (junior defensive tackle, Miami Northwestern), Eduardo Clements (junior receiver, Miami Booker T. Washington), Frankie Telfort (senior linebacker, Miami Gulliver Prep).

COMMITMENT ALERT: Was Desmond Parks reading my blog?

GAINESVILLE -- Does anyone other than me find it mildly interesting that Florida got a commitment from a tight end on the same day Gator Clause wrote about the position?

Recruiting websites got word earlier today that Desmond Parks of South Carolina recently committed to Florida. Parks is a (6-4, 225-pound) senior at Greer High. Greer has a pretty good football tradition, so we assume the kid can play a little bit.

So, was Parks playing around on the Internet on Monday, searching for a reason to commit to the Gators, when he happened upon this very blog. On Monday we talked all about how Florid coach Urban Meyer can't wait to see the Gators' new two-tight end sets in action once fall camp begins on Monday.

Nah, doubt it. Parks probably looked at the Gators' 2009 roster and realized only one scholarship tight end (Aaron Hernandez) will still be on the team. Florida has nine commitments so far from the class of 2009.

--IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T HEARD...Florida is now the reigning party school in the nation, according to a magazine (Princeton Review) published by a bunch of people who we know for a fact have no clue what they're talking about when it comes to partying. More on this tomorrow, maybe.

-jo-

UF incoming freshman races Sunday in Olympic Trails semis; LSU's Holliday also competes

GAINESVILLE -- Here's something to keep an eye on today (Sunday). Incoming UF freshman Jeffrey Demps (running back, Okahumpka, Fla.) competes in the 100-meter dash semifinals of the Olympic Trials at 2:30 p.m. today. The top four from each heat advance to the finals, which are scheduled for 7:49 p.m. NBC will air the finals between 7-8 p.m.

Demps, who will be one of the fastest players in college football this season, qualified for the Olympic Trails with the blazing time of 10.17 seconds during the Florida high school track championships. You might remember this. Demps set the mark at UF's track stadium while the Gators were conducting spring practice. The track championship's personal address announcer declared the mark as one of the fastest 100-meter times ever for a high school student. Urban Meyer got a big kick out of that.

ANYWAY, Demps races today in the semis after posting a 10.01 seconds in the quarterfinals. That's a different kind of fast, folks. Demps' quarterfinal time was the seventh fastest mark among the participants. He finished second in his heat to gold medal hopefully Tyson Gay. LSU running back Trindon Holliday also qualified for the semis with a time of 10.09. Not that it matters, but Demps' quarterfinal time also edged FSU superstar Walter Dix (10.02). Demps is apparently quite a charismatic guy. He actually wore this orange and blue mullet wig when he announced he would attend Florida on ESPNU.

According to the qualifying times, Demps has a pretty good shot at competing in the finals. An Olympic berth is a long shot, though.

Here are the semifinal heats.
Event 1  Men 100 Meter Dash
===============================================================================
8 Advance:  Top 4 Each Heat plus Next 0 Best Times
Sunday 6/29/2008 - 2:30 PM
       World:   9.72  5/31/2008   Usain Bolt, JAM
    American:   9.79  6/16/1999   Maurice Greene, Nike
          OT:   9.91  7/11/2004   Maurice Greene, Nike
     Hayward:   9.88  2004        Shawn Crawford, USA
           Name                        Year Team
===============================================================================
Heat 1  Semis
  1    436 Rae Edwards                      Nike                  10.06
  2    401 Walter Dix                       Florida St.           10.02
  3    849 Rodney Martin                    Nike                   9.95
  4    505 Tyson Gay                        adidas                 9.77
  5   1369 Ivory Williams                   Nike                   9.94
  6    291 Xavier Carter                    Nike                  10.00
  7    563 Chrisdon Hargrett                adidas                10.12
  8    635 Trindon Holliday                 L S U                 10.09
Heat 2  Semis
  1   1107 Michael Rodgers                  unattached            10.07
  2    403 Leroy Dixon                      Nike                  10.02
  3    380 Jeffery Demps                    unattached            10.01
  4    998 Travis Padgett                   unattached             9.89
  5   1008 Darvis Patton                    adidas                 9.89
  6    686 Mark Jelks                       Nike                   9.99
  7    277 John Capel                       unattached            10.06
  8   1210 Wallace Spearmon                 Nike                  10.07

Highly rated Florida signee reportedly failed to qualify; Gators lose another safety

GAINESVILLE -- Florida football signee Dee Finley did not qualify academically for the University of Florida and will instead enroll at a New York prep school this fall, an Internet recruiting website is reporting. This could be a major blow for the Gators' depth at the safety position.

Finley [pictured], rated as one of the top defensive backs of the 2008 signing class, was scheduled to report to UF at the end of June. Instead, Finley will enroll at Milford (N.Y.) Academy, according to the website GatorBait.com. Finley, an Auburn (Ala.) High prep star, was considered an academic concern throughout the 2008 recruiting cycle. Several major programs, including Auburn, did not recruit Finley, fearing he would not qualify.

Florida's incoming freshmen are scheduled to report at the end of this month. Despite the apparent loss of Finley, the class is not devoid of a free safety. Will Hill, a New Jersey prep talent, is expected to play the position.

Florida has several talented safeties on the roster but is growing thin at the position. Jamar Hornsby was kicked off the team earlier this summer after being arrested for credit card fraud. A third possible safety, Jerimy Finch, also left the program.

South Florida natives Dorian Munroe and Major Wright will be the Gators' starting safeties when preseason practice begins. Hill, who played quarterback in high school, is expected to compete for a back-up role. Converted cornerback Ahmad Black will also be expected to earn a place high on the depth chart.

Don't be surprised if another young cornerback is forced to move to the safety position this fall. If that happens, my guess would be rising sophomore Moses Jenkins of Lauderdale Lakes Boyd Anderson. He's tall (6-2), fast and extremely coachable.

-jo-

Making my way down to Miami today; Targeted Florida football recruits beware!

GAINESVILLE -- It's about 6:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, nearly time to hop in the ol' Ford and head down Florida's Turnpike. Next stop is my lovely home base, Miami. I really miss Miami now that Momma Herald has me living in Gainesville and covering the Gators. Don't get me wrong, Gainesville is great and it's a great place to live, but there's nothing quite like those Miami nights.

While I will be making a cameo appearance at our office on Biscayne Bay, I won't be kick'n it in South Beach tonight. Instead the party will be near Hollywood Beach. I know, I know: Hollywood Beach doesn't have the same ring to it as South Beach. But, hey, I lived in Hollywood Beach for nearly a year when I first moved to South Florida and the place has it's own special charm. They don't call it Hollyweird for nuthin'.

If you want to find me tonight, I'll be at Le Tub on AIA enjoying the best sirloin burger in America! What does this have to do with the Gators? Absolutely nothing, but while I'm in South Florida I might take the opportunity to hunt down a few high school football prospects. I hear the Urbanator and his staff are impressed with several South Florida studs. Now, the million dollar question is: Can Meyer actually sign any of those players? Florida's current administration has made a little headway in Broward but can't get anything done in Miami. (True story: The latest crop of Miami Northwestern Bulls who signed with UM used to call former Florida assistant Doc Holliday "Snake Eyes.") Holliday was considered a great recruiter by his peers, but he wasn't really trusted in Miami.

Urban revamped his recruiting strategy when Holliday bolted for West Virginia at the beginning of this offseason. Meyer positioned new assistant Lance Bedford (cornerbacks) in Miami. Meyer says that Bedford's lone responsibility is making inroads in Miami. According to some of my old high school sources in the area, Florida assistant Kenny Carter (running backs) has also been spotted in Miami quite a bit.(For the record, Miami coach Randy Shannon has about three assistants AT ALL TIMES working Miami-Dade.) We won't know until February whether or not Meyer's new "Miami Plan" is working.

Urban can close the deal on just about any recruit north of Boca but he hasn't been able to make much of a splash on the South Florida recruiting scene. (Why? It probably has nothing to do with Meyer and everything to do with Miami coach Randy Shannon.) Major Wright, of course, is the lone exception. Sure, Meyer has done a fabulous job reeling in the unheralded players -- Moses Jenkins (Lauderhill Boyd Anderson), Marcus Gilbert (Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquanis), Bo Williams (Oakland Park Northeast), Frankie Hammond Jr.(Hallandale) -- but those guys haven't amounted to much. Jenkins, probably my favorite player on the team, is yet to break into the secondary rotation. Gilbert, injured much of his first two seasons, is poised to make an impact this fall. Williams transferred to Iowa State. Hammond is an incoming freshman who looks like another project.

Miami, and in particular Randy Shannon, hated losing Major to Florida. Miami was Major's first choice at the beginning (he'll still you his favorite player of all time is Sean Taylor) but that was when Larry Coker was on the outs, leaving the Hurricanes vulnerable. Meyer swooped in.

Meyer now has a foothold in Broward, but can Meyer sign a few Miami-Dade superstars this recruiting cycle? He's looking to sign two or three from the area. When talking about Miami-Dade and Broward, Meyer always likes to stress "quality" over "quantity" -- an indirect reference, of course, to Shannon cleaning house in the area. Here's a list of a few Miami and Broward prep stars Florida would love to sign. Gator Clause, of course, offers an opinion on whether or not that might happen.

OT JARED WHEELER (6-5, 300 pounds) Plantation American Heritage
Cut from the Sam Young mold (Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas/Notre Dame), Wheeler is a powerful kid with a nice upside.
Does Meyer have a chance? Expect Wheeler to give Florida a lot of consideration. There is a tendency, however, for kids from Broward private schools to leave the state.

QB EUGENE SMITH (6-3, 175 pounds) Miramar
Florida needs to sign a quarterback and this kid is plenty talented. He threw for over 500 yards last season against Pompano Beach Blanche Ely, a team that featured two future FBS cornerbacks. Does Florida have chance? Nope. Smith wants the chance to play right away and that would not be the case at Florida.

WR DURON CARTER (6-3, 185 pounds) Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas
Now here's a kid to keep an eye on. The son of NFL great Cris Carter, Duron Carter is a skilled receiver with strong leadership potential. This would be a great pick up for the Gators and Meyer should have the inside track. Not only has St. Thomas recently been a pipeline to Florida, but Cris Carter is close friends with Meyer. Carter speaks to the Gators once or twice a year and gets sideline passes to home games at The Swamp.

RB LAMAR MILLER (5-11, 205 pounds) Miami Killian
Oh, what the Gators' coaching staff would do to sign this kid. Miller is projected to be one of the best high school running backs in the nation this fall ... but Miami has first dibs. That won't stop Florida from making a strong push.

RB JAMAAL BERRY (5-11, 190 pounds) Miami Palmetto
Another talented Miami-Dade back. Another talented Miami-Dade back who Florida probably has no chance of signing.

LB FRANKIE TELFORT (5-11, 194 pounds) Miami Gulliver Prep
Meyer does a great job of recruiting the moms. This speedy linebacker wants to go out of state but he could probably be swayed.

ATH BRANDON MCGEE (5-11, 180 pounds) Plantation
McGee is a star quarterback for coach Steve Davis at Plantation but McGee will likely play secondary in college. Florida should make signing McGee a top priority or be prepared to see him playing against UF for another SEC team or perhaps Ohio State.
-

FS TEVIN MCCASKILL (6-2, 180 pounds) Miami Northwestern
Florida offered Tevin early. This guy is a lock for UM, of course.

GATOR CLAUSE'S SLEEPER SPECIAL
SS A'Kevis Anderson (5-10, 190 pounds) Hallandale
This guy has been cracking skulls at the varsity level since his freshman season at Hollywood Hills. A born leader, Anderson would be a talented addition to the Gators' secondary.

-jo-