All 17 members of the 2012 recruiting class agreed there are many advantages for committed prospects to recruit other top-notch players.
“The main advantage is that we are going through the same recruiting process so we know what is going on and what is being said,”
said Citra wide receiver Latroy Pittman, a current Florida commit. “We also know what every school is offering and can offer, so we can relate to other prospects and tell them why we committed to Florida and what Florida has to offer more than other schools.” Another Florida commit, Warminster, Pa., tight end Colin Thompson, is also doing a little recruiting. Thompson’s even recruiting a guy who will directly compete with him for playing time at Florida. He’s been working to get Land O’ Lakes tight end Kent Taylor to commit to the Gators.
“I just tell Kent that I have been traveling and visiting schools just like him, and I know that nobody can offer the same thing that Florida can,” Thompson said. “I have visited a ton of schools in the North and South, and I have heard every coach tell me things about their school. But when I listen to them, I think back and say that doesn’t compare to what Florida can do for me, so I just share those experiences with Kent and hopefully that will help him out and help him to decide to come to Florida as well.”
Many Florida fans remember when Brandon Spikes was being recruited. The star linebacker said he would play wherever Tim Tebow played because he wanted to play with the best players in the country.
Florida safety commit Marcus Maye is already thinking the same way. “As a good player, I want to play with great players and I want good guys in the locker room with me,” the star safety from Melbourne said. “If you are a great player you should always want great players on your team to push to be the best and to help the team to win a championship. I think everyone agrees that winning a championship is the main goal.”
“I want to be like the Miami Heat where we just go out and recruit great guys to play with us to build a great team that is built to win championships,” Pittman said. “I feel like Lebron James or Dwayne Wade out recruiting guys like Chris Bosh. We just want to be great.”
PHOTO BY: rob foldy
FACES OF THE FUTURE
The unique thing about recruiting is that unlike the Miami Heat, Florida’s new commits won’t be thrown into the fire before they’ve really had a chance to get to know each other. Florida’s commits are getting good at recruiting, too. While the Heat struggled to find Offensive line commit Jessamen their identity in the first season They’re making head coach with the “Big 3,” Florida’s Dunker feels the same way. Will Muschamp’s job a whole lot commits have plenty of time to He’s already had a big impact easier, and Florida already boasts get to know each other before for the Gators. one of the top recruiting classes they strap the pads on in college. in the nation because of it. He has been recruiting top North Carolina offensive Maybe it’s the success the “The best part about it is lineman D.J. Humphries for that you build relationships Gators have had on the field a while. Humphries recently recently that has lent to great with all these guys and committed to the Gators. recruiting results. you become friends,” Maye said. “So the guys that do But maybe, just maybe, it’s choose Florida we are already “I don’t want to be on the close and know stuff about each because the Gators have an field with a bunch of guys army of the nation’s best other and that will help our who aren’t that good or who players recruiting for them. team chemistry in the years don’t care about winning,” to come. Also when you talk to Dunker said. “As an offensive After all, they’re the guys who them, you can all get on the lineman I want guys like are already sold on Florida. same page and have the same DJ Humphries who are great Who better to make a pitch to mindset entering Florida.” athletes and I can rely on to some of the top remaining make blocks. I never have to players in the country? That added bonus of having worry about is he going to get guys commit early and develop the job done, because I know “I just tell them straight up, relationships should benefit he is a great player.” there is no better place to play the Gators down the road. college football on Saturdays At what point does having so than in the Swamp in front of much top talent become an issue More than a year before they’ll 90,000 screaming fans,” Pittman ever suit up for Florida, many and scare off recruits, though? said. “I tell them that you don’t of the Gators’ commits are want to come into the Swamp as already close friends. With more and more emphasis a visitor because it’s the loudest being placed by high school recruits on playing early, having “I want to build a family with the stadium in the country. But the most important thing I say to current commits and the guys a top-notch recruiting class that might sign with Florida that them is you’re either a Gator every year can be discouraging or you’re Gator bait.” way we can start building team for some prospects. chemistry before we set foot on campus,” Pittman said. “Every So far that hasn’t been the Gator Country Recruiting time we get a new commit, I case for Florida commits like ANALYST ANDREW SPIVEY make sure to text him or Facebook can be reached at Dunker, Maye and Pittman. message him and tell him ANDREW@GatorCountry.com. welcome to the family, and then I You can also follow him In fact, Pittman thinks it can start getting to know that person.” on Twitter at ANDREWSPIVEYGC. even help attract more talent.
Fact: UF has captured the SEC All-Sports Trophy 19 of the last 20 years.
SEPT/2011 | GATORCOUNTRY.COM | GATOR COUNTRY MAGAZINE 13