Gators’ Dean shines at Under Armour game
Defensive back
planned to leave Thursday’s Under Armour All-America game for Gainesville to begin his career with the Florida Gators.
Dean will enroll early and begin classes Monday.
Before turning the page on his high school career, Dean showed he is ready for the college game. His size, aggressiveness and confidence stood out during team practices against many of the nation’s top high school players.
The 6-foot-3, 184-pound Dean showcased all three qualities to break up a pass in the end zone on the final play of the first half to preserve a 13-0 lead for Team Highlight at Camping World Stadium. It was one of two pass break-ups by Dean.
“He mixes up,” said Southeast recruiting analyst for Rivals.com and Yahoo. “He loves to get up as a DB and play press coverage. Another Georgia kid who just has confidence.
“He’s going to let you know when he wins that it battle.”
Dean said he’s ready to help continue to tradition of success by Gators’ defensive backs, where UF has produced a first-round pick and three second-round picks the past two NFL drafts.
The four-star recruit from Hampton, Ga., expects to contribute as a freshman.
“You just have to live up to the different things as they come,” he said. “Life is about opportunity. I’m just going to take it.”
Dean lined up at cornerback this past season after playing safety his previous seasons at Dutchtown High School. Dean has the size coaches love in modern cornerbacks, but Simmons believes his long-term future is at free safety.
The Gators lost out on Plantation American Heritage star receiver
who committed to Auburn during the first quarter of Thursday’s game.
Schwartz nearly committed to the Gators last summer, but began to eye Auburn following the ouster of former UF coach
At 6-foot, 172 pounds, Schwartz lacks the size new UF coach
seeks in wideouts but might be the fastest recruit in the 2018 class.
Schwartz averaged 20 yards and scored seven times on 25 catches in 2017. He scored a pair of touchdowns — one receiving, one rushing — during Heritage’s 44-15 Class 5A state championship victory.
Team Spotlight cornerback scooped up a third-quarter fumble forced by linebacker
just as it reached the sideline.
At one time, the one-two combination was headed to Tallahassee together. But Lytton, a four-star recruiting out of Maryland, now will head to FSU alone. Louis, a native of Deerfield Beach, instead changed his commitment to South Carolina, where he will play for
Based on Thursday, Muschamp’s gain is a loss for the Seminoles. Louis finished with six solo tackles.
Four-star defensive tackle recruit turned in a dominating performance for Team Spotlight. He tied Louis with a game-high six solo tackles, including a sack. The 6-foot-2, 298-pound Miller has committed to Auburn and has an official visit there planned Jan. 12. But the native of Birmingham, Ala. plans to keep open his options. He has set visits for Jan. 26 to Tennessee and Feb. 2 to UF, the final weekend before National Signing Day on Feb. 7 . ...
of Clovis (Calif.) West High, the first recruit to commit to former UCF head coach at Nebraska, threw a 14-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. Martinez ended the game 3-of-8 passing for 28 yards and the touchdown.