Gibson found a home after dropping UF

It took some time, but Jayden Gibson finally settled on where he will play college football. After a little more than a week of coaching hirings and firings and decommitments, the former Florida pledge found a home in Norman, Oklahoma.

The West Orange receiver, after an official visit to Oklahoma this past weekend, committed to the Sooners on Tuesday night, and signed Wednesday during an early National Signing Day ceremony in the school gymnasium.

The 6-foot-4, 190-pounder, who was selected for the upcoming Under Armour All-American game, was contacted by several schools after his decommitment from Florida, but a familiar voice help pull him toward Oklahoma. Former UCF offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby, who left the Knights to join Lake Kiffin’s staff at Ole Miss as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, was hired last week by new Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables.

“Funny story, when I first talked to him I thought he was recruiting me to Ole Miss,” Gibson told the Orlando Sentinel via phone late Tuesday. “But he literally offered me before they announced that he was hired at OU. He landed in Norman and he was on the way to the press conference [last week].

“Then, within the next two days he flew all the way down to Florida to see me, so that was pretty cool.”

Gibson said he had waited “about three or four days” for the new Florida coaching staff to contact him, but when he did not hear from anyone he decided to decommit from the Gators. Former Gators commit Nick Evers, a quarterback from Flower Mound, Texas, also committed to Oklahoma, making his pledge Monday.

“The coaches weren’t really reaching out to me so I thought it was best to decommit,” Gibson said. “I waited and it was like multiple recruits were going through the same thing, so I didn’t want to be left in a weird situation.

“I figured if they still wanted me, they would come and recruit me.”

He loved his visit to Oklahoma and the chance to meet Venables and the rest of the staff.

“Obviously, Oklahoma is a great opportunity, a big school, so that’s pretty cool,” Gibson said. “I love Coach Venables. I feel like he’s going to be a really good head coach for me. He’s real high energy ... I know he’s going to push me hard, coach me hard ... I like coaches like that. It’s cool to be pushed. I’m ready to start it all over again. I’m ready to be pushed.”