Bonitto announces he has already signed with Sooners Anthony Schwartz commits to Auburn
ORLANDO Nik Bonitto let it be known where he will be playing college football during the Under Armour All-America Game.
In fact, the Aquinas edge where signed.
Bonitto signed to play for Oklahoma during the new Early Signing Period from Dec. 20-22, according to St. Thomas coach Roger Harriott. The previously uncommitted St. Thomas rusher revealed he has already prospect was able to keep the decision under wraps and announce the commitment to the Sooners on Thursday night during the the third quarter of the national exhibition, featuring more than 100 of the nation’s top high school football seniors.
Bonitto chose Oklahoma over Texas and Louisville. He visited the Sooners after his senior season on Dec. 15, and went out to see the Longhorns and Cardinals during the season.
“Coach [Lincoln] Riley is really building something special over there,” Bonitto said of his announcement on ESPN2. “I can’t wait to be in Norman for the next three or four years.”
A 6-foot-3, 215-pound four-star prospect, Bonitto is the Sun Sentinel’s reigning Broward large schools Defensive Player of the Year. Playing both defensive end and outside linebacker, he had 73 tackles, 11 for loss, nine sacks, two interceptions — one for a touchdown — a forced fumble and a fumble recovered.
“Nik is a versatile, dynamic athlete. He possesses the ability to play any position on defense,” Harriott said. “God has blessed Nik with size, speed, athleticism and football acumen. These attributes have enabled him to perform at an elite level.”
dfurones@sunsentinel .com, @DavidFurones_
ORLANDO Possibly the fastest college football recruit in the nation will be going to Auburn.
American Heritage fourstar receiver Anthony Schwartz announced a commitment to the Tigers during the first quarter of the Under Armour All-America Game on Thursday night at Camping World Stadium.
Schwartz, also a statechampion sprinter, chose Auburn over Florida.
“I just feel like that’s the best school for me to succeed at both football and track and I feel good things up there,” Schwartz said on ESPN2 after the announcement.
The Florida Gators appeared to be the favorite to land the speedster earlier in his recruitment, but Schwartz named the Tigers his leader amid the coaching change at UF and Auburn’s hot regular season finish with the Iron Bowl victory over Alabama.
He told the Sun Sentinel before the Gators hired Dan Mullen that he was confident the program would make a good hire, and he kept Florida in the running until the end.
Schwartz, a second-team Sun Sentinel All-County selection in Broward, had 25 receptions for 507 yards and seven touchdowns for the Patriots as a senior.
“Anthony Schwartz is a great kid. Auburn is also getting a dynamic and explosive player,” American Heritage offensive coordinator Mario Perez said. “Every time that Anthony gets the ball in his hands, the opponent has to hold their breath because Anthony is capable of taking it to the house on any play.”
He scored a pair of touchdowns — one through the air and one on the ground — in Heritage’s 44-15 Class 5A state championship victory in December, the Patriots’ fourth title in five years. On the track, Schwartz has run his fastest 100 in 10.15 seconds. He won individual state titles in the 100 and 200 in helping lead the Patriots to a team state track title as a junior.
Schwartz doubled his team’s passing total with a 41-yard catch deep down the sideline where, had the quarterback led him, he likely had a touchdown. Shortly following his announcement he caught an 8-yard pass from future teammate in Auburn signee Joey Gatewood. One of four college announcements made at the national all-star exhibition, Schwartz was the first of two Broward players to announce Thursday, with the other being Nik Bonitto to Oklahoma in the third quarter.