Gators waiting for Jefferson’s letter of intent
Five-star recruit
tweeted he remains committed to the Florida Gators despite a post-National Signing Day drama that left many wondering whether the prized recruit would end up in Gainesville.
In a series of tweets on his Twitter account, Jefferson explained he had yet to fax his signed national letter of intent to UF for a couple of reasons:
1. His parents did not agree with his decision to sign with UF.
2. Jefferson was blindsided by the sudden departure of defensive line coach
to the Miami Dolphins.
Jefferson first tweeted: “I haven’t sent in my LOI because someone told me a few days before NSD that Williams was leaving. Why send it in without being sure?”
He continued: “I’m a Gator my dude! Forget all these rumors that I was paid, my parents disagreed [with] my decision, all of that. ... My last tweet is why I held out.”
He then concluded: “So to all my haters, it’s still Gator Gang!” Jefferson’s father,
, tweeted earlier Thursday that Williams’ departure had given his son second thoughts.
“Yes, we are holding out. Florida [is] making too many coaching changes. This is not a game, it’s my son life,” Jefferson tweeted on his account.
Williams helped recruit CeCe Jefferson, a defensive end from Baker County High School, after Williams joined the Gators staff in early January. Williams spent the previous three seasons as the defensive line coach for the Oakland Raiders.
Jefferson, however, developed a much stronger bond during his recruitment with former UF defensive line coach
. On Jan. 22, Leo Jefferson responded to Lawing’s hiring by FSU by tweeting, “Great hire for FSU they got a great man in Coach Brad Lawing.!!!!!!!!!! We have a awesome relationship! !!!!!!”
CeCe Jefferson sounded 100 percent sold on his decision to sign with UF on Wednesday. Jefferson placed a Gators hat on his head, and then sat down and signed his national letter of intent during a signing party at his home in Glen St. Mary — an hour north of Gainesville.
But nearly 24 hours later, Jefferson had not faxed his national letter of intent to UF and cemented his bond with the school.
The sticking point is “a family matter,”
Jefferson’s coach at Baker County, told the Orlando Sentinel.
McPherson would elaborate.
Leo Jefferson told the Gainesville Sun he will not let Jefferson fax in his scholarship papers.
“I’m a die-hard Gator fan, but personally, I want CeCe to go somewhere else,” Jefferson told the Sun. “I wanted to get him away from home. I didn’t want him in Gainesville, to tell you the truth.”
Even so, the 6-foot-2, 275-pound Jefferson seemed to be sticking to his commitment.
The Baker County Press reported Thursday afternoon
not Jefferson planned to send his national letter of intent to UF either Thursday or Friday, and had no plans to change his college choice.
On Wednesday, Jefferson recalled attending Gators home games since he was a high school freshman.
He said he had discussed the decision with his parents Tuesday night, and then prayed about it before he fell asleep.
“I knew I was a Gator when I woke up,” Jefferson said.
Miami adds a quarterback
During his National Signing Day press conference on Wednesday, Miami coach Al Golden said the Hurricanes had signed 20 players — a number he called a “minimum.”
A day later, it seemed that number had already increased.
Georgia quarterback
signed with Miami on Thursday night shortly after receiving an offer from the program.
A three-star prospect out of Jefferson High, Shirreffs received late interest from Miami, which is in need of depth at quarterback behind starter
. , who redshirted this past season, will be playing baseball this year, leaving Miami with just two full-time scholarship quarterbacks for spring football after the departures of
and
.