Florida's 11th verbal pledge is Delaware offensive lineman

<p>The excitement of Florida's Friday Night Lights camp started early this year.</p><p>Before the festivities began, Dover, Del., offensive lineman Trip Thurman gave Florida coaches his verbal pledge Friday, becoming the Gators' 11th commitment of the 2011 recruiting season.</p><p>"I knew that Florida was where I wanted to be, so I made my decision," Thurman said.</p><p>Thurman said his mind was all but made up after he worked out at one of Florida's camps in June. Working with offensive coordinator Steve Addazio was one of the main selling points that Florida had to offer, he said.</p><p>"He was great," Thurman said. "I fell in love with his coaching. I saw that he could develop me as a player and bring the potential out of me, so I kind of chose Florida because of that."</p><p>Accompanying Thurman while he is in Gainesville are his parents, who were the final ones who needed to be won over by Florida's staff. His father was sold from the beginning, Trip said, but Thurman's mom, a Tennessee graduate, was "uneasy" about sending her son off to Florida.</p><p>The distance and the intense rivalry between Tennessee and Florida kept her wondering about UF's program.</p><p>That all changed after she toured the campus and met with Gator coaches.</p><p>"She got herself some Gator gear and she has it on right now," Thurman said of his mother's approval of Florida. "I don't think that will be an issue."</p><p>Thurman, who will be in attendance at tonight's camp, is rated the No. 11 offensive guard in the nation by Rivals.com and stands 6-foot-6, 302 pounds.</p><p>Thurman chose Florida over Boston College and South Carolina.</p><b>FLORIDA'S CLASS OF 2011 COMMITMENTS</b><br /> <br /> <b>Name, Position, School, Height, Weight</b><br /> Trip Thurman, OL, Dover, Del., 6-6, 302<br /> Kyle Christy, PK, Brownsburg, Ind., 6-2 175<br /> Ja'Juan Story, WR, Brooksville, Fla., Nature Coast, 6-3, 190<br /> Ryan Shazier, LB, Plantation, Fla., 6-3, 205<br /> Tommy Jordan, OL, Ridgefield, Conn., 6-5, 280<br /> Hunter Joyer, FB, Tampa, Fla., Catholic, 6-0, 245<br /> Javares McRoy, WR, Lakeland, Fla., 5-9, 170<br /> Jeff Driskel, QB, Oviedo, Fla. Hagerty, 6-3, 225<br /> Jeoffrey Pagan, DE, Asheville, N.C., 6-4, 250<br /> A.C. Leonard, TE, Jacksonville, Fla., University Christian, 6-2, 232<br /> De'Ante Saunders, CB, DeLand, Fla., 6-0, 180