(Updated, 9:13 p.m.) Friday Night Lights continues to pay dividends for the Florida Gators and coach Jim McElwain, as the program has received six verbal commitments in a 72-hour span.
Florida landed three verbal commitments Saturday, including one from the No. 2 ranked pro-style quarterback in the 2018 class who spent the weekend in Gainesville.
Matt Corral, the No. 23 overall player in the 2018 class by 247Sports composite, verbally committed to the Gators.
A five-star prospect out of Long Beach, California, Corral de-committed from the University of Southern California on June 17 and soon turned his attention to offers from Florida and Georgia.
“This recruiting process has been an amazing and humbling journey,” Corral wrote on his Twitter account. “After thoughtful consideration and talking with my family, I have decided to take my talents to the University of Florida.”
If Corral does sign a letter of intent with Florida, he’ll become among the highest-rated quarterback prospect signee in program history.
“805 GUNSLINGER,” Florida offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier posted on Twitter following Corral’s commitment.
“The block is hot,” defensive line coach Chris Rumph posted on his Twitter account. “Chomp chomp.”
“It just got real! #AllBite18,” UF director of player personnel Drew Hughes wrote on Twitter.
Earlier Saturday, the Gators landed a verbal commitment from Randy Russell, the No. 46 ranked safety in the 2018 class by 247Sports.
Russell spent Friday in Gainesville, and his time on campus was seemingly enough to convince him to verbally commit to McElwain and the coaching staff.
Russell, who de-committed from Miami (Fl.) June 6, is the fourth defensive back to commit to Florida’s 2018 class. The commitments of Russell and Corral, which are non-binding until each signs a letter of intent, give Florida 12 commits in the 2018 class.
And Florida continued to shore up a 2019 class that is ranked top-five in the nation by multiple recruiting services. Cameron Williams, a 6-foot-5 defensive end prospect in the 2019 class out of Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School in Hollywood, Florida, verbally committed to the Gators after receiving a scholarship offer the same day.
Williams’ commitment brings Florida to 11 commits in the 2019 class.
Clarification: Corral will be among the highest rated QB recruits.
