UF picks up a surprise commit

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Gatorsports
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Florida coach Will Muschamp and his assistant coaches have shown the ability to land highly-ranked recruits.

But they also aren’t afraid to sign sleeper (sometimes unknown) prospects that impress them on film and in person.

Bryan is the first defensive end in Florida's 2014 class. (Photo from Bryan's Facebook)

Taven Bryan (Casper, Wyo./Natrona County) is the latest fall into the latter category.

The 6-foot-5, 250-pound lineman camped at Florida on Saturday and earned an offer from Muschamp & Co. Bryan then pledged to UF late Monday night, announcing his decision on his Facebook account.

“I have committed to play for the Florida Gators,” he wrote.

Bryan is listed as an offensive tackle by all four recruiting sites, and two (Rivals and Scout) rate him a three-star prospect. But he wants to play a defensive end in college, and the staff took him at his preferred position.

UF now has 10 members in its 2014 class with addition of Bryan, who also held offers from schools such as California, Nebraska, Oregon and Tennessee.

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25 COMMENTS

  3. Kyle, after you “offer” them, it’s upt to them to do their evaluation and commit. But they must realise that the coaches can’t continue to wait until the last minute for them to dramatize their commitment and or signing. You get the best available talent under your belt as soon as possible and move forward, especially when you know you have the staff to “coach them up”, get them to perform and at a high level. GO GATORS!!!!

  6. Kyle that’s how I see it. DE for ’14 is deep in my opinion. Taven appear to have great size and length (if his listed H and W are accurate). I haven’t seen any video but hope he can help take our pass rush to another level. Selcom aboard. GO GATORS!

  11. Hand is a long-shot. He will end up signing with VT, because of his relationship with Foster and it being home. Champ could pull it out, if Fowler and RO-PO have a tremendous season and Hand sees that he would get a lot of exposure, at UF. I doubt he comes to UF, either way.

  16. Hand is def not a longshot. And in my opinion we need hand badly. I’m tired if us signing “sleepers”, not saying that they cant develop, but there is a reason why some of these top rated recruits get so much attention.

  21. Thanks TigerCatZeroZero, This kid is quick off the ball on Defense, plays with his head up and has a HIGH MOTOR on both sides of the ball. He’s a “breakfast” kind of guy on offense (he LOVES PANCAKES) and stays engaged until his pancakes are finished or the whistle blows. Good foot work and speed. As for Solman stars per sa, don’t win games against Bama or anyone else. What makes a player a 4 or 5 star?? Someones opinion, it appears this kid has enough in coach Muschamp’s OPINION to offer him a shot at THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA! GO GATORS!!!!

  23. How can a 3 star recruit be a sleeper? I’m just saying. He looks really good on the video. I believe we also need to sign more 4/5 star recruits. We signed 13 – 3 star recruits last year according to Scout. Some turn out great but it’s obviously better to sign more higher rated recruits.

  24. Gary poe, Solman, and steveob,
    Morrison was a sleeper and he’s turning out to be quite the star. Smart coaches, like Muschamp, don’t recruit based on stars. They recruit based on the individual, what they see in the individual. This part of what makes Muschamp so good. Be glad he’s so smart. Don’t question it. He’s proven he knows what he’s doing. Until he proves otherwise trust the man.

  25. TJ- The exception does not prove the rule, look at the past and see historically how many 3 stars majorly contributed. I’m not saying they can’t, but history does not look favorably at this situation.