The Gators picked up their 10th oral commitment of the 2010 recruiting class Friday, adding to the quick start the team has already made toward building next year's class.
Jaylen Watkins, an athlete from Cape Coral High, committed while at a UF spring football practice. Watkins was impressed by UF on many levels - namely the team's recent on-field success and the academic opportunities - but the Gators coaches impressed him most.
"When I went there, the coaches were real. It didn't feel like they were recruiting," he said.
Offensive coordinator Steve Addazio was in charge of Watkins' recruitment.
Watkins said other schools watched his game tape and called Cape Coral coach Mike Goebbel to say they were offering scholarships without ever meeting him. Addazio's approach was more personal.
"(Addazio) told me they didn't just recruit any guy, that it was going to be a long process, and it was," Watkins said. "They wanted to have a great relationship before offering."
Watkins has Swiss Army Knife versatility, having lined up at quarterback, wideout, safety, cornerback and kick returner for Cape Coral. He said the Gators are recruiting him at cornerback, making him the team's fifth defensive back commit.
While a lot of recruits visit Gainesville frequently during the team's spring season, Friday was the first time Watkins had been to a Gators practice. He said he wanted to stay in town longer, but his grandfather Sam Watkins, a reverend at Zion Hope Missionary Baptist Church and Cape Coral's team chaplain, wanted to get home to prepare for Easter.
His grandfather also accompanied Watkins on his first trips to The Swamp last year during UF's games against Miami and LSU. They were blown away by the stadium's atmosphere.
"That is one of the craziest places I've ever been to," Watkins said. "My granddad and dad loved it."
Weighing only 172 pounds and running a 4.44-second 40-yard dash, Watkins is cut in the mold of an agile playmaker who jukes around defenders. But a look at Watkins' highlight tape shatters that stereotype. Watkins loves contact. At safety, he lights up opposing receivers. On one kick return, he broke two tackles simultaneously en route to a 90-yard touchdown.
"I don't know how others see me, but around my county I'm known as a physical player," he said.
Watkins chose to end his recruiting process early so he can focus on his senior year at Cape Coral. He hopes his early commitment will keep other coaches - and other distractions - away from the team's practices so he can focus on winning the Class 5A state championship.
In last year's playoffs, Cape Coral fell to Venice Beach 35-14. Venice Beach won on the legs of fellow UF commit Trey Burton, who rushed for five touchdowns.
Burton has been in contact with virtually every player targeted by UF in the 2010 recruiting class, including Watkins. The two have developed an on-field rivalry and talk frequently.
"I was actually a silent commit on March 30, but I told Trey about it," Watkins said. "Me and Trey are real cool."
Oral commitments are non-binding until a national letter-of-intent is signed on National Signing Day on Feb. 3, 2010.
