ST. PETERSBURG — At Wednesday’s Under Armour All-America game at Tropicana Field, the Gators had five oral commits set to showcase their talents in front of a national audience. And for the most part, it was a quiet evening from the group.
Aside from a few dazzling plays from four-star quarterback Jeff Driskel, the nation’s top-rated passer, there weren’t many big plays from collection of four-star prospects.
The Gators’ most recent commit, Miami Monsignor Pace High safety Jabari Gorman, recorded two solo tackles for team Micro G (white), and was on the receiving end of a crushing block by his future teammate, Jacksonville University Christian tight end A.C. Leonard.
Halfway through the third quarter, Driskel dropped back to pass before eventually tucking the ball and eluding a few defenders before Leonard laid a crushing block on Gorman at the white 40-yard line, springing Driskel for a 63-yard touchdown.
“A.C. apologized, he thought I was somebody else,” Gorman said. “We all got different numbers out here, and A.C. apologized so much for it. It was a great play. I like the fact he’s going to be a Gator, too. I’d rather have him hitting me than somebody else.”
Leonard, along with Brooksville Nature Coast High wide receiver Ja’Juan Story, were both on the same team as Driskel, but the nation’s No. 1 pro-style passer (according to Rivals.com), failed to complete a pass to either of his fellow UF commits.
Leonard finished the game with zero receptions, and Story didn’t make much noise for team Click-Clack (red) until late in the fourth quarter when he snagged a nine-yard pass along the right sideline from Auburn quarterback commit Kiehl Frazier on the first play of the team’s eventual game-winning drive.
Defensive back De’Ante “Pop” Saunders, from Deland High, was the fifth member of the Gators’ class that participated in Wednesday’s game. He only recorded one punt return for 15 yards on the night, but was beat on a 59-yard touchdown reception by Oregon commit Devon Blackmon for Click-Clack’s first score of the night.
Of the Gators’ five oral commits in Wednesday’s game, three will be enrolling early at Florida: Driskel, Leonard and Saunders. According to Leonard, all three will be rooming together when they arrive on campus later this week.
