It didn't take long for the Gators to get started on their 2009 recruiting class.
Just one day after UF announced its group of signees for 2008, Valdosta (Ga.) Lowndes High's Greg Reid became the first commit of next year's crop.
Reid's decision fulfilled Coach Urban Meyer's promise on Wednesday that he would make a concerted effort to recruit Florida's northern neighbor.
"Georgia is an area that you're going to see us hit much harder in the future," Meyer said at his National Signing Day press conference. "The more that I watch the film, it's fantastic high school football."
Fantastic football is just what Reid played in his junior year - he earned all-state honors playing running back, defensive back and kick returner - and Lowndes won Georgia's AAAAA state title.
Since recruiting sites haven't yet ranked all of the 2009 prospects, Reid doesn't have a rating, but Rivals.com recruiting analyst Barton Simmons believes Reid will soon be a well-known name.
"I would definitely say he is one of the top prospects in the state of Georgia," Simmons said. "He has a chance to be one of the top 250 prospects in the country, and he's a four-star type of kid. I think he's a huge pickup for Florida this early."
Reid's early commitment leaves plenty of time to change his mind, but Lowndes coach Randy McPherson doesn't think his star player will waver.
"I've heard him talk about Florida a lot before," he said. "This is not a new thing. He really likes Florida."
At 5 feet 9 inches and 178 pounds, Reid is similar in body type and athleticism to current UF cornerback Joe Haden.
Like Haden, Reid played on both sides of the ball in high school, and his position in college is yet to be decided.
He even played at quarterback occasionally, in a formation named after UF signal-caller Tim Tebow.
"He can do a lot of things with the ball in his hands, but he may be a defensive back at the next level," Simmons said. "Still, he could be an option to run the ball. He's just an explosive guy."
Reid ran for 191 yards and two touchdowns in his state championship game, while also intercepting a pass, blocking an extra point and running for a two-point conversion.
McPherson's favorite memory of Reid came during an 18-8 win against rival Valdosta High in October.
With Lowndes leading 11-8 with less than two minutes left, McPherson was just hoping to run the clock down and escape with a victory.
Reid had other plans.
"We just handed him the ball on a power run, and he broke about four tackles and went all the way for a touchdown," McPherson said. "We were just trying to run the clock out, and when he busted that one it was all over."
The 53-yard sprint put the game away, and plays like that prompted Meyer to compare Reid to the Gators' most explosive player.
"Meyer said (Reid) was going to play in that position that (UF wide receiver Percy Harvin) plays," McPherson said. "I told Greg that, and he said, 'What about defense?' I told him he needs to stay on offense because he's too good with the ball."
