The latest addition to the Gators' 2010 recruiting class is a big one.
New Port Richey Gulf High's Leon Orr - all 6-foot-6, 300 pounds of him - announced his intent to sign with UF on Sunday while at the Badger Sports/New Level Athletics Pass Camp in Las Vegas.
Orr is the Gators' eighth oral commitment and second lineman prospect for the 2010 class. Their other lineman, 257-pound Ian Silberman, is significantly smaller than Orr.
But if Orr has his way, size will be only one of his advantages.
Despite his girth, Orr is noticeably quick. He starts at defensive tackle and tight end for Gulf, earning all-county honors at both positions. He even played fullback as a sophomore.
"(Opponents) see me, they're like, 'He's big, he ain't going to be able to move,'" Orr said. "But then when I do it, they be so surprised that it catches them off guard."
Orr probably surprised a lot of people when he showed up at a 7-on-7 camp this weekend. Drills there pit an offense consisting of a quarterback, a center and five eligible receivers against a pass defense - linebackers and defensive backs. The center usually volunteers to snap, not be a full-time lineman, so 300-plus pounders are a rare sight.
Despite his size, Orr had no intentions of snapping during the drills. He wanted to hone his ball skills in preparation for next season, when he hopes to be Gulf's best receiving option.
The camp featured other members of UF's 2010 recruiting class, most notably quarterback Trey Burton and safety Jonathan Dowling. Orr said he talked to Burton - whom he met at the UF-Tennessee basketball game on March 1 in Gainesville - a lot during the weekend and traded texts with Dowling.
The light-on-his-feet Orr memorizes the passing tree and runs with players half his size. The big-as-an-ox Orr is known to lift up and slam opponents like a heavyweight wrestler.
Orr has been on UF's radar since last summer, when he attended the team's Friday Night Lights camp.
"Before then, no one really knew about me," Orr said. "After the Friday Night Lights, that's when I opened a lot of eyes."
The camp gave Orr a chance to show how well he could move his big body, and the coaches offered him a scholarship on the spot.
Orr will attend the Urban Meyer Elite Lineman Camp this June.
Oral commitments are non-binding until a national letter-of-intent is signed on National Signing Day on Feb. 3, 2010.
