For UF, the secondary appears to be a primary priority.
The Gators added their fourth defensive back commit of the 2011 recruiting class when Madison Heights (Mich.) Madison High three-star cornerback Valdez Showers orally committed Wednesday to Florida.
Showers said coach Urban Meyer was “fired up” by his decision.
Showers, rated as the 36th-best cornerback in the nation by Rivals.com, said the opportunity to see the field early at UF played a role in his decision.
“I wanna come in and start as a true freshman,” Showers said. “As long as I go out there and work hard, I think I can do that.”
With cornerback Moses Jenkins and safety Ahmad Black running out of eligibility, and the possibility of junior Janoris Jenkins entering his name in the NFL Draft at season’s end, UF will likely need added depth in the secondary.
Four of the Gators’ 15 commitments for the 2011 class have been defensive backs.
Showers joins four-star prospects Nick Waisome (Groveland South Lake High) and Louchiez Purifoy (Pensacola Pine Forest High) and three-star athlete De’Ante Saunders (Deland High) as UF’s commitments in the secondary.
Waisome, the No. 11 cornerback in the nation according to Rivals.com, made his pledge to play at Florida last week on a nationally televised special. He cited the relationships he built with the Gators’ coaching staff as the biggest reason for his decision.
Purifoy committed to UF in July right before the team’s annual Friday Night Lights camp. At the time, he was unranked by Rivals.
However, when Rivals released the latest edition of its 250 best prospects in the class of 2011, Purifoy jumped to No. 116 overall and is ranked as the seventh-best cornerback in the nation.
Saunders, who is expected to play safety at Florida, was a four-star prospect earlier in the summer, but dropped in Rivals’ latest rankings. He is currently considered the 20th-rated safety in the 2011 class.
“That’s a lot of talent coming (in the secondary),” Showers said. “Especially when you have a great school like Florida, you just gotta get out there and compete.”
UF offered Showers a scholarship in June after his showing at one of the team’s summer camps.
The 5-foot-11 cornerback didn’t pick UF solely because of the chance to have an early impact, though.
The Michigan native chose the Gators because of the opportunity to play far away from home, even though his father wanted him to go to school nearby.
“Ever since I was a little kid, I just wanted to go out of state,” Showers said. “I never wanted to stay in state. It had to be done.”
Showers, who spurned offers from at least nine other schools, including in-state program Michigan State, said he committed before his senior year started because his mom wanted him to focus on this season.
In the end, Showers said choosing the Gators was tough. But after praying about it, he knew the connection he had with Florida felt right.
Oral commitments are non-binding until a national letter of intent is signed on or after National Signing Day.
