BRADENTON — After keeping his college choice a secret from the public for six days, Mike Blakely wasted no time making his decision known Tuesday morning.
In a press conference at Bradenton Manatee High, the four-star running back announced his commitment to Florida, making him the 18th member of the Gators’ 2011 class.
“I felt like I made the best decision for me,” Blakely said.
Wearing a red warm-up jacket and pants, Blakely, who narrowed his choices down to UF and Auburn, didn’t hesitate to announce his decision, quickly reaching into his backpack and pulling out a Gators cap.
On Tuesday, Blakely was all UF — literally. After donning the hat, he removed the warm-ups to reveal a head-to-toe Gators outfit, complete with UF socks.
But the seventh-best running back in the nation (according to Rivals.com) wasn’t always sure he’d end up at Florida. He said that during the recruitment process he was constantly going back and forth between UF and Auburn.
“At one point it was Auburn, 90-10 (percent),” Blakely said. “I started talking to both coaches, started talking to all the coaches and weighing my options, looking at what I think would be best for me. I went to Auburn on an official and I loved it there. Then I went to Florida on an unofficial and I loved it there. … If it wasn’t Florida, it would be Auburn. If it wasn’t Auburn, it would be Florida.”
The tipping point for the coveted recruit came after Florida’s 33-29 loss to LSU on Oct. 9. Blakely was in The Swamp for the game, and even though the Gators lost, the running back left his unofficial visit impressed with the gameday atmosphere and told his mom he knew he wanted to spend the next four years at UF.
Blakely said he privately committed to Florida’s coaches last Wednesday and also informed those closest to him, including some teammates, friends and his position coach, Rod Frazier, who played fullback at UF from 1996-2000. When Blakely informed Frazier, who he said was like a brother, father and uncle to him, the former Gator welcomed the running back to the Florida family.
“I know he walked in my office every day and he saw the orange and blue,” Frazier said. “But I also made sure to know that I wanted him to do the best thing for Mike. ‘Don’t let me play a part of this, do what’s best for you.’”
Despite committing a week ago, Blakely and Manatee coach Joe Kinnan thought it would be best to hold off on an announcement until after the team’s game last Friday against rival Sarasota Riverview High because they didn’t want the decision to be a distraction.
In that game, Blakely displayed his versatility on offense in front of a crowd that included UF coach Urban Meyer and offensive coordinator Steve Addazio. The running back racked up two rushing touchdowns and also threw a 32-yard touchdown pass in Manatee’s 35-6 win.
“Just watching Florida on TV, they’re struggling in the running back position,” Kinnan said. “They’ve got some speed guys in (Chris) Rainey and (Jeff) Demps, and they got (Emmanuel) Moody, who’s more of a power guy. I think Mike is the total package. He can run inside and run outside.”
Kinnan also praised Blakely’s ability to throw the ball, saying that if the running back was a few inches taller, he’d be able to play quarterback for a Division-I school because he has the arm for it. On the season, Blakely has completed all three of his passes for touchdowns.
That skill set explains why UF coaches told the 5-foot-9, 194-pound back that they plan to use him similarly to how they used Percy Harvin during his time at Florida.
Regardless of how the Gators intend to utilize him, Blakely plans on working hard to help the team in any way he can — even it means playing defense.
But before Blakely, who is considering enrolling at UF in January, can try to help the Gators on the field, he will try to help them off it.
With his commitment solidified, he’s done visiting other schools and will focus on another highly touted recruit — four-star Lake City Columbia High defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan, who is still weighing his college options.
“I’m gonna start talking to Tim because I heard he’s a pretty good person,” Blakely said. “And I don’t want him tackling me.”
Oral commitments are non-binding until a national letter of intent is signed on or after National Signing Day on Feb. 2.
