Clay Burton is keeping it all in the family.
The three-star Venice High outside linebacker decided to join his older brother, UF freshman quarterback Trey Burton, in orange and blue next season when he orally committed to the Gators on Sunday night.
Burton, who is rated as the 31st-best outside linebacker in the nation by Rivals.com, originally committed to Notre Dame on Sept. 24. But that changed when Florida’s coaches offered him a scholarship over the weekend.
“I’m a Gator,” Burton told Scout.com. “It’s just an opportunity that I can’t pass up. I wasn’t ready a year ago, or even six months ago. But like my brother said, I’m ready now and I earned it.”
Offensive coordinator Steve Addazio made a trip to see Burton play against Sarasota High on Friday night and afterward told the three-star recruit to give UF coach Urban Meyer a call over the weekend.
When Burton called, he told Meyer he was ready to be a Gator, and the coach offered him a scholarship. After a conversation with his brother and thinking about the decision, Burton reneged on his commitment to Notre Dame and accepted Florida’s offer.
As a junior, Burton made 47 tackles and notched 11 sacks for Venice, according to the team’s website.
But he wasn’t the only Venice player to go public with his commitment Monday. Junior defensive tackle Dante Phillips, who has a close relationship with the Burton brothers, also orally committed to Florida. He joined Citra North Marion High wide receiver Latroy Pittman as the Gators’ only commits for the 2012 class.
Blakely announcing: Bradenton Manatee High four-star running back Mike Blakely will announce his college decision today at a 9 a.m. press conference in his school’s media center.
Blakely, rated as the No. 7 running back in the nation, will choose between Florida and Auburn.
The four-star running back told reporters after his game Friday that he had already made his decision and informed his family and coaches.
Oral commitments are non-binding until a national letter of intent is signed on or after National SigningDay on Feb. 2.
