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PALM BEACH GARDENS — Jacoby Brissett stood at midcourt Friday
night, hugging his mom, Lisa Brown, as he tried to fight back
tears.
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The four-star Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer High quarterback was moments
removed from announcing the biggest decision of his life — a
decision his mom didn’t agree with.
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front of a packed Dwyer gymnasium, Brissett made known his
long-anticipated college choice and announced he would attend
Florida.
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Brissett, the No. 3 dual-threat quarterback in the nation according
to Rivals.com, picked Florida over Miami, Wisconsin and Washington.
It wasn’t an easy choice, either, as Brissett said he wrestled back
and forth between UF and UM at least 25 times in the days leading
up to Friday.
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just had to follow my heart, and my heart lied at Florida,”
Brissett said.
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Although Brissett made up his mind, he has not signed his national
letter of intent with the Gators, but plans on having it done by
Monday.
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his mom has anything to do with it, though, he won’t be signing
with Florida at all. Brown was pushing for her son to choose Miami,
and said she will continue to try to sway him until the national
letter of intent is signed and sent in.
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“It was not my choice,” Brown said. “I didn’t like the way Florida
handled the process. I was never able to meet the head coach. All
the other coaches took the time to come and meet me. Will
(Muschamp) never did. I never met him face to face. And I find that
very disrespectful.”
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Brissett made his decision Thursday during school after he met with
his coaches. But he didn’t inform his mom until two hours before
the announcement — by a text message.
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Brown said Brissett informed her by text because he knew she would
be hurt by the decision.
"margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman;">“I
love her no matter what,” Brissett said. “But it came down to
making the decision I felt was best for me. I can’t please
everybody. I’m hurt that I hurt my mom. … I was crying with her
before the game. She means the world to me.”
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Brissett’s commitment to Florida gives the Gators’ 19 players in
Muschamp’s inaugural recruiting class, including two of the
nation’s top-five quarterbacks.
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Having Jeff Driskel, the nation’s No. 1 overall quarterback, in the
same class doesn’t bother Brissett, who thrives on competition.
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“[Driskel] will have to prove to me every day, every year that he’s
going to be better than me for him to win that starting spot.”
