Shavar Manuel sees himself as a “SEC guy”

The Florida Gators hosted their annual Friday Night Lights camp on Friday and one prospect in particular made waves by showing up and shaking up his top-3 schools. Defensive end Shavar Manuel (6-4, 290, Bradenton, Fla. IMG Academy) showed up toward the end of the event to talk to the Florida Gators coaches.

Manuel visited Florida back in April and was able to meet some of the coaching staff but he wanted to get back on campus and meet up with defensive line coach Chris Rumph.

“I came back just to chop it up with Coach Rumph,” Manuel said. “Coach Rumph is a great dude, he’s a bout his business and he’s a great defensive line coach.”

Manuel and Rumph have been building a solid relationship and Rumph has impressed the talented defensive end prospect with his knowledge of the game, demeanor, and coaching ability.

“Recently it’s been great,” Manuel said of his relationship with Rumph. “He just tells me all the things he looks forward to me if I were to commit, the physical ability and talent I have as a pass rusher. He says he just loves me as a recruit.”

As far as his recruitment goes, many had Manuel pegged as a heavy Florida State lean, especially with the success that Florida State has had recently recruiting his school, IMG Academy. However, Manuel doesn’t see himself playing for the Noles right now due to a major factor that is really out of their control.

“They’re still in the recruiting process,” he said of Florida State. “I see myself as more of a SEC guy.”

Manuel named a new top three schools of Florida, Auburn and LSU but he doesn’t have a timeline of when he wants to make an official decision. Manuel says he’s just enjoying the process and having fun with it, he doesn’t have any visits lined up but he has noticed the job that Coach Jim McElwain and his staff are doing at Florida.

“I believe he’s doing a great job,” Manuel said. “It’s not easy to come in and do what he’s trying to do, so I think he’s doing a great job.”

Nick de la Torre
A South Florida native, Nick developed a passion for all things sports at a very young age. His love for baseball was solidified when he saw Al Leiter’s no-hitter for the Marlins live in May of 1996. He was able to play baseball in college but quickly realized there isn’t much of a market for short, slow outfielders that hit around the Mendoza line. Wanting to continue with sports in some capacity he studied journalism at the University of Central Florida. Nick got his first start in the business as an intern for a website covering all things related to the NFL draft before spending two seasons covering the Florida football team at Bleacher Report. That job led him to GatorCountry. When he isn’t covering Gator sports, Nick enjoys hitting way too many shots on the golf course, attempting to keep up with his favorite t.v. shows and watching the Heat, Dolphins and Marlins. Follow him on twitter @NickdelatorreGC

2 COMMENTS

  1. This is great news! I honestly didn’t think we had much of a chance with Manuel be of all the reports about him being a hard Nole lean, but now he only wants to play in the SEC?? Awesome!!

    I wonder if this has anything to do with F$U’s recent troubles off the field? Either way great news for us that we’re in his top 3