The Florida Gators landed a big commitment on Tuesday as kicker Eddy Pineiro (6-1, 180, Miami, FL ASA College) committed to Florida over Alabama and others.
The JUCO star had been committed to Alabama since this past summer but backed off of his commitment on Monday night citing that he had sleepless nights due to his early decision to commit to Alabama.
Alabama hosted Pineiro over the week on an official visit but the Gators also hosted Pineiro and his family for an official visit during the weekend of the Florida State game and also hosted the kicker during the Vanderbilt weekend in November as well.
Pineiro, who has become internet sensation with his videos of him making long field goals, will fill a void at the kicker position that the Gators have had since Caleb Sturgis graduated three years ago.
The field goal kicking this year for the Gators was awful as Austin Hardin was just 5-of-14 and had three kicks blocked and that forced the Florida Gators to host open tryouts in the middle year, which came up unsuccessful as well.
Pineiro has never kicked in a football game but hopes to turn that around as the kicker is a soccer star turned football player that will have four years left to play in Gainesville.
Good news for Florida is that Pineiro will also enroll at Florida in January. He’ll be able to work on his kicking mechanics this spring in hopes of being ready to go in the fall for this Florida Gators football team.
With Pineiro’s announcement the Gators now have 26 commitments in the class of 2016 and could add more this week when linebacker David Reese makes his final decision on Friday.
Gator Country will have much more on Pineiro’s decision to commit to Florida later today.