Nelson makes commitment number 23 for the Florida Gators

The Florida Gators picked up commitment number 23 on Monday night from defensive back Tony Nelson (6-3, 190, Montgomery, AL Carver), who made the decision just days after picking up the offer from the Gators.

“I decided to commit to Florida this morning and it feels very good to become a Gator,” Nelson said. “Coach [Drew] Hughes and I have a great relationship with each other and my relationship is getting better with the other coaches.

Last week Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain surprised Nelson with the offer and also gave him a message.

“Coach McElwain was the coach that offered me that last week,” Nelson said. “He was just telling me that he loved the way I play and that he hopes that I make the decision to come play at Florida.”

McElwain also made sure to tell Nelson about the Florida Gators defense and how the Gators would use Nelson in their defense.

“He was telling me that I can play both corner and safety in college,” he said. “He was saying that he thought I would play mostly at corner though, because of my length. He said that I would be a good fit for their defense.”

Not only was Nelson excited to hear the news from McElwain but he was also surprised by the offer from the Gators.

“I was very excited that I got the offer because I wasn’t expecting it,” Nelson said. “I never expected to get a big offer from Florida. I’m very good friends with Jeawon Taylor so that kind of makes it more special to get the offer.”

Despite just now getting the offer, Nelson has been in communication with the Gators’ recruiting coordinator Drew Hughes since Nelson visited the Gators in July.

“I’ve called Coach Hughes from Florida a lot to talk to him about the program,” he said. “He has been telling me that I need to go ahead and make that decision to be a Gator because it’s a good decision. I know Coach Hughes is from my area, so it makes it easier to talk to him and I trust him.”

Nelson joins his close friend Jeawon Taylor as a member of the Gators class of 2016 and the two of them are now going to try and get another friend to join them in Gainesville.

“Jeawon was happy and told me that I needed to come on down with him,” Nelson said. “Mack was also very happy to hear that I was going to Florida. I’m going to start recruiting him to Florida too.”

Now that Nelson is committed to Florida, he joins running back Lamical Perine, Taylor and linebacker Jeremiah Moon as Gators commits from the state of Alabama.

“I’m going to visit Florida this Saturday with Jeawon, Tank Jenkins and Mack [Wilson] for the Florida State game,” Nelson said. I’m excited to see what Florida is all about.”

INSIDERS BUZZ: Nelson is one of the top basketball players in the country and his length is what makes him an attractive prospect in football. Nelson is a very long and athletic defensive back that can make plays in college at corner.