SAN ANTONIO — The Gators have made another Final Four.
While that remains to be seen for Billy Donovan’s men’s basketball team, Florida football coach Will Muschamp is the Gators’ head coach in the latest quartet.
Four-star Richmond, Va. (Hermitage HS) linebacker Curtis Grant said after his team’s practice for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Thursday that Ohio State, Virginia, North Carolina and Florida are the four schools he is considering attending.
Grant (6-3/222) made a trip to Columbus, Ohio to visit the Ohio State University in mid-December.
“I had a great time up there,” Grant said. “It was my first time up there, it was a great place.”
Grant has also listed in-state University of Virginia in his top-four, based on his relationship with Cavaliers’ head coach Mike London. Prior to coaching at Virginia, London was the head coach at Richmond, in Grant’s hometown, during the 2008-2009 seasons.
“I already knew the coaches before they even got to Virginia, so I had already built a relationship with them before they even got there,” Grant said. “That’s why I like them a lot.”
The North Carolina Tar Heels are also among the four schools Grant is considering.
“I’ve been to North Carolina a whole bunch of times,” Grant said. “I just like the way they operate down there.”
Florida and Muschamp are making a push to land Grant as well.
“The Gators are still in my top four,” Grant said. “I’m still getting to know coach Muschamp and the rest of the new staff that he’s hiring, so they are still up there too.”
Grant said that he likes the experience Muschamp brings to UF after coaching at Texas, Auburn, LSU and the Miami Dolphins.
“I looked at his track record,” Grant said. “He has a pretty good track record. He’s won a few championships and he’s put a lot of players in the (National Football) League.”
Grant said he plans to make an official visit to UF on Jan. 13.
Florida verbal commit Mike Blakely (RB – Bradenton/ Manatee HS) is a teammate of Grant on the East team.
“He’s recruiting me,” Grant said. “Blakely, me and him are real cool right now. We’re still getting to know each other and talking about things, but other than that we’ve just been chilling.”
Grant will wait until National Signing Day, Feb. 2, to announce his decision.
Grant was named one of six finalists for the U.S. Army player of the year award, which will be announced Friday evening.
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl will be played on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Alamodome and will be broadcast on NBC television.
“Everybody out here is good, having a great time and we’ve come to play ball,” Grant said. “I’m looking forward to showing up, having a great time and balling.”
Many of the U.S. Army All-Americans watched the Under Armour All-America game on television last night.
“I only watched a little bit of it, but it was alright,” Grant said.
Could Grant’s East team beat either of the teams from the Under Armour All-America game?
“Yeah, we could,” Grant said.