Gators Make Up Ground With Van Dyke

Until just a few weeks ago, DeMarcus Van Dyk was a Miami commitment but much has changed since he re-opened recruiting. A couple of weeks ago he took an official visit to Florida for the South Carolina game and came away very impressed. Four schools are vying for his commitment but apparently the Gators have made up a lot of ground with this four-star cornerback.

The season ended for Van Dyke and Miami Monsignor Pace in the second round of the playoffs. The 6-1, 160-pounder was instrumental on both sides of the ball as he had five interceptions and 43 tackles along with 17 catches for 305 yards and three touchdowns.

After Pace’s final playoff game, Van Dyke and his mother made the long journey to Gainesville in their car, starting early in the morning of the South Carolina game.

“My mom and I drove there,” Van Dyke said. “I went to the game and watched the Gator Walk. It was amazing, a great trip. I just thought the atmosphere at the game was tremendous.

“The game was like a Super Bowl game. The electricity in the air was amazing. I could barely hear myself talk. I was sitting next to Duke Lemmens and I was trying to talk to him and I could barely hear him talk to me. “

A senior was his host for the weekend as Van Dyke got to tour the school and the town of Gainesville.

“Brian Crum was my host,” the four star cornerback said. “He’s a cool guy. We just went around the town and then hung around the freshmen dorms. We had a good time.”

One thing that Van Dyke remembers is the atmosphere in the locker room after the game. The game was close coming down to a blocked field goal to win it in the final seconds. The 90,000 fans in the stadium erupted and it was very emotional for all the players who have been a part of two undefeated seasons at home this year. Van Dyke loved going in the locker room and seeing the genuine feeling that Urban Meyer has for his players.

“It was amazing,” he said. “You can see that Coach Meyer is very close to the team and I like that.”

When Sunday rolled around it meant it was time to see the academic side of the University of Florida as well as getting some one on one time with the coaches in the film room.

“We went to see the academics on Sunday,” Van Dyke said. “We went to lunch and then Armando (Allen) and I went to watch some film of the DB’s and the running backs in the separate meeting rooms.”

On Sunday, Van Dyke visited with a large extension of his family that lives in Williston, a small town about 20 miles southwest of Gainesville. Monday was his last day and he met with Urban Meyer one on one.

“On Monday I met with Coach Meyer and he talked about how life and everything is going,” he said. “He wanted to know how well school was going and wanted to make sure that I had fun on my trip.”

Meyer and cornerback Coach Chuck heater made sure that Van Dyke understood just why they are recruiting him.

“They like that I am tall and have good speed,” he said. “He said that I could come in and play as a true freshman they aren’t scared to play true freshmen.”

His commitment to Miami has been waning for a while now and Van Dyke says he is now open to four schools of which he will make a final decision on December 1st.

“Yes I am wide open and it’s between Florida, Miami, Ohio State and Tennessee,” he said.

The Gators have a lot going for them in this race. Regardless, Van Dyke will make some school very happy in less than two weeks.