Lorenzo Phillips makes No. 12 for Gators

The University of Florida continued its torrid pace on Wednesday night by landing a verbal commitment from four-star linebacker Lorenzo Phillips from Patterson, La.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound linebacker from Patterson High School becomes the 12th commitment overall for the Gators and joins Brian Poole, Jr. as the second player to commit to Florida this week.

Phillips said the atmosphere at Florida helped persuade him.

“I committed to Florida because I just enjoyed being around the coaches and meeting some of the players,” Phillips said. “I just felt at home at Florida.”

Most big recruits from Louisiana end up at LSU, but Phillips has already visited the Tigers and said it’s not the place for him.

“I’m not going to visit there again, I’ve already been there,” he said. “I’d like to get out of Louisiana.”

In addition to the Florida offer, Phillips also holds offers from Alabama, Tennessee, Texas A&M and in-state power LSU.

Phillips is ranked as the No. 10 outside linebacker and the No. 142 player overall by the ESPNU recruiting rankings.

Phillips is also ranked the No. 141 player in the class of 2012 by the Gator Country composite rankings which combine all the major recruiting services. He is the 16th-ranked linebacker in the composite rankings.

Verbal commitments are non-binding until a recruit signs his national letter of intent on Nation Signing Day in February.

Gator Country Recruiting Coordinator Derek Tyson can be reached at Derek@GatorCountry.com. You can also follow him on Twitter at DerekTysonGC.