RECRUITING: Juco QB Remains Committed To UF

With only one scholarship quarterback (Tim Tebow) on the roster for 2007 it is imperative that the Florida Gators sign two quarterbacks in this recruiting class. The Gators have two commitments for the position, Atlanta prep star Cameron Newton, and juco star Bryan Waggener, who recently too his official visit to the University of Florida.

Waggener is a pure drop back passer with good size (6-4, 226) and decent mobility. Waggener’s Citrus College team got off to a rough start this season but they have rebounded to a 4-3 record and they are undefeated in conference. If things go as planned, Citrus will play in a bowl game, then a playoff game, and then the state championship.

Citrus had a bye week a couple of weeks ago which allowed Waggener to visit Florida, the school that he committed to back in May. He certainly was not disappointed in his second trip to Gainesville since the summer.

“I was there for the LSU game … it was awesome,” Waggener said. “The atmosphere in the stadium was just crazy. I have never seen anything like that. I have been to a UCLA game, but it doesn’t compare. The SEC is just a crazy conference.”

He got a chance to see the Gator offense and some of what it can do. He also knows the youthful additions to the Gators in the last couple of years means the Gators will be strong for a while.

“I am just excited,” he said. “It is a real fun offense to play in. I have seen the athletes they have like Percy Harvin and them. There is just a bunch of talent at that school.”

It was homecoming week on his visit and Waggener got more than just a flavor of what Gainesville and the Gators are all about.

“I came in on a Friday morning,” he said. “I went to the Gator Growl and that thing was awesome. We don’t have anything like that, sixty thousand people for a pep rally.

“My host was Tate Casey Saturday night, we sat down and had dinner with Coach Mullen and his wife, and then I went out with Tate that night.”

He also brought along some of his family so they could understand what he was getting into. The trip probably eased their minds a little bit.

“My parents and my sister were there with me, and they said they had a great time when they were there,” he said. “It will be different for them because I have never been anywhere but California but they are fine with me going that far.”

Waggener is also being courted by the Oklahoma Sooners, another team desperately in need of quarterback help. Oklahoma quarterback coach Josh Heupel has been calling Waggener but he hasn’t offered a scholarship yet.

“Coach Heupel form Oklahoma has been calling me,” Waggener said. “It is kind of hard to blow the big time schools off sometimes. My coach told me I should look into Oklahoma just to compare it to Florida. I am not sure if I am going to visit Oklahoma, I had a great visit to Florida so it would be hard to beat.”

Waggener remains fully committed to Florida. He’s scheduled to arrive in Gainesville January 4, the first day the dorms are open. He then will start class on the 8th and be ready to compete for playing time in the spring.