Gator Country

Andre Debose celebrates after making a verbal commitment to the Florida Gators during the Under Armour All-America high school football game on Sunday at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando / Gator Country photo by Tim Casey

ORLANDO --- The suspense is over. Andre Debose, the wide receiver from Sanford Seminole who has been compared to both Percy Harvin and Reggie Bush by more than one national recruiting analyst, put an end to all the speculation Sunday night at the ESPN/Under Armour All-American Game when he committed for the University of Florida, choosing the Gators over LSU, Georgia, Southern Cal and Miami.

Debose, who led Sanford to its first ever football state championship, told Gator Country that he felt peace in his heart when he made the decision to be a Gator.

“I decided a couple weeks back during the playoffs,” he said. “I just had to get it off my chest. I was ready to settle on a school. The coaches let me know that I have an opportunity to play there, and that’s what I wanted to hear.”

In leading Sanford to the Class 6A title, Debose accumulated more than 2,000 yards of while spending time at wide receiver, running back and quarterback. It was at wide receiver that he made a miraculous catch in the final seconds of the state championship game that sealed an improbable 28-21 comeback win over Miami Northwestern.

Debose teamed up at Sanford with fellow ESPN/Under Armour All-Americans Ray Ray Armstrong and Dyron Dye to lead the Seminoles to their season to remember. Armstrong and Dye committed to Miami earlier in the evening.

Two factors weighed into the final decision by Debose. One, was the chance to play early, and the second was his relationship with the staff at Florida.

“It was the coaches,” he said. “Them and the opportunity that school has. They have a lot of seniors leaving. That’s all I want is a chance to play early.”

Just because Debose is committed to the Gators don’t expect the recruiting to end. It figures to be a battle all the way to National Signing Day and Debose will fuel that fire because he’s planning to take his full allotment of official visits.

“I’m going to take three more official visits after my decision,” Debose told Gator Country earlier in the week.

He has already taken official visits to LSU and UGA. Planned trips to USC, Florida, and Miami are still on the horizon.

The Gators will continue to make their pitch and it should be a good one. Debose has the kind of talent to be a Bush or Harvin-like player so he would feel right at home in the Florida offense, which seems tailor-made for a playmaker.

Debose is Florida’s 17th commitment for the recruiting class of 2009. He is ranked number 30 nationally in the ESPN 150. He joins fellow ESPN/Under Armour All-American wide receiver Nu’Keese Richardson in the Florida fold.

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ESPN’s Tom Luginbill said of the pledge, “The fast just keep getting faster with the Florida Gators. The addition of Debose to this already speedy group of offensive skill players could become particularly important if Percy Harvin opts to enter the NFL draft early. Like Chris Rainey, Jeff Demps, Deonte Thompson and many others capable of creating mismatches in space, Debose only adds more fuel to the fire.”

“Debose can play quarterback in the shotgun and do the same things Harvin and Demps can do out of the backfield. He has excellent ball skills and is also a serious vertical threat. His upside in the return game is huge because he is so good in space and can make people miss.”

“Of the top remaining uncommitted offensive skill players, Debose was priority No. 1 for the Gators to solidify this class with some of the fastest players in America.”

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