Gator Country

On the big stage, in front of a packed house in San Antonio's Alamodome, and a television audience of millions watching the Army All-American Bowl, Jon Bostic (6-2, 225, Wellington, FL/Palm Beach Central) became Florida's 15th commitment and first linebacker, ending a long process that always seemed to favor the Gators, but also had schools such as Clemson, Florida State, LSU and Miami very much in the picture until announcement day.

Bostic finished a productive senior season for the Palm Beach Central Broncos with 75 carries for 468 yards and 6 touchdowns on offense, while also going 4-for-4 passing (all on fake punts) for 132 yards and 3 touchdowns. On defense, Bostic lined up mostly at linebacker after spending the first three years of his high school career lined up in the secondary. Despite weighing in at almost 220 pounds, Bostic turned in one of the fastest times at the Gainesville Nike Camp back in April when he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.58 seconds, which was electronically timed. RB Mike James (at 211 pounds) was the only other over-200-pound prospect in attendance that day to turn in a time under 4.6 seconds.

Some good news came Bostic’s way this week when he passed an English class (he actually missed a practice in San Antonio to take his final online) to allow himself the opportunity to enroll early at Florida. He will have a quick turnaround from San Antonio as he has to head back to report for classes in Gainesville next week. He becomes the seventh commitment to Florida expected to enroll early. The others include OL Nick Alajajian, DS Dee Finley, OL Jonotthan Harrison, DT Edwin Herbert, TE Desmond Parks and WR Nu’Keese Richardson.

Bostic is the son of former Astronaut High and Bethune-Cookman standout John Bostic who went on to play three years in the NFL with the Detroit Lions. His father was a high school teammate of Gator great Wilber Marshall, so there certainly is a strong tie for Bostic to the Gators and at the linebacker position.

The commitment gives Florida three players headed to Florida who are participating in the Army All-American Bowl, along with Nick Alajajian (starting center for the East) and Nick Kasa (starting strongside end for the West).

ESPN EVALUATION

There should be no questions about this kid’s impressive blend of size, speed and athleticism as a total football player. ... Tall, high-cut and very well-built and proportioned. ... Physically looks like a future outside linebacker and flashes the toughness and range to excel there at the next level. ... Displays great acceleration chasing plays down sideline-to-sideline with his long, smooth stride and pursues with a relentless motor. ... Striking closing speed and explosive on contact. ... Shows similar burst filling hard between the tackles. ... Diagnosing skills are not great at this point but he is a quick-twitch athlete and very reactive to the football masking any false steps or misreads. ... Generates great initial downhill speed allowing him to deliver good power at the point of attack and frequently thrust blockers upright. ... Sifts adequately well when pursuing laterally and slipping the cutoff block. ... Great spring in his jump to the football and is explosive enough to shoot the backside gap and make plays in the backfield. ... Good power through his hips and lower-body. ... Drives through ball carriers on his tackles and limits second efforts. ... Does a great job leveling off and attacking his underneath zone with excellent plant and drive skill in coverage. ... However, he shows marginal flexibility and hip-fluidity in space. ... Can tackle a bit high and at times plays without a good base and proper leverage at the point of attack. ... Will let blockers get inside hand placement on the cutoff block and we would like to see improved hand technique when shedding and scraping. ... Shows a bit of stiffness breaking down in space and opening and turning in coverage but he should continue to pack on bulk and retain his vertical attacking speed. ... Bottom line, Bostic’s continued physical development will most likely place him at linebacker in college and he possesses all the physical tools for a defensive coaching staff to refine into productive player. ... Could start out on the strong side and slide in as he packs on more bulk and strength. ... Running back is not out of the question in a downhill, power-running scheme.

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