Gator Country

With four prospects already committed to the Florida Gators for the Class of 2010, it would seem the coaching staff has tendered a number of offers to the top juniors in the country. However, that is not the case.

The Gators actually have been quite selective in their offers, and one prospect might surprise you and not because of his size, speed or position but from where he lives – Shawnee, Kan., which is 1,150 miles from Gainesville.

It is rare that the Gators go after a high school prospect from the state of Kansas where some of the best junior college football is played. For one, the distance is great. For another, the number of Kansas-bred football prospects is incredibly small. The Gators did recruit linebacker Arthur Brown of Wichita, Kan., a few years ago, but he chose Miami.

Justin McCay is already one of the hot prospects in the Class of 2010. Almost 6-5 and weighing nearly 200 pounds, he is an extraordinary talent because of the tremendous athletic gifts in his possession. Not only does he excel on the gridiron, but he is a three-sport star who also starts at power forward for the Bishop Miege Stags basketball team and also runs the 100, 200 and 400 meters for the track team.

McCay estimates that seven or eight schools have already officially offered him and that number should increase as the year moves along. McCay has targeted schools such as Florida, Kansas, Kansas State, Nebraska, Oregon, Notre Dame and Oklahoma.

While location is not much of a concern for McCay, the type of offense the school utilizes seems to be even less of a concern. While some prospects don’t want to play in the spread or a run-dominated system or whatever, McCay seems relatively unconcerned.

“You can fit in wherever,” McCay said. “I can adjust.”

Bishop Miege is coming off a tough 33-18 loss Tuesday to the Baldwin Bulldogs in the first round of the state playoffs. Before the loss, Bishop Miege had won three straight games after starting the season 2-4.

“We came together as brothers and a family,” McCay said. “We won a lot more games. We didn’t have the best record, but we lost some games in the fourth quarter.”

While it was a tough way to end the season, McCay doesn’t have much time to dwell on the loss. Now it’s time for basketball and a chance to take a couple of unofficial visits, one of which could be to Gainesville.

“I’m trying to get down for a game,” McCay said. “Right now, I’m just focusing on my grades and school.”

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