Gator Country

The offers keep coming for Jacksonville (Fla.) First Coast outside linebacker Nigel Carr. And you can now add Florida to his list that includes more than 20 schools after receiving an offer letter from the Gators this past weekend.

Carr has size, power and speed on the outside, running a 4.5 40-yard dash. His athleticism combined with a history of solid prospects from First Coast High School has attracted lots of attention since the end of the college football season.

“Urban Meyer has come by,” Carr said. “Coach (Randy) Shannon [Miami] has been by. There are a lot of coaches that have been coming by. It’s been a while since they’ve been around since their spring practices are starting, but they all said they’ll be back once my spring practices get underway.”

Carr’s spring workouts start on May 1, but in the meantime, he plans visits to Florida State’s Junior Day, Clemson and South Carolina’s spring football game. The Gamecocks appear to be leading the way for the 6-3, 220-pound linebacker, mainly because of their honesty with him.

“I like South Carolina a lot,” Carr said. “The coaches have been really honest with me. I went to camp there last summer, and they said they would offer me. Then they offered my in September. I know their defense, and I know their program. They’ve never had a top-notch linebacker there and I could be their first.”

Despite his interest in the Gamecocks, Carr is far from making a decision and the Gators are high on his list. He camped at Florida during last summer’s Friday Night Lights as well as camping at South Carolina, South Florida and Clemson.

With new offers from Florida and Miami within the last week, Carr is weighing his options before he’ll consider making a decision. He might commit before his senior season gets underway, but said he wants to take time making his decision because he has his sights set on the NFL and knows just how important his college choice can play a factor in that goal.

“I’m looking for a team that can get me to the next level,” Carr said. “I know I’m going to need good coaching, good linebacker positions and good academics. My goal is to go to college and then play in the NFL, so I’m going to need good coaching. I want the best coaching that I could receive.”

When comparing himself to other linebacker prospects, Carr said it’s the way he plays the game that makes him stand out.

“I’m fast, can cover good and I hit hard,” Carr said. “I don’t play the game like other people do. I play it at another level. I go 110 percent at everything that I do.”

Carr’s not locked in to the linebacker position. Schools are also looking to him as a defensive end as well, and he said he’ll see more time in the fall on the line.

“Most teams are focusing on my height and weight a lot, so my coach has been putting me at end, so I can get some plays there,” he said. “What I like to do is freelance and just make plays.”

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