UF's "silent commitments"

[HudsonGator]

Florida’s two silent commits are now gone

November 5th, 2012 10:05pm
by Zach Abolverdi

On Oct. 8, the Gators received two silent verbal commits.

Less than a month later, they are gone.

Offensive guard David Dawson (Cass Tech/Detroit, Mich) and linebacker Alex Anzalone (Wyomissing, Pa./Wyomissing) both committed to UF coach Will Muschamp the Monday following Florida’s 14-6 win over LSU.

Dawson was ready to join the Gators in the summer and made it obvious at The Opening, but his commitment to Michigan kept him from attended Friday Night Lights. Muschamp & Co. continued to recruit Dawson, though, and he eventually committed to them by phone after watching their upset over the Tigers. He officially parted ways with the Wolverines on Oct. 14.

The Wednesday before his official visit for the South Carolina game, Dawson did a story with The Sun about his decision, which he planned to go public with that weekend.

“When they beat LSU, I was sold,” Dawson said. “The score probably didn’t say much, but Florida really beat up on LSU’s defensive line. I know that came from hard work by those guys and the techniques and drills from offensive line coach Tim Davis. A couple days after the game, I told my mom that’s where I wanted to go and got her to OK my silent commitment.”

“(The UF coaches) were so excited when I told them. They didn’t really believe that I was going to actually come down. I had to cancel my first trip because of Michigan’s no-visit policy for commits. But this is my life and the college I’m going to be at for the next four years, and the University of Florida is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

However, Dawson had a change of heart when he came down to Gainesville and realized it wasn’t the place for him. He also discovered a desire to stay close to his mother, who lost her husband (David’s father) in a tragic accident on April 11 and moved back home to Detroit less than a year ago after working a new job in Texas in 2011.

Dawson released a new Top 3 of Michigan State, Ohio State and Wisconsin on Oct. 29 and told The Sun that UF is no longer being considered.

Anzalone’s recruitment is just as crazy. He committed to Notre Dame on July 8, but Florida (his second choice) was never out of the picture with him. He grew up a Gator fan, his dad graduated from UF and they have family in Gainesville.

Anzalone made a surprise appearance at Friday Night Lights and then took an unofficial visit for the LSU game that lasted until Monday. Several sources told The Sun that Anzalone committed to the coaches before leaving, and he declined to do any interviews afterward.

Anzalone cancelled his trip to Notre Dame for the BYU game on Oct. 20, and it seemed like only a matter of time before he publicly pledged to Florida.

Then on Halloween, things got tricky. Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Mike Farrell reported that Anzalone had indeed committed to the Gators and already filled out his early enrollment and admissions paperwork with UF. But Notre Dame defensive coordinator Bob Diaco reached Anzalone and his father by phone and tried to get them to reschedule their visit.

Anzalone agreed to give the Irish one last look and traveled to South Bend after his game Saturday. He left Notre Dame on Monday and reaffirmed his commitment hours later via twitter, saying his recruitment is now shut down completely with all other schools.

National Signing Day is two months away and Muschamp still has time to find other options at those positions if need be, but he had two ESPN150 members in the bag and he’s now empty handed.

Such is life in recruiting.

http://recruiting.blogs.gatorsports....-are-now-gone/

[tomis_gator]

well that sucks...

[gatorchamp27]

I think Anzalone would be a good fit. Cant blame Dawson for wanting to be closer to his mother.

[tomis_gator]

Originally Posted by gatorchamp27

I think Anzalone would be a good fit. Cant blame Dawson for wanting to be closer to his mother.

can't blame either one...just sucks for us...

[SmootyGator]

Man... It's like a rollercoaster ride!

[G8RNTN]

This is why recruiting sucks! Everyone gets hyped up and then things like this. At least they gave us plenty of time to know this. Unlike some waiting till NSD or not saying anything at all. Dawson done Anzalone I still think is a possibility.

[tomis_gator]

Originally Posted by G8RNTN

This is why recruiting sucks! Everyone gets hyped up and then things like this. At least they gave us plenty of time to know this. Unlike some waiting till NSD or not saying anything at all. Dawson done Anzalone I still think is a possibility.

I've learned not to get too worked up about recruiting...It years takes before you really know if a player is good or not...

[gymgator]

So, last 5-6 spots?

1- Harris FS
2- Brown OT
3- DT (Adams & Gilmore looking less likely)
4- DE (Ogundeko???)
5- Best Available/committed player?

[gatordude15]

@gymgator:

With Dawson off the board now, don't be surprised if we go hard after Denson (FSU commit) with one of those last spots.

[ArtDeco]

As I have said from Day One, we would be much better off recruiting local kids from Florida that really, really, want to be Gators.
Juice Johnson, Matt Elam, Louchiez Purifoy, and Mike Gillislee are good examples.

[tomis_gator]

Originally Posted by ArtDeco

As I have said from Day One, we would be much better off recruiting local kids from Florida that really, really, want to be Gators.
Juice Johnson, Matt Elam, Louchiez Purifoy, and Mike Gillislee are good examples.

And we are not doing that?

[GATORAZ]

Originally Posted by tomis_gator

And we are not doing that?

14 players from Florida 3 from Georgia

[rserina]

Originally Posted by tomis_gator

And we are not doing that?

Exactly. We are doing plenty of it. But this stuff pops up every time we lose out on a non-local kid. Unfortunately, we can't field a team full of locals who want to be Gators or we will go 5-7 every year. You recruit the kids who fit your system, who have the grades, who are interested in playing at Florida, and who can keep you competitive at this level.

[lean_gator]

When Analzone gets the urge to come visit us again, and he will, I hope the coaches say no.

[stomp_and_chomp]

Originally Posted by lean_gator

When Analzone gets the urge to come visit us again, and he will, I hope the coaches say no.

I don't believe he'll be taking ANY visits. He's an early enrollee, his process will be over soon.... AS will Marcell Harris, Kelvin Taylor, Adam Lane, Daniel McMillan and Joey Ivey. All are EE's.

I'm not sure of the exact date, but it is approaching.

[COGatorman]

This all sucks, but you hope that the coaches and kids were always honest with each other and the decisions were well reasoned. In the end, we will get great players and our team will be well coached - that is all that matters. You can't get all the best players, but you hope to get some diamonds in the rough and build a solid program around those that you do get and that truly want to be Gators forever!

Go Gators!

[ArtDeco]

Originally Posted by rserina

Exactly. We are doing plenty of it. But this stuff pops up every time we lose out on a non-local kid. Unfortunately, we can't field a team full of locals who want to be Gators or we will go 5-7 every year. You recruit the kids who fit your system, who have the grades, who are interested in playing at Florida, and who can keep you competitive at this level.

Pensylvania and Michigan are hardly "local", hence no one should act surprised when said athlete opts to stay closer to home i.e. Penn State, ND, OSU, or Michigan.

[StrangeGator]

Originally Posted by gymgator

So, last 5-6 spots?

1- Harris FS
2- Brown OT
3- DT (Adams & Gilmore looking less likely)
4- DE (Ogundeko???)
5- Best Available/committed player?

All better than the guys we "lost." We'll get two or three out of that group and another good WR.