US ARMY BOWL: Top Gator Prospects

It’s time for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl game at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas and the Florida Gators are recruiting 15 of the 80 plus All-Americans in attendance. Gator Country’s crew will be there to provide exhaustive and exclusive coverage of the premiere high school All-American game in the nation throughout the week. Here’s who to look out for:

The Gators have four 2007 Army All-Americans already committed and those commitments will have a lot of work to do. Yes, they will be going up against the best players in the country this week, but they have ten other big time athletes they could help recruit to Gainesville. There certainly are some sterling names.

Leading off the committed list is the latest commitment; quarterback John Brantley from nearby Ocala Trinity Catholic. The Gatorade National Player of the Year, Brantley will push to start in the game on a strong East squad that has a few quarterbacks. One of the five star’s future teammates will be a target of his this week as Bristol (CT) Central five-star tight end Aaron Hernandez will also be a part of the east squad.

The defensive line is represented well for the Gators with two big time commitments. Five-star defensive tackle Torrey Davis from Seffner Armwood should be a force to be reckoned with in the trenches. Four-star strong side defensive end Sidell Corley of Mobile (AL) McGill-Toolen is also committed to Florida and brings his strong pursuit to the ball to the field of impressive athletes.

Brantley will have a big time speed merchant for a weapon on the east squad in Belle Glade Glades Central wide receiver Deonte Thompson. Thompson is rated five-stars and is looking at the Gators along with four other high profile teams. It looks to be a Florida, Miami, and Ohio state battle for Thompson.

The west squad will be loaded with receivers that are still looking in the Gators’ direction. Scout.com’s number one rated receiver in the country, Terrance Toliver of Hempstead (TX), will be catching balls for the west squad. It is a two team race between Florida and LSU for Toliver.

Sterlington (LA) blazer Ahmad Paige is another receiver that seems to be high on the Gators. Paige is scheduled to visit Florida again for an unofficial visit with his parents in late January. This looks to be a Florida-FSU battle for Paige.

Irving (TX) MacArthur special athlete Ron Brooks will bring his talents to San Antonio this week. Brooks could play many positions but is being recruited by most schools, including the Gators, as a receiver. I think this is a Florida-LSU battle for Brooks.

Oklahoma City (OK) Millwood athlete Gerald Jones could play any skill position himself. He is being recruited by some as a tailback, but the Tennessee commitment is being recruited by Florida as a receiver. Jones may be the best with the ball in traffic in this year’s senior class. Florida will need some help luring him from Tennessee, but watch out for Oklahoma State here.

Scout.com’s number one running back Noel Devine will be participating with the east squad. The ever elusive Devine should be able to showcase his electrifying skills. A product of North Ft. Myers Devine may be the most talked about recruit in the nation and is still considering Florida. This one is a Florida – West Virginia – LSU battle.

As the Gators head down the home stretch in recruiting, the offensive line board has become somewhat barren. One prospect the Gators continue to recruit is Ponte Vedra Beach Nease guard James Wilson. Although he is committed to USC, Wilson still says he will visit Florida and check out his old teammate and former Army All-American Tim Tebow. Wilson seems solid to USC, could a national title by the Gators make him take a harder look at Gainesville?

Corley and Davis could do worse than convincing Cincinnati (OH) La Salle’s Ben Martin to become a future teammate of theirs in Gainesville. The five-star defensive end brings an impressive list of suitors and could make his decision during the bowl game itself on January 6th. While Notre Dame is still around, the Gators have to beat out Ohio State to get Martin.

If there is a harder hitter in America than Allen Bailey, I haven’t seen him. The huge five-star middle linebacker from Darian (GA) McIntosh County Academy has the Gators among four finalists and would be a huge bonus for a growing star-studded recruiting class. It clearly looks like the Gators have to beat out Georgia over Miami and Alabama for Bailey’s services.

Orlando Edgewater’s Lorenzo Edwards is Scout.com’s number one rated weak side linebacker. Edwards will play linebacker in the game, but wants a shot at safety in college. Edwards is another one that has a fine list of suitors and is planning on making his decision public at the game on January 6th. Ohio State and Michigan are Florida’s biggest concerns here, but I think the Gators hold a lead going into the home stretch.

Another big time hitter that will showcase his skills is Ft. Lauderdale St Thomas Aquinas safety Major Wright. Wright plays at a great program that annually puts out some of the best, and he is right there with any of them. Ohio State and Miami will make the Gators work hard to land Wright.

Stay tuned throughout the week while Gator Country brings you exclusive coverage of practices, one on one interviews, and insider scoops throughout!