The Florida Gators picked up a big commitment on Friday afternoon when they flipped a local prospect from instate rival Florida State.
Offensive lineman Jake Slaughter (6-4, 300, Ocala, FL. Trinity Catholic) flipped his commitment from Florida State to Florida on Friday.
“After hours of thoughts, prayers and talks with family and friends, I will be de-committing from Florida State University and committing to the University of Florida,” Slaughter tweeted. “I wish nothing but the best for Florida State football but I’ve always known I was a Gator and I’m happy to say that I’m staying home.”
Florida offered Slaughter back in May and following the offer the lineman admitted to being happy about the offer despite being committed elsewhere.
“I was real excited about it,” he said on what the offer means to him. “It means a lot, being 30 minutes from Gainesville, watching them growing up, it means a lot. I really and truly didn’t think it was going to come but we started talking more after I committed and then they offered.”
Offensive line coach John Hevesy has explained that he wants Slaughter to play inside for the Gators.
“He definitely wants to keep me as interior guy at center or guard,” Slaughter said on where Hevesy wants him to play. “I’m just not sure where yet, he likes my length for an interior guy, he likes how I finish and I have pretty good feet for a bigger guy.”
Slaughter is the 22nd commitment in the class of 2021 for the Gators and joins lineman George Jackson, Javonte Gardner, Deyavie Hammond and Adrien Strickland as commits on the offensive line.