Head Coach Will Muschamp and the Florida Gators continue their hot streak on the recruiting trail by landing verbal commitment No. 7 for the 2012 recruiting class on Friday afternoon.
6-foot-4 293-pound Defensive tackle Jafar Mann joins high school teammate Mike Davis as Florida commitments. Davis made his pledge to Florida after the Gators junior day a little over a month ago.
Mann holds scholarship offers from Auburn, Alabama, Georgia, and Miami among others.
Mann said in an interview a few weeks ago that even though he picked up a Georgia offer that he wanted to leave his home state. Friday he made it official when he committed to the Gators.
“I committed to Florida because I felt like it was the right decision for me and my family,” Mann said.
He continued, “I’ve always wanted to go to Florida, but I wanted to wait until the right time. I couldn’t hold it back any longer.”
Davis was excited his friend and teammate decided to choose the Gators.
“I am very happy right now. I’ve been trying to convince him to commit to Florida,” Davis said.
“I just told him it would be nice to have a teammate with me down at Florida.”
In addition to Mann and Davis, Stephenson High School has two other prospects that could also join the duo in Gainesville. Linebacker Raphael Kirby (6-2/218) lists the Gators as his leader but confirmed to Gator Country on Friday afternoon that he does not plan to make a decision until the summer. Defensive end Jarontay Jones (6-4/240) has Florida as his co-leader along with Auburn.
Mann joins Dante Phillips (6-6/275, Venice/Venice HS) as the only defensive tackle commits for the Gators. Other Florida commitments include wide receiver Latroy Pittman (6-1/190, Citra /North Marion), running back Matt Jones (6-3/215, Seffner/ Armwood), running back Mike Davis (5-11/205, Stone Mountain, Ga/ Stephenson), linebacker Jeremi Powell (6-2/200, Largo/ Pinellas Park), and Jessamen Dunker (6-6/315, Boynton Beach/ Boynton Beach Hs).
Gator Country Recruiting Coordinator Derek Tyson can be reached at Derek@GatorCountry.com. You can also follow him on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/DerekTysonGC