This from the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Sun Sentinel --
Gators' class could soon be memorable
By Louis Anastasis
Special to the Sentinel
GAINESVILLE -- Decades from now, after the worries of college football recruiting have sedated, Florida Coach Urban Meyer anticipates becoming an author.
Wednesday, a travel-weary Meyer wrapped up his 2005 recruiting class with 18 recruits.
"I'm going to write a book about this stuff some day," Meyer said.
Meyer crisscrossed the country in recent days, rarely spending any time in Gainesville besides weekends during which he met with recruits. The efforts ultimately paid off. Just hours after committing to Florida State, Meyer swayed Jon Demps, a four-star linebacker according to Scout.com, to reconsider at 2 a.m. Wednesday.
"It was an interesting evening and this morning we had a 6 a.m. work out," Meyer said. "He is a quality guy coming, he's got great size, great athleticism and he wants to be a Florida Gator. I got about two solid hours of sleep and I'm ready to go."
Perhaps even more instrumental in the signing than Meyer was linebacker Brandon Siler. Siler made a timely push to Demps and his mother, who had had been impressed with Florida and its campus and in recent weeks.
"I think Brandon Siler must love this university and he wants to win and because he sold us like he's known us for five-10 years," Meyer said.
Linebacker Channing Crowder's intentions to enter the NFL draft combined with Javier Estopinan's recent move from linebacker to the defensive line gave Florida a recruiting mandate. And the Gators appeared to shore up their linebacking needs. In addition to Demps, Florida landed four-star linebackers Kalvin Baker and Ryan Stamper while nabbing three-star linebacker Darryl Gresham as well.
"I was worried about it every day," said Meyer of his linebacking concerns. "We had zero in the boat and this year we are going to have to play a true freshman linebacker at the University of Florida and that shouldn't happen."
Meyer's defense specializes in man coverage as opposed to zone, a reality that made the secondary Florida's next recruiting need. Avery Atkins, ranked the fourth-best cornerback in the country by Scout.com, signed with the Gators and promises to see immediate playing time. Safety Reggie Nelson, ranked fourth-best as his position, signed with the Gators as well.
Two of Florida's offensive additions include 6-foot-6 wide receiver David Nelson and 6-foot-3 wide receiver Nyan Boateng.
The most highly-touted prospect on UF's board chose to go elsewhere, however. Five-star Pahokee running back Antone Smith chose Florida State instead of Florida, Auburn and Miami. The Gators also lost four-star receivers Derrick McPhearson to Illinois and O.J. Murdock to South Carolina.
Now, with recruiting finished, Meyer can focus on other things – like getting to know the very Florida campus he sold to recruits.
"I jogged through campus the other day and I can't wait to get to know this place," he said. "I still don't [know it]; I was on the road for four weeks."
