Tag: top 4

Florida football in top 4 for elite RB, August commitment date set

One of the best running back recruits in the country has set a commitment date and narrowed things down to four schools, including Florida.

One of the nation’s top running backs, [autotag]Cedric Baxter Jr[/autotag] out of Edgewater High in Orlando, Florida, took a major step forward in their recruitment on Tuesday. Baxter named the Gators to his top four along with Miami, Texas and Texas A&M, according to a report from On3’s Hayes Fawcett, and he set a commitment date for August 10.

That’s some significant movement for a player ranked No. 1 among running backs by On3, and he must be close to a decision if he’s setting a five-week timeline for himself. Speaking to Fawcett, Baxter touched on each of his four finalists. Texas is the current leader on the site’s Recruiting Prediction Machine at 75.9%, but that’s likely because it’s the only program to have hosted him on an official visit so far.

“Coach Napier and Juluke want me bad,” Baxter said. “They feel like I can be a program changer. I love how they rotate their backs and don’t put wear and tear on your body. They want to win as well. The whole staff is genuine people and don’t fake it.”

The Gators have hosted him six times overall and four times since the year began. With recruiting being in a dead period until July 25, Florida will have to do its best to drive home the pitch over the phone. The final week of the month is a quiet period, but recruits in the class of 2023 (Baxter) aren’t able to make official visits at that point.

Fortunately, the Gators have a solid relationship with Baxter and could work out an unofficial visit or plan an official for after his commitment. He’s supposed to visit Miami on Nov. 5, and Billy Napier and Co. have made it clear that they want to get the last word with the blue-chip recruit.

[mm-video type=video id=01g6n71ys2gkjcdzct05 playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g6n71ys2gkjcdzct05/01g6n71ys2gkjcdzct05-ecf0705d088dc45bc00b54b1db81948e.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=86504,86511,86500,86493,86478]

[listicle id=86339]

[listicle id=86266]

[listicle id=86046]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

CFP: How To Seed LSU, Ohio St and Clemson

They have to choose between three incredibly worthy teams to give the number-one seed to.
Ohio State, LSU and Clemson all entered the week unbeaten and ranked 1-3.

It’s obvious after the last two days who your four teams in the College Football Playoff will be.

Utah eliminating themselves Friday night took a lot of the drama out of Saturday, as did each game involving a playoff team not offering anything compelling in the fourth quarter, besides the Big XII.

Oklahoma battled to an overtime win against Baylor despite owning them in total yardage all afternoon.

That will be good enough to launch the Sooners to number four and there will be no debate whatsoever that they should be any spot else.

That’s the good news for the committee.

The bad?

They have to choose between three incredibly worthy teams to give the number-one seed to.

Ohio State, LSU and Clemson all entered the week unbeaten and ranked 1-3.

Ohio State overcame a slow start to dominate the third quarter over Wisconsin. It wasn’t a complete 60 minutes but they were dominant when they needed to be against a top-ten team.

LSU sent Georgia into orbit, dominating the suffocating Bulldogs on both sides of the ball as they win their first SEC title since 2011. It’s hard to be more impressive in a conference title game than LSU was against a top-five squad today.

Finally it was Clemson in a laugher over Virginia for the ACC crown. How compelling was this one? Dabo Swinney’s kid was putting Clemson on his back in the fourth quarter to get the Tigers down the field to crack 60.

How will 1-4 look?

1. LSU – I don’t see how you can look at their resume and not say it’s the best in the country. Four wins over top-ten teams? If LSU isn’t No. 1 then there is no point of ever saying the words “strength of schedule” again.

2. Ohio State – They were number one a week ago and all they did was outscore their top-ten opponent 27-0 in the second half Saturday. However, as impressive as they’ve been all year long they were the least-impressive of the Big-three Saturday and I think they fall.

3. Clemson – They launch on Virginia early and often, finishing 13-0 and playing one compelling game all season. Those who claim the Tigers aren’t quite there this year simply haven’t watched. They’re loaded, scary and dominant. The three is only because of their schedule that saw nobody special all year. The defending champs are unbeaten, beating everyone by 40+ and are headed to the three seed. Let that set in for a moment.

4. Oklahoma- An exciting win over Baylor gets the Sooners to yet another CFP and they’re 100% deserving. I just don’t like the team barely snuck by Iowa State, TCU or Texas while also losing at Kansas State.

Instead of the case to avoid Clemson in round one is intriguing as all get up, a round robin between LSU, Ohio State and Clemson and guaranteeing all three play each other would be better than what we’ll get.