Florida Gators Land Under-the-Radar Alabama Class of 2016 CB Antonio Nelson
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
The love affair between Florida and Carver High School cornerback Antonio Nelson did not take long, five days to be exact, with the Gators landing their fourth corner of the 2016 recruiting class on Monday.
The Wolverines did not have the season they had hoped for going 3-7 in 2015 but the down year did not diminish the value of Nelson’s abilities. In 10 games played, Nelson had 63 tackles, 33 solo, and came up with two picks tallying 100 return yards while defending 10 passes.
Recruiting for Nelson had been slow with offers from Western Kentucky, South Alabama, Grambling State, and Troy, but the Gators saw a lot of promise in the 6’3”, 180 pound, Montgomery area native. The Gators have also offered 5-star teammate linebacker prospect Lyndell Wilson.
Nelson visited the Gators campus unofficially in August and has a scheduled official visit this weekend for the Florida State showdown. Nelson is also a key player for Carver’s basketball team.
The Gators are close to filling in a full class with 23 total verbal commitments. On paper, if Florida only signs 25 players, expect two more offensive linemen to join the impressive haul unless two of the best available come around first.
Florida Gators 2016 Verbal Commitment List (23)
CB Chauncey Gardner, 6’0”, 194 lbs, Cocoa HS, Cocoa, FL
CB Christopher McWilliams, 5’11”, 161 lbs, Southwest Miami HS, Miami, FL
CB Antonio Nelson, 6’2”, 180 lbs, Carver HS, Montgomery, AL
CB Aaron Robinson, 6’1”, 185 lbs, Deerfield Beach HS, Deerfield Beach, FL
SS Quincy Lenton, 6’0”, 190 lbs, Meridian HS, Meridian, MS
SS Jeawon Taylor, 6’2”, 192 lbs, Park Crossing HS, Montgomery, AL
LB Vosean Joseph, 6’2”, 210 lbs, Norland HS, Miami, FL
LB Jeremiah Moon, 6’4”, 205 lbs, Hoover HS, Birmingham, AL
DE JaQuan Bailey, 6’3.5”, 230 lbs, Raines HS, Jacksonville, FL
DE Antonneous Clayton, 6’3”, 220 lbs, Dooly County HS, Vienna, GA
DE Jachai Polite, 6’3”, 250 lbs, Mainland HS, Daytona Beach, FL
DE Eric Mitchell, 6’1”, 220 lbs, Miami Central HS, Miami, FL
OC Brett Heggie, 6’4.5”, Mt. Dora HS, Mount Dora, FL
OT Stone Forsythe, 6’7.5”, 325 lbs, West Orange HS, Winter Garden, FL
WR Joshua Hammond, 6’0”, 180 lbs, Hallandale HS, Hallandale, FL
WR Isaiah Johnson, 6’3”, 198 lbs, Dwyer HS, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
WR/DB Jayvaughn Myers, 6’1”, 175 lbs, Pasco HS, Dade City, FL
WR Freddie Swain, 6’1”, 174 lbs, North Marion HS, Citra, FL
WR Rick Wells, 6’0”, 185 lbs, Raines HS, Jacksonville, FL
RB McArthur Burnett, 6’1”, 180 lbs, Pahokee HS, Pahokee, FL
RB Lamical Perine, 5’11”, 210 lbs, Theodore HS, Theodore, AL
RB Mark Thompson, 6’2”, 230 lbs, Dodge City C.C., Dodge City, KS
QB Kyle Trask, 6’5.5”, 210 lbs, Manvel HS, Manvel, TX
Photo credit: 247sports.com; No. 2 Antonio Nelson at a Carver practice.