2013 Recruiting: Keanu Neal

(OrlandoSentinel.com)

Position:  Safety

Hometown/School:  Bushnell, FL - South Sumter

Height/Weight:  6'1/205

Rivals - 247Sports - Scout - ESPN

Other Offers:  Auburn, Clemson, South Carolina, USF, Georgia Tech

Report:  Neal committed to the Gators back on Florida's Junior Day in February.  Neal joined Nick Washington as Florida's 2013 commitments at the position.

Neal is a consensus 4-star recruit and Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN all rank him in the top 25 amongst safeties in the nation.

According to his Scout profile, Neal totaled 140 tackles, 4 INTs, and forced 4 fumbles last year for South Sumter.

As you can tell my his measurables, Neal is a big safety.  Some people see Neal as an OLB, but I see him playing safety with the Gators.

To the scouting reports.

We'll start off with the opinion of Scout.com's Chad Simmons.  Simmons touches on Neal's hard-hitting style which is he is known for.

Neal is a very strong tackler and a hard hitting safety. He plays some in and out of the box, but he is best when attacking the football at full speed. His strength is against the run right now, so he will need to improve on his coverage when he gets to the next level. He will need to work on his footwork and his hip rotation. He has the size to play early and he will a hitter people talk about.

Neal was invited to compete with the best at Nike's The Opening.  With the intense media coverage around the event, there are a couple tidbits on Neal's performance that I will share.

Neal's stock was on the rise according to Rivals analyst Mike Farrell($):

Neal is a big safety with good coverage skills and solid ball skills. His deflection to save the game for his team in winning the title after getting beaten for a touchdown earlier shows me he has a short memory, something needed for a defensive back. 

InsidetheGators.com ranked Neal as the best Florida commitment/target at the camp($):

He showed there is a lot more to his game that being a "smash-mouth" safety. Neal showed great instincts in the passing game, and the scary thing is, he did all this without pads on which brings a whole new dimension to his game.

Neal has been invited to some of the biggest national prep events including Gridiron Kings and The Opening.  Fans will get the chance to see Neal play in the Under Armour All-American Game in January.

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Future Gators Previews The Opening

One of the biggest recruiting events all year will take place this weekend in Oregon.  The Opening will be loaded with talent as it will include 84 players that are in this year's ESPN 150.  Gator fans will have a lot to watch this weekend on ESPNU as seven Florida commits and other targets will be at the camp.  Below is a preview of The Opening for the Florida Gators.

There are three major parts to the Opening; SPARQ Rating National Championship, Nike 7ON, and the Elite Lineman Challenge.  Every player at the camp will compete in the SPARQ Championship which basically measures the athleticism of the recruits.  The players will then break into either the Elite Lineman Challenge or the Nike 7ON depending on their position.

Nike 7ON Preview

Six of the seven Gator commits will be participating in the Nike 7ON.  The list includes three DBs (Nick Washington, Keanu Neal, Tre' Bell), running back Kelvin Taylor, wide receiver Ahmad Fulwood, and LB Quinton Powell.  Gator fans won't have to wait long to see their recruits with six players participating in one event.  As mentioned earlier, there will be also some Florida targets at the camp, but I won't go into too much detail about them.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the three defensive backs fare against top-level talent.  Also, one of Florida's top targets, CB Vernon Hargreaves III, will be at the camp.  Hopefully fans will get to see VHIII go one-on-one with Ricky Seals-Jones, the top ranked receiver in the nation.

Quinton Powell can prove to the experts that they are wrong.  Scout lists pass coverage as a weakness for the OLB, but he'll have his chance to prove himself against the best in the nation.  OLB Alex Anzalone will also be in Oregon this weekend.  He will make his commitment this weekend at the camp (between Penn State, Notre Dame, and Florida).

Ahmad Fulwood is the only WR commit going to the camp representing Florida.  He has a good chance to get a small taste of what is to come in future years if he is guarded by one of his future teammates.  Seeing Fulwood against his friend and fellow UF commit, Nick Washington, would be great.  Is Fulwood's downfield playmaking ability as good as advertised?  We'll have to wait for the weekend.

Elite Lineman Challenge Preview

4-star DT Caleb Brantley will be only Florida commit competing in the challenge.  The Elite Lineman Challenge will contain a lot of one-on-one battles.  This will give Brantley a great opportunity to show off his strength and descriptiveness that he is known to have.

Florida is in the top five for talented DE DeMarcus Walker, who will also be at The Opening.  Walker took a trip to Gainesville just last week.

Future Gators will have more coverage of The Opening throughout the weekend.

Follow Future Gators on Twitter - @FutureGators

Gator Recruiting News - 6/28

Demarcus Robinson

Florida To Host DeMarcus Walker.  The 4-star DE seems to be down to two schools; Alabama and Florida.  While Alabama seems to be the favorite, Muschamp will have the chance to impress Walker on Friday.  While Florida may be in second place right now, Zach Abolverdi of GatorSports.com points out that Florida has something going for them:

While all signs seem to point to Alabama, the Gators do have one thing going for themselves — ‘The Fantastic Four.’

Comprised of his close friends and fellow Jacksonville products Ahmad Fulwood, Daniel McMillan and Nick Washington, Walker is the only member not committed to UF.

We'll have to wait and see but from what I've read, I'd put my money on Alabama.

Demarcus Robinson.  There are a couple snippets concerning 4-star receiver Demarcus Robinson.  He said in an interview with TigerIllustrated.com($) who his favorite is and when he will likely decide:

"Clemson is one and Florida I'd say is two," Robinson toldTigerillustrated.com over the weekend at the Rivals100, 5-star Challenge. "I want to see each before I make my decision." 
The Rivals250 member now knows his visit schedule for July and has a decision timetable as well.
"I'm going to Georgia for Dawg Night, then visiting Clemson again and then heading to Florida for Friday Night Lights on back-to-back-to-back weekends," Robinson said. "I'll probably make my decision before school starts in late July." 

GatorNation posted a free recruiting mailbag with Derek Tyson (great read, highly recommend it).  In the article, Tyson was asked if Robinson will choose Florida over Bama (probably should have replaced with Bama with Clemson) and here is how Tyson answered the question:

It's too close to call right now. Alabama had been sliding a little before his trip to Tuscaloosa last weekend. The Tide are now right back in it and could possibly be considered the favorite. Walker, however, will visit Florida on Friday with his high school coach. So the Gators will have another shot to impress the talented defensive end. Don't count out Auburn, either. Walker enjoyed his visit to the plains, and the Tigers are still very much in the picture. 

Class Rankings.  ESPN released their new rankings and Florida is still in second nationally behind Michigan.

Marquez North To Florida?  Probably not.  The third-best receiver in the 2013 class according to Rivals listed his favorites right now and Florida came in at fifth (Clemson was first).  This is what he said about the Gators:

"I don't know too much about them. D.J. Humphries promotes them to me. They have good tradition." 

He also says in the article that he hopes to visit Florida soon.

2013 Recruiting: Ahmad Fulwood

Position:  Wide Receiver

Hometown/School:  Jacksonville, FL - Bishop Kenny

Height/Weight:  6'4/195

Rivals - 247Sports - Scout - ESPN

Other Offers:  Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Notre Dame

Report:  Fulwood was one of three players to commit to Florida on the weekend of the Spring Game.  The biggest seller for the Gators was likely his close friend, Nick Washington, who had already committed.  They have always talked about playing together and now they will have their chance too.

All four recruiting services list Fulwood as a top 10 receiver and as a top 100 player overall.  Also, they all agree that Fulwood is a 4-star recruit, but ESPN did have him as a 5-star at one point.

Fulwood put up some monster numbers last year for Bishop Kenny as a junior.  He totaled over 1,100 yards, 22 touchdowns on 46 catches.  Do the math, that means he scores almost every other time he gets a catch.  He was All-First Coast last year and will be participating in the Army All-American Game.  He will be at The Opening too.

Obviously at 6'4, Fulwood has an excellent physique for receiver.  Many scouts also list Fulwood's speed as another great asset.  Here is what Elite Scouting Services said about him in a great profile on Fulwood:

In sports you always hear people say size is not something that is taught. Well Fulwood measures in close to 6’4. With that type of size and sub 4.5 speed he will be one of the more heavily recruited prospects in Florida. He also does a good job of going up and attacking the football while it is in the air. If the ball is in the air, you can bet that Fulwood will out jump most defensive backs for the football. What we also like is that Fulwood has very good hands. Once he gets his hands on the ball there is no doubt that Fulwood will most likely come down with it. He goes up and catches the football at its highest point. Not every receiver is good at timing their jump and attacking the ball at its highest point. Fulwood also runs solid routes and knows how to get open.

Like many players that dominate at the high school level, ESS questions whether Fulwood can do the same against SEC competition.  We'll have to wait and see.

Scout.com's report on Fulwood basically states the same:

Fulwood is an elite wide receiver. He has size you can't coach, he catches everything within his reach, he has deceptive speed, and he is someone who can really make big plays down the field. He can improve getting off the ball with quickness, his overall strength, and his down the field blocking. There are so many things to like about his game and he will be among the best in 2013. He is a very fluid receiver with size.

Bud Elliot of SBNation talks about Fulwood's great body and his playmaking ability downfield:

Fulwood's biggest asset is likely his size. There aren't many (any?) high school cornerbacks who can body with him for the ball. He is a long strider, and is more fast than quick. He'll get separation downfield, and his opportunities underneath and over the middle will largely be because of his length and his strength, which should continue to develop. I see Fulwood as a very solid four-star with a high floor, but I don't consider him a five-star recruit.

 After committing to Florida, Fulwood's mother stated that she wished Ahmad would have picked Clemson instead.  This caused some speculation that Fulwood would decommit and sign with the Tigers. However, Ahmad has tried to kill that rumor by saying this:

"Me and my mom have been discussing for the past few weeks about it," Fulwood said of his mother, who had reportedly liked Clemson for her son. "She had some situations at first. She had some questions about it, but me and Coach Muschamp have talked to her, and she's even happier than I am now." 

As stated earlier, him and Nick Washington have always wanted to play college football together.  I wouldn't worry too much about losing Fulwood.

2013 Recruiting: Nick Washington

Position:  Safety/Cornerback

Hometown/School:  Jacksonville, FL - Trinity Christian Academy

Height/Weight:  6'0/180

Rivals - 247Sports - Scout - ESPN

Other Offers:  Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Miami, Ole Miss, Notre Dame, Tennessee

Report:  Washington committed to the Gators back in February when he was one of four to commit on Junior Day.  Growing up in Jacksonville, Washington lived in a house full of Gator fans.

The four recruiting services all rank Washington as a top 20 prospect at his position.  They also all agree that Washington is a 4-star.

Washington has been contributing for Trinity Christian since he was in the eighth grade.  Washington was an All-Conference performer his sophomore year and was named AP Class 3A first team last year.

Washington has been on the radar of college scouts for awhile.  EliteScoutingServices.com profiled Washington after his junior year.  Here is what they had to say:

He is a versatile athlete. Turn on any game and you are likely to see him make plays on either side of the football. He plays running back/receiver on offense and safety on defense. Physically he has all the tools you want in an athlete. Good size, nice speed and can best yet, Washington makes plays. His upside continues to get better all the time.

Good to hear.  The main concern they have with Washington is if he can keep it going against tougher competition.  Scout continues the praise of Washington:

Washington is a versatile defensive back that could play corner, but safety is where he is at his best. He knows how to put himself in position to make plays on the ball, he has great ball-skills, and he tracks the ball well. In coverage, he needs to work on his burst out of his breaks and his ability to recover quicker. Against the run, he is a solid tackler. 

As with what Scout says, Washington could either end up playing safety or cornerback at Florida.  Here is what FlaGators, editor of AlligatorArmy.com, said about what position he will play:

If he’s going to play safety, he is going to have to add some bulk. Right now, he’s a corner.

With committing so early, there is the obvious chance of him switching his commitment.  However, I wouldn't be too worried about that too much.  He and his friend, Ahmad Fulwood (current UF commit), have always wanted to play on the same team.

Fans who may not have the opportunity to see him play in high school will get the chance as Washington will play in the Army All-American Game.  He was also invited to The Opening.

As you've read above, Washington is a great athlete.  He will also have the chance to play baseball for the Gators and he has said that he would like to.  Center Field will likely be his position if he does decide to play both sports.

Last fall, Washington did sustain a shoulder injury during a game.  However, there is good news for Florida fans as he is good to go after rehab.

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