2013 DT Caleb Brantley commits to the Gators

By Adam Silverstein
January 28, 2012

One week after the Florida Gators got their 2013 recruiting class off to a hot start by securing a commitment from ESPNU150 watch list running back Adam Lane (Winter Haven, FL), the Gators have doubled it up by adding a pledge from defensive tackle Caleb Brantley (Crescent City, FL) on Junior Day at UF.

Holding scholarship offers from Florida, Florida State, Miami and South Florida, Brantley (6’3” 285 lbs.) is an ESPNU 150 watch list member who is expected to be listed as one of the best players at his position in the 2013 class.

Rivals.com’s Chris Nee is high on Brantley, who he believes will be a major defensive target nationwide once schools get a chance to look at his film.

He has quick feet and good athleticism that allows him to explode off the snap, exhibiting a good first step, and quickly make his way into the offensive backfield. He plays hard and to the echo of the whistle. He is good at playing against both the run and the pass, and does a fair job of reading, recognizing and reacting to the play and not putting himself out of position to make the play.

“I grew up a Gator fan and my whole family are Gator fans,” he told Nee. “It is really close to home so my whole family can come to see me play.”

Brantley’s commitment was first reported by ESPN‘s Derek Tyson.

15 Comments

  1. CeeThree says:

    sweet, keep getting it done Champ!

  2. El Meester says:

    Could be 300 lbs by Fall, nevermind by the time he gets to UF.

  3. g8ter27 says:

    Nice, looks like he will have some speed at the DT spot, he can be coached to stay lower than he plays now. Great start. I coached at this HS for several years, if he has the attitude of his older brothers on the field he will be great.

  4. Daniel M. says:

    Awesome highlights. He just tosses people aside, tracks down ball carrier, throws em down. He’s that dominant as a Junior? He will have 40 offers a year from now..

    Go Gators!

  5. wgator40 says:

    woohoo!! champ getting after it!!

  6. gator says:

    Muschomp is doing a real nice job.

  7. SC_Gator says:

    “To the echo of the whistle”

  8. jay d says:

    muschamp is doing a decent job recruiting but not amazing…….w/e he needs to do to find a way to get it done on the field next season….I do not care….just find a way…..

    • Daniel M. says:

      Your comments will look very silly come Wednesday evening. Not that they don’t already look silly.

    • Mr2Bits says:

      Coming off a really crappy season, Champ puts together a top 3 possibly top 1 class in his first year and you say he is not doing that great of a job……lay off the shine there buddy!

  9. Scooterp says:

    Are you serious? It’s a top 5 class by virtually everyone. More than likely to add 2 or 3 more top tier recruits this week. Very silly statement.

  10. BKP says:

    I use to always wonder why Meyer could never get early commits for future classes. Also I like how Muschamp is different from Meyer when grading talent as in Meyer liked small guys that were fast for their position while Champ is grabbing bigger guys that are equally as talented. Big difference there. No more players with Safety size playing LB or small DBs and WRs, that it unless we can get Jeremi Powell to gain the weight needed and Chris Johnson to his natural position of FS. Good job Champ and welcome Brantley (a better breed of Brantley)

    • Mr2Bits says:

      I too am glad to see Champ locking these kids up early and often. It is the Texas way and he brought that with him apparently. Always used to piss me off when Texas would lock up a top class by March and never lose a kid…looks like that might be the method we are imploring now.

      • El Meester says:

        Don’t forget, it’s also a lot easier to get recruits to commit and stick to Texas early because of the deadbolt lock they have on the state. At the same time, that’s a testament to the coaching staff.

        But yes, I, too, hope Muschamp can start to do the same at UF.

    • scooterp says:

      Different players for a different system. Its not like Meyer didn’t capitalize on his signing classes…. and Muschamp isn’t any further ahead than Meyer’s early commits – about the same. Having said that, I like that we’re going after bigger players too.

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