Justus comes to Florida as DE Reed picks Gators

By Adam Silverstein
July 25, 2013

The Florida Gators received a commitment from a three-star 2014 prospect for the second-straight night as defensive end Justus Reed (Clearwater, FL) announced that he has decided to continue playing football in Gainesville, FL.

Reed, who can play on the line but is expected to first try his luck at Buck linebacker, broke the news via his Twitter account.

“I have OFFICIALLY committed to the University Of Florida!!!! I’ve dreamed of this day all my life, never been happier,” he wrote.

Reed (6-foot-5, 235-pounds) chose Florida over in-state rivals Florida State and Miami but also had offers from Louisville, Ohio State and nearly a dozen other schools.

He is rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals but is listed as a four-star player by ESPN, which has him ranked 262nd overall in the latest edition of the ESPN 300.

“It’s been my childhood dream to be a Gator,” he told BigCountyPreps.com shortly after committing to UF. “When Coach [Will] Muschamp extended the offer, it was only a matter of time ‘till I committed.”

The Gators offered Reed, considered “one of the most underrated prospects in the state” by InsidetheGators.com recruiting analyst Blake Alderman ($), in June when he took an unofficial visit to Florida.

“Coach [Brad] Lawing is a really good dude and I really liked him,” he said. “They liked my pass rush, said I have good feet and hands and they like what I do.”

Reed is UF’s 12th commitment for the 2014 recruiting cycle and seventh from the state of Florida but just the second pass rusher to pledge. Three-star DE Taven Bryan (Casper, WY) committed to Florida on June 10.

Check out the Gators’ updated 2014 recruiting class by clicking here.

8 Comments

  1. SJ210 says:

    Adam you are fast with these updates! Impressive tape – looks like a nice combo of speed and power. Funny Rivals has him 6’5″ 235, ESPN has him 6’3″ 215.

  2. Michael Jones says:

    Love the way he runs. Once we get him on that strength program and that lanky frame fills out, he might be scary. But starting with speed is huge. A big difference when you’re adding muscle and bulk to a kid who’s already fast.

    GO GATORS!!!!!

  3. Ken (CA) says:

    Adam, he wasn’t mentioned in your FNL preview (excellent by the way), is he going to be working out on campus this weekend with everyone else?

  4. VO2max says:

    Order in the court! If you don’t put a hat on him, he just blows up the play. Can’t wait to see him on the field.

    Welcome to The University of Florida young man.

    Go Gators!

  5. Spike says:

    I thought I read he will not be at FNL and that is why he announced before. I think he is going on a family vacation or something.

  6. Mr2Bits says:

    Love the fact that he commits and says this is the day he has been dreaming about all his life. Players like this will bust their butts and be the best player one could hope for on and off the field. I have learned over the past few years to judge a player by his school offerings and not so much his stars.

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