16 Gator Bites for Wednesday, March 20

From time to time, OGGOA will come across a plethora of news and notes that we wish to share – too much to fit into one of our truncated BITS segments. When stories like these fall through the cracks, we catch and wrap them all up with Gator Bites.

» Though President Barack Obama‘s official 2013 NCAA Tournament bracket will be released on Wednesday at 9 a.m. on ESPN, the network released his Final Four late Tuesday night. President Obama chose the Florida Gators to win the South Region and also has Louisville, Indiana and Ohio State advancing to the Final Four.

» Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah had a hellacious experience during his team’s game on Monday evening. With 5.7 seconds left in overtime and Chicago trailing Denver by a single point, Noah got in perfect position underneath the basket and tipped in what otherwise would have been a missed shot. Though Noah scored the apparent game-winner and the referees did not call interference on the play, they checked the replay and eventually reversed their decision. The problem? Referees are only allowed to use replay to review on-court calls of interference, not to check on non-calls. Take a look at the video below to see what transpired on Monday.

Read 14 more interesting bites of Florida Gators news…after the break!
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Florida Gators 2013 National Signing Day bios

P Johnny Townsend: commit No. 30 | OL/TE Trevon Young: commit No. 29 | JUCO DT Jarran Reed: commit No. 28 | DT Jay-nard Bostwick: commit No. 27 | Muschamp discusses class; assistants evaluate signees | Video interviews with coaches | “Closing”, quarterback situation

Courtesy of the University of Florida‘s University Athletic Association:

EARLY ENROLLEES (8)

Alex Anzalone • Linebacker
6’3″ • 220 • Wyomissing, PA (Wyomissing Area)
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Helped Wyomissing High to its first Class AA state championship in 2012, finishing 16-0, a school single-season record for wins…Selected to the 2013 Under Armour All-American Game…Finished his senior year with over 1,000 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns from the fullback position and registered more than 100 tackles…Earned a spot on the 247Sports Class of 2013 All-America team…Named senior Class AA Player of the Year as part of the 2012 Pennsylvania Sports Writers All-State Team…As a junior, was named first team all-state, all-region and all-county…In 2011, ran for over 900 yards and scored 13 touchdowns and was named to the all-state team…Invited to “The Opening”, an all-star summer prospect camp held on the Nike Campus…Chose Florida over Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, USC, UCLA, Miami, Tennessee, Pitt, Stanford, Georgia and Florida State…Coached by Bob Wolfrum.

Darious Cummings • Defensive tackle
6’1″ • 310 • Titusville, FL (Astronaut/Florida St./East Mississippi CC)
PRIOR TO FLORIDA: Played in all 10 games during the 2012 season at EMCC, tallying 26 tackles (12 unassisted) with 4.0 TFL (12 yards), 3.0 sacks, two quarterback hurries and one forced fumble…EMCC finished 8-2 on the year and ranked 15th in the final NJCAA poll…Anchored a defense that allowed just 74.2 rushing yards per game…Notched a season-high four tackles twice during the season, against Pearl River CC and Itawamba CC…Played under head coach Buddy Stephens at EMCC…Spent two years at Florida State before transferring to EMCC…Played in three games as a true freshman and two games as a sophomore before suffering an injury that caused him to miss most of the 2011 season…Totaled seven tackles in five career games at FSU…Missed the spring of 2012 at FSU after arthroscopic knee surgery and then transferred to EMCC in the summer of 2012…Entered his senior year of high school with 159 tackles, including 22 for loss and 15 sacks…Was the first commit in FSU’s 2010 signing class…Was a Florida Super 75 selection by the Times-Union…Named to SunStateFootball.com all-state first team in 2009…Attended the same high school as former Gator football players LB Wilber Marshall, WR Cris Collinsworth and TE Aaron Walker…Chose Florida over offers from Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Mississippi State and Arkansas.

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Sixteen Gators ranked in final ESPN 300 for 2013

Released Thursday afternoon, the final edition of the ESPN 300 for the class of 2013 is filled with players verbally committed to play for the Florida Gators next season. Eleven Florida commits are part of the top 150 players in the group and five more are listed among the top 300 recruits in the nation.

Three major changes to the list include running back Kelvin Taylor (Belle Glade, FL) adding a fifth star, four-star wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (Jacksonville, FL) moving up 104 spots and four-star defensive end Jordan Sherit (Tampa, FL) dropping out of the rankings due to his ACL injury.

Below is a breakdown of where the Gators’ commits are ranked:

3 EVEN – DB Vernon Hargreaves (Tampa, FL, FL)
8 7 – RB Kelvin Taylor (Belle Glade, FL)
33 13 – LB Daniel McMillian (Jacksonville, FL)
42 4 – DT Caleb Brantley (Crescent City, FL)
53 104 – WR Demarcus Robinson (Jacksonville, FL)
65 2 – DB Keanu Neal (Bushnell, FL)
68 2 – DB Marcell Harris (Orlando, FL)
77 6 – WR Alvin Bailey (Seffner, FL)
80 4 – LB Matt Rolin (Jacksonville, FL)
97 UNK. – LB Alex Anzalone (Wyomissing, PA)
110 61 – WR Ahmad Fulwood (Jacksonville, FL)
154 19 – DB Nick Washington (Jacksonville, FL)
175 7 – RB Adam Lane (Winter Haven, FL)
199 19 – WR Marqui Hawkins (Columbus, GA)
263 3 – QB Max Staver (Brentwood, TN)
278 2 – LB James Hearns (Tallahassee, FL)

Florida’s 2013 commitments:
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FOUR BITS: Brissett, Johnson, HS All-Americans

1 » Will quarterback Jacoby Brissett be spending his junior season with the Florida Gators? That is one of many unanswered questions lingering in the wake of Florida’s 33-23 loss to Louisville in the 2013 Sugar Bowl on Tuesday. Brissett addressed his future after the game when questioned by the Palm Beach Post. “I haven’t decided yet,” he said. “It depends on how I feel when I get back to Gainesville and have a talk with Coach [Will] Muschamp. You grow relationships for two years with some of these people you’re around every day, and it’s hard to leave them. It depends on how I feel.” With sophomore Jeff Driskel entranced as the Gators’ starter, Brissett would likely be returning in a back-up role. He has yet to use a redshirt season and Driskel is an unlikely candidate to leave as a junior meaning Brissett, should he stay, would run the risk of either never being a full-time starter or doing so for just one year elsewhere if he transferred following the 2013 season. Dwyer High School head coach Jack Daniels said last week that he has suggested that Brissett leave even though he thinks he will stay for at least one more year.

2 » The Post also caught up with Florida sophomore running back Chris Johnson after the game and asked him how he felt about being ejected from the game after he threw a punch following the team’s onside kick attempt to start the second half. “Bad discipline on my part, but you learn from your mistakes and move on,” he said. “It was frustration. The guy was riding me a little bit. If I could do it differently, I’d walk away from it. It sucks. In my mind, I feel like I cost us the Sugar Bowl.” Johnson’s personal foul was one of two on the play, and the Cardinals started at the Gators’ 19-yard line as a result. One play later, Louisville took a 30-10 lead and all but put the game away.

3 » Seven of Florida’s 2013 commitments will compete in the 2013 Under Armour All-American Game on Friday at 5 p.m. (ESPN). Four-star wide receiver Alvin Bailey (Seffner, FL), five-star defensive back Vernon Hargreaves (Tampa, FL), four-star DB Marcell Harris (Orlando, FL), three-star offensive lineman Roderick Johnson (Delray Beach, FL), four-star DB Keanu Neal (Bushnell, FL) and four-star RB Kelvin Taylor (Belle Glade, FL) will play for the black team, while four-star linebacker Matt Rolin (Ashburn, VA) suit up for the white team. The Gators also have three targets in the game with four-star defensive tackle Caleb Brantley (Crescent City, FL), four-star defensive end DeMarcus Walker (Jacksonville, FL) and four-star DE Elijah Daniel (Avon, IN) suiting up for the black team. Walker, an early enrollee, is reportedly set to visit UF following the game and may flip from his commitment to Alabama.

4 » The 2013 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, set to air live on NBC on Saturday at 1 p.m., features four Florida commitments as four-star WR Ahmad Fulwood (Jacksonville, FL), four-star LB Daniel McMillian (Jacksonville, FL), four-star DE Jordan Sherit (Tampa, FL) and four-star DB Nick Washington (Jacksonville, FL) are members of the East Team. The Gators also have a number of targets in the game including four-star WR Demarcus Robinson (Fort Valley, GA), who plans to enroll early at the school of his choice on Monday.

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FOUR BITS: Freshman All-SEC, Harvin, Siler, UA

1 » Four Florida Gators football players were named to the 2012 Freshman All-SEC Team on Thursday. Left tackle D.J. Humphries was the only player from the offensive side of the ball to be honored, but the Gators cleaned up on the defense with three placements – Buck linebacker Dante Fowler, Jr., defensive end Jonathan Bullard and LB Antonio Morrison. Florida was one of three teams (Alabama, Texas A&M) with four players selected to the Freshman All-SEC Team.

2 » The Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday placed wide receiver Percy Harvin on injured reserve, abruptly ending his season. Harvin had not played since injuring his ankle in Week 9 but up to that point was a candidate for Most Valuable Player consideration. He led Minnesota in receptions in virtually every game he played, racking up 677 yards and three reception touchdowns to go along with a rushing score and return touchdown. Harvin reportedly suffered a grade-three ankle sprain (torn ligament) on Nov. 4 and has been unable to get healthy enough where team doctors would clear him to return to the field. The offseason was a rough one for Harvin, who appeared to get over his career-long migraine issues but was unhappy with how little the Vikings organization was using him on the field, reportedly noting privately that he wanted more touches in order to prove his worth and value. Minnesota and head coach Leslie Frazier heeded his request and used him plenty through the first nine weeks of the season. Harvin will enter the final year of his rookie contract in 2013. He was hoping to sign a new deal in the upcoming offseason though those plans may be on hold as the franchise could wish to wait and see how he performs next year.

3 » Kansas City Chiefs LB Brandon Siler has been relegated to reserve duty all season long. After being signed by the Chiefs prior to the 2011 season, Siler was expected to start for the team but tore his Achilles’ in the preseason and missed the entire year. Kansas City re-signed him to a one-year deal before 2012 got underway with it being known that he would likely be a backup who would see relatively limited action during games. That all changed last week when the player in front of Siler, Jovan Belcher, was involved in a murder-suicide that rocked the team, the NFL and the country as a whole. Siler moved back into the starting lineup in place of Belcher on Sunday. “All I know is there are two families out there, and there’s a little baby girl out there who is going to get my prayers every day for the rest of my life,” he told the The Kansas City Star. “That’s what’s really important to me.” Siler said he handled the situation his “own way” without the assistance of grief counselors but just wishes there was something he could have done. “I went through it a hundred times in my mind, and I couldn’t think of anything,” he said. “There are a lot of what-ifs, it drives you crazy. You have to cope with it and deal with it. It’s real and it happened.”

4 » Six Gators commitments have been named to the 2013 Under Armour All-American Game, which will take place on Jan. 4 and air live on ESPN. All playing for the black team, the Florida pledges that will suit up include four-star wide receiver Alvin Bailey (Seffner, FL), four-star running back Kelvin Taylor (Belle Glade, FL), five-star defensive back Vernon Hargreaves III (Tampa, FL), four-star DB Marcell Harris (Orlando, FL), four-star DB Keanu Neal (Bushnell, FL) and four-star defensive tackle Caleb Brantley (Crescent City, FL).

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13 Gators commits in fourth Rivals250 for 2013

Released Tuesday afternoon, the fourth edition of the Rivals250 for the class of 2013 is filled with players verbally committed to play for the Florida Gators next season. Though five Florida commits are part of the top 100 players in the group (which was released Tuesday), eight more are listed among the top 250 recruits in the nation.

Below is a breakdown of where the Gators’ commits are ranked:

9 2 – DB Vernon Hargreaves (Tampa, FL)
36 11 – RB Kelvin Taylor (Belle Glade, FL)
57 8 – DB Marcell Harris* (Orlando, FL)
81 27 – DB Keanu Neal (Bushnell, FL)
93 11 – LB Daniel McMillian (Jacksonville, FL)
101 8 – WR Alvin Bailey* (Seffner, FL)
103 13 – DT Caleb Brantley (Crescent City, FL)
117 31 – WR Ahmad Fulwood (Jacksonville, FL)
128 10 – DB Nick Washington (Jacksonville, FL)
193 NR – DE Joey Ivie (Dade City, FL)
195 12 – LB James Hearns (Tallahassee, FL)
207 8 – LB Quinton Powell (Daytona Beach, FL)
218 108 – DE Jordan Sherit (Tampa, FL)

* New commitment since last update.

Florida’s 2013 commitments as of Dec. 4, 2012:

CommitmentPos.RivalsESPNOverall
V. HargreavesDB2/3
Alex Anzalone*LB28/97
Kelvin Taylor*RB38/8
D. Robinson*WR52/53
Alvin BaileyWR63/77
Keanu NealDB64/65
Marcell HarrisDB67/68
Daniel McMillian*LB123/33
Caleb BrantleyDT132/42
Ahmad FulwoodWR136/110
N. WashingtonDB164/154
Joey Ivie*DE198/-
Jordan SheritDE224/-
Matt Rolin*LB-/80
Jay. BostwickDT-/286
Adam LaneRB-/175
Marqui HawkinsWR-/199
Max StaverQB-/263
Cam DillardOL-/-
Antonio RilesDE-/-
Rod JohnsonOL-/-
Ch. ThompsonWR-/-
Oct. JacksonDT-/-
Jarrad DavisLB-/-
Trevon YoungTE-/-
John TownsendPK-/-
Dar. Cummings*DTJUCO
Jarran ReedDTJUCO
Trenton BrownOLNRJUCO
Tyler Moore*OLCC

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Four-star S Marcell Harris commits to Florida

The Florida Gators added a fourth highly-rated and top-ranked defensive back to their 2013 recruiting class after receiving a solid verbal commitment from four-star safety Marcell Harris (Orlando, FL) during a ceremony on Thursday.

The 49th ranked player nationally according to Rivals, Harris joins a stellar group of players including five-star Vernon Hargreaves III (Tampa, FL) and four-stars Keanu Neal (Bushnell, FL) and Nick Washington (Jacksonville, FL). Hargreaves (No. 7), Neal (No. 108) and Washington (No. 118) are also members of the Rivals250.

Harris chose Florida over Florida State, Oklahoma and Texas after making numerous visits to Gainesville, FL throughout the year. He was long considered a Gators lean and made that decision official on Thursday.

At 6’1” and 207 lbs., Harris possesses great physicality and enough range to perform as a run stopper and coverage safety. His varied skill set should allow him to get on the field early and play at both safety positions.

He is now the third-highest-ranked player to commit to Florida for 2013 behind Hargreaves and four-star running back Kelvin Taylor (Belle Glade, FL), who is ranked No. 47. Harris is the 21st member of the Gators’ recruiting class, which includes 12 defensive players and 15 prospects from the state of Florida.

Harris’s father, Mike Harris, was a safety at Florida under Steve Spurrier from 1994-97.

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10 Gators commits in third Rivals250 for 2013

Released Tuesday afternoon, the third edition of the Rivals250 for the class of 2013 is filled with players verbally committed to play for the Florida Gators next season. Though five Florida commits are part of the top 100 players in the group (which was released Tuesday), five more are listed among the top 250 recruits in the nation.

Below is a breakdown of where the Gators’ commits are ranked:

7 2 – DB Vernon Hargreaves* (Tampa, FL)
47 45 – RB Kelvin Taylor (Belle Glade, FL)
82 16 – LB Daniel McMillian (Jacksonville, FL)
86 17 – WR Ahmad Fulwood (Jacksonville, FL)
90 19 – DT Caleb Brantley (Crescent City, FL)
108 142 – DB Keanu Neal (Bushnell, FL)
110 16 – DE Jordan Sherit* (Tampa, FL)
118 19 – DB Nick Washington (Jacksonville, FL)
183 9 – LB James Hearns (Tallahassee, FL)
199 26 – LB Quinton Powell (Daytona Beach, FL)

* Added to list.

Florida’s 2013 commitments as of August 21, 2012:

CommitmentPos.RivalsESPNOverall
V. HargreavesDB2/3
Alex Anzalone*LB28/97
Kelvin Taylor*RB38/8
D. Robinson*WR52/53
Alvin BaileyWR63/77
Keanu NealDB64/65
Marcell HarrisDB67/68
Daniel McMillian*LB123/33
Caleb BrantleyDT132/42
Ahmad FulwoodWR136/110
N. WashingtonDB164/154
Joey Ivie*DE198/-
Jordan SheritDE224/-
Matt Rolin*LB-/80
Jay. BostwickDT-/286
Adam LaneRB-/175
Marqui HawkinsWR-/199
Max StaverQB-/263
Cam DillardOL-/-
Antonio RilesDE-/-
Rod JohnsonOL-/-
Ch. ThompsonWR-/-
Oct. JacksonDT-/-
Jarrad DavisLB-/-
Trevon YoungTE-/-
John TownsendPK-/-
Dar. Cummings*DTJUCO
Jarran ReedDTJUCO
Trenton BrownOLNRJUCO
Tyler Moore*OLCC

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