Florida has received a big boost to its 2014 recruiting class, as four-star offensive tackle David Sharpe has committed to the Gators.
David Sharpe commits to Florida: Gators beat Tennessee for 4-star recruit
The four-star commitment gives the Gators a top-10 class.
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sharpe, listed at 6’7” and 315 pounds, comes from Providence (Fla.) High School and is considered a four-star recruit by the 247sports composite. He is rated as the eighth-best offensive tackle in the country and the 11th-best player in the state.
The offensive tackle had offers from nearly every major program across the country, including Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Ohio State and USC. 247sports has Sharpe as Florida’s fourth-best commitment, behind running back Dalvin Cook, wide receiver Ermon Lane and quarterback Will Grier -- it’s safe to say the Gators are stocking up on the offensive side of the ball.
Sharpe’s commitment pulls Florida’s recruiting class into the top 10, above Texas, according to the composite. With five other SEC teams in the top 10, however, the Gator class still ranks sixth in the conference.
Florida has four other offensive line commitments in the class, including fellow tackles Taven Bryan and Dontae Angus.
Bud Elliott, National Recruiting Analyst: Sharpe is an incredibly intriguing and athletic prospect. Some believe he is the second-best tackle in the country, while others have questions. I think his physical skills are undeniable. He is a bit raw, and I don’t think he is the instant-impact type that a Cameron Robinson is. But in time, he could be a very high NFL Draft pick.
The questions I have about Sharpe mostly relate to his other sport -- basketball. Sharpe wants to continue to play hoops in college. That would be fine at some positions, but offensive tackle really is not one of them. The amount of cardiovascular work required to be an effective basketball player, particularly at one the caliber of Florida, is not conducive to maintaining a weight north of 300 pounds, which is required to play left tackle in the SEC. Sharpe will be on a football scholarship, so I suspect this gets worked out in time. The quicker he commits to being just a football player, the better.
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