Dan Mullen and his staff just picked up a big steal on the recruiting trail in more ways than one.
With the entire college football world watching, top tier cornerback Chris Steele committed to Florida live at the All-American Bowl. The Bellflower, CA/St. John Bosco product chose the Gators over the hometown USC Trojans, to whom he was previously committed for six months. Steele also held offers from dozens of top schools, including Alabama, Michigan, Texas, Oklahoma, Oregon, Clemson, Notre Dame, Auburn, LSU and Texas A&M.
A source tells us that Steele had actually made his decision and sent in his letter of intent on National Signing Day last month and kept it silent since then.
Steele gives Florida a lean but strong corner with a 6’1, 185 lb. frame. He’s quick with great instincts, and is fantastic with the ball in the air. It’s going to be difficult for him to start right away for Florida with Trey Dean, Marco Wilson and CJ Henderson all ahead of him on the depth chart ladder, but if he bulks up just a little bit more it’ll be hard to keep him off the field for very long. If nothing else, he figures to see the field immediately in a nickel or dime role.
You can watch his highlight tape here.
With the addition of Steele, Florida has all but assured itself a unanimous top 15 recruiting class for the 2019 cycle. The Gators now have 23 commitments for the class, all but two of whom (Diwun Black and Arjei Henderson) have signed their LOIs. Two of them have now come in the last three days after Henderson committed Wednesday night. And Mullen & Co. still might not be done, with Kaiir Elam still at large.