Bullard picks Florida at Army All-American Bowl

Fourteen high school football players announced their college commitments during the 2012 U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX, an all-star game filled with some of the most prominent players in the country. Five-star offensive tackle D.J. Humphries (Charlotte, NC), four-star tight end Kent Taylor (Land O’Lakes, FL) and four-star defensive tackle Dante Phillips (Venice, FL) were the Florida Gators commitments participating at the start of the game, but the team acquired one more as five-star defensive end Jonathan Bullard (Shelby, NC) announced during the fourth quarter that he will be wearing orange and blue in 2012.

With a final three of Florida, Clemson and South Carolina, Bullard told Rivals.com last week that he had his decision made days ago but wanted to hold off until the bowl. He chose the school that makes him feel the most comfortable.

“It’s just where I feel home,” he said on Jan. 1. “Where I feel like I’ll have great coaching, which all three have great coaching. It’s where I fit in mostly. It was more than football at the end of the process or whatever. I feel like I picked the right school for me.”

Bullard explained at the time that head coach Will Muschamp, defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and defensive line coach Bryant Young have all been spending plenty of time building relationships with him since they joined the staff.

“When Coach Muschamp first got the job he called me, maybe the next day, and he’s been recruiting me very hard himself,” Bullard said. “When the head coach recruits you real hard that’s gotta be a factor to you. They’ve also got Coach Young and Coach Quinn with NFL experience. Coach Young played in the NFL for a long time.”

Listed as the No. 20 player in the nation and third-best at his position by Rivals, Bullard is the Gators’ second highest ranked commitment this cycle behind Humphries (No. 3 overall). He had 13 sacks in 10 games as a senior this fall at Crest High School, where he was teammates with three-star safety Rhaheim Ledbetter (Boiling Springs, NC), who committed to Florida on July 15.

Bullard is considered a four-star prospect and the No. 83 player in the nation by ESPNU, which ranks Humphies as a five-star (No. 8). ESPNU also has Phillips (No. 112), Taylor (No. 147) and Ledbetter designated as four-star players.

Photo Credit: U.S. Army All-American Bowl