Just two days after hauling in a pair of top-notch football commitments, the Florida Gators added another Monday as three-star defensive end Alex McCalister (Clemmons, NC) pledged to wear the orange and blue next season.
The No. 26 player at his position nationally according to Rivals.com, McCalister at 6’7” and 212 lbs. is another project for Florida’s Buck linebacker position, a featured role in the defense of head coach Will Muschamp and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. ESPNU considers him a four-star player and the No. 32 player at his position.
Though McCalister has said that he is not concerned about the position he ultimately winds up playing in college, his versatility as a potential Buck or hand-down defensive end make him a player the Gators desperately need.
“It’s definetly a dream come true,” McCalister said Monday. “If you asked me two years ago, I wouldn’t have even made a decision about [playing] college football.”
Florida picked up a commitment from three-star DE Bryan Cox, Jr. (Fort Lauderdale, FL) on Saturday, but he sports a different body type at 6’3” and 240 lbs. Rivals lists Cox as the No. 37 player at his position, and he is also being considered for the Buck role.
McCalister chose UF over Georgia Tech and North Carolina citing the coaching staff and his comfort with the program as his two main reasons for picking the Gators.
“Gator Nation – I’m here. I’m a Gator now, so get ready,” he told Rivals. “We’re going to have a lot of fun and win a lot of games the next couple of years.”
He is the 20th member of Florida’s 2012 recruiting class and the eighth defensive front seven commitment to be added to the fold. McCalister is also the fourth player out of the state of North Carolina set to join UF in the class.
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seems a bit lanky…kinda like lynden trail.
Exact same thought I had. Trail was a great person, never saw the field though.
wow he looks like a legit 6’7 in that video.
will need to add 25+ lbs to see the field
At DE, he’ll need to add 50+ lbs to see the field. Definitely going to redshirt this year.
Good addition, welcome to Gator Nation, from what I’ve heard he’s a good kid too.
he knows how to use those long arms to shed blocks and get the ball carrier. he reminds me alot of jarvis moss at the age hes at. also of dunlap when he was a senior.
Looks like he should be playing on the hardcourt. If he adds a bunch of weight, he’ll be like dunlap (minus the passing out drunk in a running car.. I hope).
We should have gotten him enrolled early so he could spend 6 hours a day eating pizza at Gator D.
Hahaha that’s perfect. Made me chuckle cause it’s true.
Good God can any of you say anything nice and stop being so negative these days? We pick up a kid that wants to bleed Orange and Blue , runs a 4.7 | 40 and half of you nitpick about his weight. I’d love to see some of the posters physiques on this board as I’m sure most of you fools are from in shape, I’d guess most are in the 5’8” 240 range. How about to welcome the kid and be happy he chose us over someone else.
Mr2Bits…I couldn’t agree more…Welcome Alex McCalister. We’re excited to have you in this class of future stars. Go get em Gators!
Wish I had a drink to salute you with.
quit bi$chin about people being critical…it is a forum….always glad to sign anyone with talent who wants to try and play big time football as a gator….he has a lot of work to do with his technique off the line….I will admit the kid has a large wingspan and can reach out on some people….but in the SEC one arm takles usually dont cut it…..and who cares if some of these people on the site boards are out of shape or rediculously small and skinny….they live the dream through following the gators….get over it
Great Pickup Muschamp. Can’t wait to see this kid play. he seems like true talent. I’m loving this class and i believe that real good things are gonna come out each and every player. Just please dont make dumb decisions…….Stay away from the drinking and driving and the marijuana and lets make this class stick.
Wow! How many times did he drag down the ball carrier with one hand?
I’m officially nick nicknaming him “The Talon.”
Welcome to Gator Nation son. You will be part of what grows into a nasty defense.
Now start eating.
Should bat down a lo of passes. Say what you want, call it complaining, crying whatever but to play DE in the SEC of course he will need to pu on weight. good news is that he is still in high school and is 6’7″ and will certainly do so under our coachs’ watch. I assume this kid is smart as well, GT and UNC are not the easiest of schools o get into so it sounds like we have a good one here…welcome to Gator Nation!
Oh, speaking of tall kids, this Deltona Trinity qb…..6’6″ 225 with a strong arm…sounds like a good one to get to me and red shirt a year.
I’m sure that S & C going get this kid ready for play seems like their building an army with these defensive recruits. Go gators. Kid seems like he has a good attitude too.
+1 on the talon nickname!
Me too on The Talon. You never know about kids like this. He seems like a good kid and smart, there was a guy from down here back in 07 that not many people looked at for DE and weighed 225, He had no major scholarship offers and ended up going to UCF. His name was Jason Pierre-Paul, he actually turned out to be a decent player.
ooops USF.
Not to get too far off topic, but I am a little bit suprise Muschamp is not pulling kids out of Texas like I though he would. I can understand not trying to steal Texas recruits last year (unlike someone we know now at the School Up North) but I really thougt in year 2 Muschamp would be using his Texas connections to bring some of that talent to UF, especially since we have a bunch of scollies to give out.
I also question the Texas connection, thats a pipeline of talent. A little surprised he would go for a “project” guy in this class as we need all the players we can get on the field next year. That being said, seems like a talented kid!
Texas players want to play in Texas. He’s certainly got connections with coaches, but there’s just a fierce loyalty there.
I like how Muschamp is loading up on defensive talent. He is clearly building our defense into a dominant force which is very smart. Defense wins championships and in the SEC if you don’t have a stud defense you will not win. I like this kids height and wingspan. He has the potential to develop into a great pass rusher and also a great run stopper on the edge. Obviously he’ll have to get stronger and put on more weight like any other 6’7 kid. Great pick-up Muschamp. I really hope we can get Algohlor and Diggs now