Four-star TE Kent Taylor commits to Gators

Two days after losing a second-year tight end due to transfer, the Florida Gators picked up the top player at the position nationally in the 2012 recruiting class.

In front of friends and family at Land O’Lakes High School, four-star TE Kent Taylor (Land O’Lakes, FL) committed to the Gators on Thursday during a ceremony in which he received his jersey for the 2012 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

“It was just about where I am going to get used and the best place to play early,” he told InsidetheGators.com on Oct. 4 when his mind was made up. “It was a place where I felt I could have the whole experience of education, football, socially, and spiritually.”

Taylor – a 6’5”, 220 lbs. pass-catcher who is the ideal player for offensive coordinator Charlie Weis’s system – chose Florida over offers from Florida State, Georgia and Penn State. He is the second tight end to commit to the Gators for 2012.

“I really like Coach Weis’s offense,” Taylor said back in May. “I’ve talked to a couple of people who have played for him and they have all told me you definitely would like to play for Coach Weis.”

Florida already has four-star TE Colin Thompson (Warminster, PA) on board and is likely planning to take a third player at the position, too.

While Taylor is ranked as the No. 1 tight end and 55th best player in the country by Rivals, Thompson is also highly touted at No. 6 and 215th, respectively, by the recruiting service. Their spots are swapped by ESPNU, which has listed Thompson at No. 1 and 85th and Taylor at No. 4 and 147th overall.

Read more, watch a video and check out the commitment list…after the break!

Both players are comfortable about being part of the same class and neither has indicated having any reservations about playing with the other.

Taylor missed his high school team’s first three games of the season after breaking his wrist in the offseason but has turned it on recently, catching 13 passes for 252 yards and three touchdowns over the last three contests.

He has indicated that he wishes to take a redshirt his freshman season, though Taylor may have to reevaluate that stance due to Florida’s lack of depth at the position.

Taylor is the first player to commit to the Gators since five-star offensive tackle D.J. Humphries (Charlotte, NC) hopped on board Aug. 5. He is 17th member of Florida’s 2012 recruiting class, which suffered a defection earlier this month.

Photo Credit: Bill Ward/The Pasco Tribune