4-star DB Wardell Mack flips to Texas from Florida Gators
A rough recruiting weekend just got a little worse for the Florida Gators. For the second straight day, the program has lost a 4-star commitment.
Sunday evening, cornerback Wardell Mack of Louisiana flipped his verbal from Florida to Texas. He’s the No. 13 corner and No. 105 recruit nationally in the On3 Industry Rankings.
Saturday, 4-star linebacker Jamonta Waller flipped from Florida to Auburn.
The Gators now have 20 commitments and have dropped a spot to No. 4 in the On3 recruiting team rankings — one spot below Florida State.
Both losses to the class this weekend were significant.
Mack, who plays at Marrero (La.) John Ehret, committed to the Gators over Texas, Florida State and LSU in August. At the time, it was as significant win. But privately, some felt he was a prospect the Gators would have to battle all the way to the end to keep in the class. In fact, just days after committing to Florida, Mack already was talking about visiting other colleges.
The Gators now have just one cornerback committed — 3-star recruit Teddy Foster of Sarasota (Fla.) Cardinal Mooney.
Zay Mincey, a top-100 recruit from Daytona Beach (Fla.) Mainland, is one of the main targets. The Gators have made him a priority throughout this cycle and it doesn’t hurt the Gators that he’s teammates with 5-star Gators edge commit LJ McCRay. Alabama and Miami are thought to be the main competition.
Mincey visited the Tide last weekend and FSU this weekend. He will announce his commitment at the Jan. 6 All-American Bowl.
Meanwhile, the Gators continue to work on 4-star Alabama commit Jameer Grimsley of Tampa Catholic (Fla.). This figures to be one of the most intriguing battles for the Gators down the stretch.
Five-star FSU commit Charles Lester of Venice (Fla.) was a surprise visitor to Florida for the Charlotte game earlier this season. Afterward, he said he’d return for a game — and official visit. But worth noting is this: He grew up an FSU fan.
With Florida now sitting at 5-7 and having a real possibility of finishing 5-7, the fan base no doubt must be wondering if any other de-commits will come.
Right now, Gators Online is closely tracking two commits. One is 4-star defensive lineman Nasir Johnson of Dublin (Ga.). Georgia is making a strong push to flip him from the Gators.
Four-star edge Amaris Williams of Clinton (N.C.) is the other. Ohio State and Tennessee are considered serious threats to the Gators.
