Rather than playing the waiting game, Kedric Johnson decided he'd rather play for a national championship.
So Palmetto's All-Area defensive end verbally committed to Florida late Wednesday night, choosing the Gators over more than 20 Division I programs such as West Virginia, USF, Ohio State and Kentucky.
Last week, Johnson said he planned on making his decision between the end of the Tigers’ football season and National Signing Day, which is in February.
Then he saw The Swamp rocking while attending the Gators’ game with Miami earlier this season, and clicked with all of Florida’s coaches — including Dan McCarney, who coaches Florida’s defensive line — while attending camps.
“I sat down with my family,” Johnson said, “and decided this was the best place for me to be. Now, I can concentrate on my grades and getting bigger and better.”
Despite last week’s stunning loss to Ole Miss, the Gators are two years removed from winning the BCS title, are perennial contenders in the rugged Southeastern Conference and boast Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow at quarterback.
“It’s one of the premier programs in the country,” he said. “Going to Florida, I knew I’d have a chance to play for a national championship.”
The Gators began their push for Johnson while he was a junior and have been one of his most aggressive suitors since. Johnson put up 19 ˝ sacks season and has 11 ˝ in four games for Palmetto this year.
“They said they wanted to see some consistent play from me,” Johnson said of the Florida coaches.
Johnson plans to stay at defensive end and hopes to play as a freshman once he lands in Gainesville, adding he wants to study either business administration or sports medicine.
And though signing day is a few months away, and some of the nation’s best programs are still in hot pursuit, Johnson doesn’t figure on deviating from his decision.
“I plan to stay true to my word,” he said.
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