[gatortalk] Re: [gatornews] [SUN]: McCloud to pick a college Monday

Close but another loss to Clemson.

jb

From: Shane Ford <goufgators@bellsouth.net>
Reply-To: "gatornews+owners@googlegroups.com" <gatornews+owners@googlegroups.com>
Date: Monday, July 28, 2014 at 8:17 AM
To: GatorNEWS <gatornews@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [gatornews] [SUN]: McCloud to pick a college Monday

McCloud to pick a college Monday

By Zach Abolverdi
GAINESVILLE SUN Correspondent

Published: Sunday, July 27, 2014 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, July 28, 2014 at 12:08 a.m.

 

 

It's decision time for Ray-Ray McCloud III.

The four-star running back from Tampa Sickles announces his college choice today at 6:30 p.m. on Bright House Sports Network.

The Under Armour All-American is a consensus top-200 prospect and ranked 26th nationally by Rivals. His finalists are Clemson, Florida, Maryland and UCLA, all schools he visited in June.

The Gators got one last crack at McCloud when he attended their annual Friday Night Lights showcase, where the coaches talked to him about what his role would be with the team.

“Just in the spread, being a playmaker and just utilizing me in a lot of different ways — in the backfield, in the slot, out wide and special teams,” McCloud said.

The 5-foot-9, 176-pounder also talked with a couple of UF players from his area during the event.

“I'm real close to Dante Fowler and Vernon Hargreaves,” he said. “They were just talking to me, telling me to make my own decision, don't let anybody make it for me.”

McCloud made three trips to Gainesville in the spring. Did Friday's visit help Florida in any way?

“A little bit,” he said. “Not too much, because I kind of knew everything and talked to coach (Will) Muschamp a lot anyway.

“But I did see that the team is closer than I thought. They're family-oriented.”

McCloud said his own family will factor into his decision. UF is the only in-state school he's considering, and playing close to him would be ideal for his parents.

“I have a big family, so it has a factor,” he said. “But at the end day, it's a business decision for the next three, four or five years. My parents know that.”

UCLA has reportedly emerged as the biggest threat to Florida for McCloud because of his relationship with Bruins coach Jim Mora.

“It's actually real tight,” he said. “I talk to him at least once a week, him and coach (Noel) Mazzone.”

Although McCloud is ready to make a decision, he won't end his recruiting process entirely after committing.

“I'm not going to shut everything out, because things happen,” he said. “You don't want to be lost. Coaches can go to different places. You still have relationships with coaches from other schools, so if things like that happen, you want to have, not a Plan B, but a safe side.”

As for Monday's announcement, McCloud's deciding factors are simple.

“Just my heart, my gut feeling and just my comfort level in the offense,” he said.

 

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