Florida Football Recruiting: LB Dillan Lawson Decommits

Dillan Lawson has an Alabama tattoo across his chest, so when the 'Bama-fan linebacker who was "born and raised in Alabama" committed to Florida following its junior day, people were skeptical. He may as well have had "future de-commitment" tattooed on his forehead.

Lawson finally decommitted from Florida last night, as first reported by ESPN's Derek Tyson. But it wasn't to join the Tide's class. It was a "mutual decision" between Lawson and UF.

From Zach Abolverdi of Gatorsports in an interview with Kevin Pettis, Lawson's high school coach:

"It was a mutual decision," Pettis said. "They told him, 'You need to work on your academic situation and we'll be here for you once you get everything squared away.' He's back at Crestview now and doing all the things academically that he's supposed to be doing. But we're still trying to make up core classes to boast his GPA and ACT."

Perhaps Will Muschamp doesn't want a Dante Phillips Part 2. If Lawson gets his grades up, he could possibly rejoin the Gators' class, because he definitely still has interest.

Lawson on UF:"I'd love to go to Florida, don't get me wrong. I'd still love to go to Florida." -- if his academics improve #Gators

— Derek Tyson (@DerekTysonESPN) July 19, 2012

Also in the Gatorsports article, Abolverdi said Lawson will speak with Florida linebackers coach D.J. Durkin and plans to be at Friday Night Lights on July 27.

In the meantime, I don't think Florida will target any other prospects at linebacker, with Daniel McMillian, James Hearns and Quinton Powell on board and Powell possibly getting back in the fold later on (Pettis said he thinks there's a 70 percent chance Lawson rejoins UF's class). Florida's 2013 class now stands at 17 members and will probably reach 22 or 23 on Signing Day.