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Florida football recruiting: Versatile athlete Deiondre Porter commits to Gators

Deiondre Porter's recruitment had heated up in recent days, but Florida cooled it down with a commitment from the Tampa athlete on Monday.

By Andy Hutchins
Andy Lyons

Deiondre Porter had been a USF commit with a few mid-level offers prior to January. But then came an offer from Florida, and now Porter's a Florida commit, having pledged to the Gators on a Bright House Sports Network special on Monday, and has flattering interest that better fits his athletic, multifaceted game.

247Sports notes that Porter, rated a three-star prospect by the 247Composite rating, got a scholarship offer from Miami one day after Florida made its overture, and that Wisconsin had been sniffing around Porter, too. But this is a case of the closest national power winning out: Porter was so excited to learn of his Florida offer that his pants fell off while he was running around celebrating it, and he told BHSN that Florida's a "high-powered dynasty" during Monday's special.

But while Porter ending up as a Florida commit was less than unexpected after his past week, where he ends up on the field is up in the air. Porter mostly played quarterback for Tampa's Jefferson High School in his senior season, and though his accomplishments included a five-touchdown night against mighty Seffner Armwood...

...his lanky frame (6'1", 170ish pounds) and speed might be better suited to cornerback or wide receiver, especially given that Will Grier is at the head of Florida's 2014 class at quarterback and that the Gators remain in hot pursuit of Florida State commitment Treon Harris. Porter's season highlights — that's nearly 13 minutes of them at Hudl — suggest he's a better athlete than quarterback.

To Porter's credit, though, he told BHSN "I feel I can play anywhere" on Monday. He'll probably have to prove that to find playing time, and will be one of the best candidates for a redshirt in this class.

Porter's commitment brings Florida to 21 commitments in the class of 2014.

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