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Florida football recruiting: Rising rusher Jabari Zuniga commits to Gators

You want potential? Look no further.

By Andy Hutchins
Rob Foldy/Getty Images

Late Monday, Florida received its 10th commitment in the 2015 recruiting class from defensive end Jabari Zuniga of Sprayberry High School in Marietta, Georgia.

Zuniga had been committed to the Pack since November, and also considered Arkansas, but picked Florida after visiting Gainesville two weekends ago and being made a priority by the Gators this January.

The commitment was first announced by Florida commit Tyler Jordan, who later deleted his tweet scooping Zuniga's planned 8 p.m. announcement of his flip from N.C. State. But that was partly because Zuniga wasn't on Twitter.

When he launched his account Monday night, he made sure to make his allegiance clear.

And there's no two ways about it: Landing Zuniga is a coup for Jim McElwain and staff.

He's rated just a three-star prospect by the 247Sports Composite, but the defensive lineman — tackle as a high schooler, but likely an edge rusher in college — is a four-star prospect in the eyes of 247Sports's evaluators, and his tape is frankly phenomenal.

Zuniga has unnatural burst — Dominique Easley-esque burst — and great speed in the open field, and his arm tackles seem to cut down high school running backs with ease, something of a rarity for an edge rusher. He makes good decisions in pursuit, too, something that one might not expect from a player with less than two years of football experience.

Zuniga also has tantalizing potential. At 6'3" and around 255 pounds, he's solidly built (and strong) already, but his broad shoulders suggest he's got room to add more bulk if necessary, and it's a good bet that he could be even faster once he swaps some of his remaining baby fat for the muscle that gets packed on in a collegiate strength and conditioning program. I'm not going to say he's "got All-American written all over him" just yet, but if Zuniga can translate his speed to the collegiate level while adding the power to deal with SEC blockers, he could very well play on Sundays.

Oh, and his Facebook cover picture is of a lion. What's not to love?

Zuniga's commitment gives Florida 10 commitments in the class of 2015, and continues a roll of sorts on the trail: 2015 linebacker Rayshad Jackson committed on Sunday, and 2016 wide receiver Rick Wells beat Zuniga to the punch with a Monday afternoon commitment.