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Florida football recruiting: LaMical Perine commits to Gators, adding to great May

The Gators have been fishing with dynamite on the recruiting trail of late.

By Andy Hutchins
Rob Foldy/Getty Images

Florida added its second commitment of the week on Friday, as Theodore, Alabama running back Lamical "Mike" Perine committed to the Gators, announcing the news via Twitter and video provided to Gator Country.

Luke Stampini of 247Sports was first to report Perine's commitment.

If the last name sounds familiar, it should: Perine is the cousin of Oklahoma running back Samaje Perine, who holds the FBS record for rushing yards in a single game, set last fall against Kansas.

The younger Perine looks like a slimmer, faster version of the Sooners back in his highlight tape.

Perine is rated as a consensus three-star recruit by the major recruiting rankings, and a three-star in the 247Sports Composite rankings.

Florida may, however, have to fend off Oklahoma to keep Perine from joining his cousin. As recently as Tuesday, Perine was telling The Oklahoman that receiving an offer from the Sooners "would be crazy," and that he was planning to camp in Norman in June. Whether those plans change with his commitment to Florida remains to be seen, but the pull of family is strong, as Gators fans have seen this week.

Perine's commitment is Florida's sixth in May, and boosts the Gators to 11th nationally in the 247Sports rankings. It's also the second running back commitment for Florida (and running backs coach Tim Skipper) in two weeks, following the pledge of JUCO bruiser Mark Thompson on May 14, and the fourth such commitment of this calendar year, counting both Jordan Scarlett and fellow South Florida athlete Jordan Cronkrite as running backs.