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Four-star defensive tackle Shavar Manuel (Bradenton, Fla./IMG Academy) committed to Florida on Tuesday night and this was another huge get for the Gators on the defensive line.
Manuel is one of those prospects who started out as a defensive end, but clearly was going to grow into a defensive tackle.
Those types of prospects, provided they embrace playing on the interior, have an advantage on some of the bigger prospects who have always played on the interior because they have plus athleticism and quickness. They’re a tougher matchup for offensive guards and centers since they’ve theoretically been battling more nimble and athletic tackles. That’s not always 100 percent, but guys like Robert Nkemdiche, Chris Jones and others have come to college as defensive ends and ended up being outstanding defensive tackles with NFL futures.
Manuel fits that mold.
As they have undergone the transition from Will Muschamp to Jim McElwain, one thing Florida has had on its roster is a plethora of defensive linemen — the previous staff recruited and developed at a high level at that spot and current defensive line coach Chris Rumph did an excellent job coaching that group this year.
But, good defensive linemen are not easy to come by and are at a high premium when it comes to the NFL draft, so it’s not a surprise that there has been some attrition. Manuel is just the latest excellent addition by Rumph this cycle as he restocks the Gators at that spot.
Defensive end Jordan Smith (6-foot-6, 220 pounds) has already enrolled and based on what was observed last week during Under Armour All-America practices and games, Gators commit Antonneous Clayton (Dooley County, Ga.) could be one of the most feared pass rushers in the Southeastern Conference with proper physical development. There may not be a quicker guy off the ball in this class. And don’t forget that CeCe Jefferson, a five-star in the last cycle, played this year as a true freshman.
Adding Manuel on the interior is yet another elite prospect for Rumph, Florida defensive coordinator Geoff Collins and the Gators staff to work with.
Of course, there’s also a perception battle that was won. Early in the process, most believed that Manuel would end up at Florida State. Then, LSU gained some momentum before the tide turned toward the Gators. The Noles and Tigers both have been a thorn in the side of Florida recruiting in recent cycles, so obviously getting a star prospect over those two programs is a significant perceptive victory on the trail.
Manuel, who originally played high school football in the Tampa area before transferring down to IMG, is the seventh-ranked defensive tackle prospect in the 2016 cycle per 247Sports Composite rankings.
Recruiting writer for Saturday Down South
