South Florida’s upset victory over Florida on Saturday wasn’t just a statement win, but also opened a door for some subtle gamesmanship on the recruiting trail.
According to On3's Corey Bender, Florida offensive line commit Javarii Luckas got a celebratory text from a USF coach right after the clock hit zeros.
"One coach from there texted me after the game asking if I enjoyed the game," Luckas said. He went on to say, "It doesn't really do nothing" and he's committed to his future at Florida.
Luckas originally planned to be in Gainesville but watched from home, and admitted he was stunned by the outcome. The Gators fell 18-16 to unranked USF on a walk-off field goal, a sequence Luckas described as “shocking.”
“I honestly thought we were going to win,” Luckas added. “It came down to a kick and I did not expect that to happen.”
The Gators suffered from self-inflicted mistakes, including the ejection of defensive lineman Brendan Bett for spitting. One bad game and Billy Napier's seat is warming up in Gainesville with fans for his dismissal.
But in the recruiting world, timing is everhything. The moment for the Bulls means more eyes on them before hitting the conference part of the schedule.
Luckas might be headed to UF, but other recruits could be looking elsewhere if Florida can't get back on track. To make matters worse, Napier and the Gators meet No. 3 LSU this weekend in Baton Rouge. The first of three subsequent contests with a top ten opponent.
If Florida can somehow hit Week 6 with a 3-2 record, Napier will likely stay put. Anything less might add some heat to the situation.
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