One of head coach
Urban Meyer’s first (and easily his biggest) commitment for the 2010
Florida Gators recruiting cycle is 5-star athlete
Matt Elam from Dwyer High School in West Palm Beach, FL. Having recruited and coached Elam’s old brother
Abram while with the
Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Meyer grabbing Matt’s commitment was a no-brainer. And while he remains committed the Gators, some of Elam’s recent statements should concern Gator Nation.
Earlier this week, Elam was praising the
West Virginia Mountaineers, saying his visit opened his eyes as to what else was out there aside from Florida. Elam claimed he was simply doing his due diligence by taking all of his visits, but actually told the Palm Beach Post he would sign with WVU if he was forced to make a decision at the time.
Not planning to take an official visit to UF because he has already experienced Gainesville and what the school has to offer, Elam visited the
Tennessee Volunteers this weekend and came away impressed.
“At first I just wanted to take a look,” Elam said. “But I saw things and talked to [defensive coordinator] Monte [Kiffin]. I saw how they used their safeties and they put them in a position to make plays. They do have a chance [to sign me].”
But what really seemed to sell Elam was all of the fanfare around Vols star safety
Eric Berry. Elam saw plenty of promotion for Berry, including a rap video that aired on the jumbotron at
Neyland Stadium. “I was thinking that could be me,” Elam said. “He’s getting all that attention and fame and they promote him. He’ll be leaving and someone has to come in and be better than him and make plays.”
Having previously said he was “locked in” to Florida and it was “where I want to be,” Elam said earlier this week that he was not ready to completely change his mind just yet. “I don’t want to de-commit and cause a lot of trouble,” he told the Post, “so I’m going to stay there, stay committed, but I’m going to look around.”
Prior to the 2009 season, before Meyer squashed rumors of him potentially leaving Florida at some point to return to Notre Dame, Elam said that was his only concern about becoming a Gator. “Nothing could persuade me [to de-commit from Florida],” Elam said. “I won’t change unless the coach changes.”
In the end, it is looking as if opportunity, playing time and (worst of all) flare may be what gain Elam’s commitment,
regardless of everything he promised coach Meyer (SEE LINK).
