By Justin Wells
SAN ANTONIO --- Considered one of the best defensive linemen in the nation, many eyes will be on the wide body of 310-pound defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd (Philadelphia, PA George Washington) when he makes his college choice public in an announcement at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl at the Alamo Dome Saturday (1 p.m., NBC).
Floyd has narrowed his choice down to Ohio State, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. While Ohio State has long been considered to leader to land Floyd, he warns that his decision on Saturday could turn some heads.
I do know my decision, and I think a lot of people are going to be shocked by it, Floyd said Thursday.
While Floyd hints of a shocker decision, he says his choice was made easy by one simple factor.
Really, its where I was comfortable at, Floyd noted.
While it it might seem that Florida could be at a bit of a disadvantage with the reason upheaval on the coaching staff and the flip-flop decision by Urban Meyer to resign before taking a leave of absence, Floyd says he is concerned about much more than that as it relates to the head Gator in Gainesville.
I genuinely care about Coach Meyer, he said. We talk on the phone every day. I just love Florida ... the program and that staff.
Another coach that has built a great relationship with Floyd is defensive line coach John Blake at North Carolina, often noted as one of the great position coaches in college football. As he often does, the master recruiter has worked his magic, this time on Floyd.
We have a great relationship too, Floyd said of Blake. When we talk we just have fun, nothing about football.
In terms of the coaches who are recruiting him the hardest, Floyd cited one coach from Ohio State and one from Florida.
Coach (Darrell) Hazell (Ohio State) and I talk a lot, and Coach (Steve) Addazio (Florida) is right next to him, Floyd said of the two names that come up on his caller I.D. the most often.
Floyd seems genuinely ready to end the recruiting process.
I cant wait, he said. Its a lot of weight thats going to be taken off of my shoulders. Then I can talk about my school, do everything and finish my high school career.
Although he already knows where he is going to school, Floyd admits that the other schools arent giving up on easily.
All of them are still recruiting me hard, he said. Theyre not giving up, theyre calling me every day. They want to know whats going on; they want to know how practice went. From the group Im choosing from, they all really care.
Although Ronald Powell is on the West team, Floyd pointed out that the two have grown close over the course of the recruiting process, and the both had consulted each other quite a bit before rendering decisions that will be announced on Saturday.
Were pretty close, Floyd said. We talk about anything and everything. We know how to keep secrets.
Could one of those secrets be the fact that Powell and Floyd could potentially wind up playing alongside each other on the defensive line in college? Only on Saturday will the answer to that question be answered.
