Vernon Hargreaves III: 5-Star Corner Commits to Florida

Five-star cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III committed to Florida on Thursday, according to Gatorbait.net.

Hargreaves, listed at 5'11" and 185 pounds, received offers from nearly 20 universities in the courting process, but he ultimately decided to commit to the Gators.

The star cornerback from Wharton High School in Tampa, Fla., is ranked fourth overall among all 2013 recruits by ESPN, and he's the top-ranked cornerback. He plays solid man and zone coverage, exhibits impressive ball skills and is a very instinctive player out on the field.

Hargreaves' ability to excel in both man and zone coverage makes him one of the most promising all-around cover corners in the past few years. Beyond his quickness, explosiveness and strength, he's also a very smart football player with a nose for the ball and an impressive knowledge of the game. He's already shown the ability to read routes quickly and make up ground in a hurry.

Hargreaves also exhibits a strong leaping ability, which allows him to bat down balls against taller receivers, and his balance, fluidity and positioning skills make him a threat as a ball hawk.

This continues a fantastic recruiting season for the Gators, whose 2013 class was ranked third overall before Hargreaves even committed. Before landing the prized corner, Florida already had 17 commits, including seven in the ESPN 150. That includes running back Kelvin Taylor (No. 22 overall), defensive tackle Caleb Brantley (No. 31), linebacker Daniel McMillian (No. 43) and receiver Ahmad Fulwood (No. 47).

The Gators went 7-6 last season (3-2 vs. SEC East), culminating in a 24-17 Gator Bowl victory over Ohio State. The team gave up just 167.3 passing yards per game—11th in the nation.

It appears Florida is primed for more brilliant defense down the line.

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