Antonneous Clayton to Florida: Gators Land 4-Star DE Prospect

Florida picked up a marquee commitment Wednesday in the form of Antonneous Clayton. The defensive end provides a nice boost to the Gators' 2016 class.  

Luke Stampini of 247Sports passed along comments from Clayton about the decision. He chose Florida over fellow top programs Auburn and Florida State.

"Just the overall feeling when I woke up this morning," Clayton said. "I just felt like a priority, and that deep down inside I really can contribute to the team."

Gators head coach Jim McElwain posted a celebratory message on social media after the latest addition to next year's incoming class:

It's easy to see why he's excited.

Clayton is a 4-star prospect who ranks as the No. 99 recruit and the No. 8 weak-side defensive end among the incoming group for 2016, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. The outlet currently lists him at 6'3'', 218 pounds.

While he'll need to add more power to his frame in order to have consistent success at the college level and beyond, he's already an imposing presence. Add in standout athletic ability, and you have the recipe for a recruit with a huge amount of upside.

It's probably going to take some time before he makes his presence felt in Gainesville, Florida, though. The Gators have a crowded end group, led by Alex McCalister and Bryan Cox Jr., who are both juniors.

That said, a year of practices and time in the gym should serve Clayton well. By the time Florida is looking for replacements, he should be ready to step right in and play significant snaps.