Five-Star Athlete James Wilder To Commit August 18th: Is He Florida-Bound?

It has been reported that 5-star athlete James Wilder Jr., one of the top two or three prospects in the country, will be making his commitment announcement on August 18. It has been speculated that the announcement will occur at 5 p.m. on a local Tampa TV station and will be broadcast live on one of the ESPN networks. 

Wilder has long been expected to make his decision sometime at the end of the summer, but his high school coach Robert Weiner recently confirmed to Chip Towers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Wilder would indeed announce his decision on August 16. 

Weiner did state, however, that the exact time and place of the announcement hasn't been set yet. 

Possibility joining him, according to the Orlando Sentinel, will be 4-star cornerback Nick Waisome, a friend of Wilder's and a fellow blue-chip Floridian. 

It is believed the two will chose the same school which many insiders and experts believe to be down to Florida and FSU.

So where will Wilder commit? As usual, we'll break down the situation and make a prediction.

Stay tuned for a breakdown of the Waisome decision later this week. 

What Wilder Brings To The Table: Scouting Report

Wilder's Junior Year Highlights

Wilder has off the charts strength and, pound for pound, is probably the strongest prospect in the country.

He's a two-way player who projects as a running back, linebacker or defensive end.

He's a leader on and off the field and plays hard every down.

Wilder seems best suited to play defense. He's a ball hawk with great instincts, and could do a lot of damage as a pass rushing outside linebacker/defensive end hybrid—but he insists he wants to play running back.

And that's where the dilema lies. 

The Dilemma: Offense, Defense Or Both?

Wilder is being recruited primarily as a defensive player, as many feel that his ball-hawking skill, aggression, and instincts are best-suited for the defensive side of the ball.

Many coaches and scouts envision him as a hybrid defender with the versatility to line up with a hand in the dirt as a defensive end or move outside to linebacker depending not just on the scheme, but the play.

He could cause headaches for offensive coaches wondering where he'll line up and what his assignments would be practically every play of the game. There might not be another prospect in the country who could do quite what he can.

The issue: Wilder is serious about playing running back and his suitors are starting to change their tune.

“Now that schools know I want to play running back, they are all telling me running back,” Wilder said

Straight From The Horse's Mouth: What's Wilder Saying

Now that it's clear that Wilder intends to go to a school that allows him to suit up at running back, obviously everyone pursuing him has changed their tactics, but so has he.

“I am now researching a lot of schools to see which ones have used big backs to carry the ball for them in the past and things like that," he said. "I want to play in an offense that a big back like me fits into the best."

But Wilder knows how this game works—he's seen other players go through it and won't just eat up everything schools are throwing his way. That's why honesty will play such a huge role in this process, and why a promise to play running back must be sincere.

“I know some coaches are probably telling me what they think I want to hear so I am looking hard to find what coaches are being totally honest with me," said Wilder. "I want to trust the coaching staff that I play for and trusting the coaches is actually the biggest part of my decision...so if I don’t trust the coaching staff, then I am definitely not choosing that school.”

The Top Choices: FSU and Florida

While it's almost assured that Wilder's decision will come down to Florida and FSU, that isn't a foregone conclusion. Both Alabama and Georgia have been high on Wilder's list for awhile now and if he's going to commit to one of the Florida big dogs, those are the other possibilities. 

Georgia is one of Wilder's finalists and he seemed pleased after his mid-July visit to Athens; maybe they did enough to lure him out of state. 

The thinking here is that Florida and FSU are way ahead of the pack and this has really been a two-horse race for quite some time. 

So why the drama about Georgia? Well we have to cover our bases, don't we?

It's difficult to decide which school overs him more though. Both FSU and Florida pump out pro talent on both sides of the ball and are willing to give him a shot at running back. 

The Gators and Seminoles are crowded at linebacker, but on the offensive side of the ball he should be able to see the field rather quickly.

Predicting Wilder's Decision

When Wilder first starting appearing on the national scene a couple of years ago, he listed Florida as his top school and seemed close to committing before an offer was even on the table.

Since then, other schools like FUS have gotten into the mix, but the more we go along in this process, the more it looks like his original choice is pulling ahead of the pack.

The Gators were reluctant to offer him a chance to play offense initially, but since then have recommitted themselves to the idea and will attempt to work Wilder in as a the team's full back with a newly-defined offensive role.

In this case, it's got to be about trust for Wilder, and one thing Urban Meyer knows is how to obtain is his players' trust. Not only is he telling Wilder what he wants to hear, it appears he actually means it.

Prediction: Florida