Florida makes late push, and lands commitment from 4-star RB Andrew Beard
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What a finish, and what a swing late in this recruitment.
Four-star running back Andrew Beard went through one of the more fluid recruitments in the Southeast, and in the end, Florida came from behind to land the No. 165 prospect in the Rivals Industry Ranking out of Bogart (Ga.) Prince Avenue Christian.
Beard, a Georgia legacy, saw the Bulldogs set the early pace. Clemson surged into the lead after offering earlier this year, and for much of the spring, the Tigers looked like the team to beat. But Florida’s new staff stayed consistent, the tone of the recruitment shifted late, and the Gators closed.
“Development was a big thing in this decision,” Beard told Rivals. “That matters the most to me, and they develop running backs and get them to the next level. Coach Foster is a great coach, and my goal is to get to the NFL, and I feel he can help me do that.”
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The stage mattered too.
“It is the SEC… that’s the biggest conference in college football,” he said. “That’s where you go to show what you can do. You play great competition every week, it is the best football every year, and you are seen when you play SEC football.”
Beard is the fourth commitment for Florida this week. Sumrall is putting together a top class in his first full year at the Swamp.
“With the class they’ve got… guys texting me every day, checking in,” Beard said. “They all love it in Gainesville, and so do I. The coaches and the fans are amazing. The atmosphere is great. Florida has a lot of momentum.”
Beard is excited about playing for the staff at Florida
Development and SEC were big factors in the final decision, which was made in the final hours, but it all started with the new staff back in January. Jon Sumrall leads the way.
“Just the passion, the energy, and how he has been a winner everywhere he has been stands out about Coach Sumrall,” Beard said. “He has a great energy about him. He has come in and changed things. I feel like he can really build Florida back up.”
The push came quickly. Especially over the last few weeks.
“They definitely came from behind to get my commitment,” he said. “They didn’t have a lot of time, but every time I went down there, they made a great impression on me and my family. Then the way they recruited me made me more and more interested in them. They did a great job with me. Florida
That familiarity mattered.
Running backs coach Chris Foster and offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner had already built a connection with Beard before arriving in Gainesville, and that carried over immediately.
“It wasn’t really a new relationship… just a new building,” he said. “That got my interest at first. Then the visits. It’s just a different energy when you walk in the building. They’re always fired up and ready to work.”
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