The Gators target a Tennessee commitment

Florida extended an offer to Saddleback College (Mission Viejo, Calif.) wide receiver Eric Lauderdale on Monday afternoon.

#Florida Offered 🐊
— Eric Lauderdale (@e_lauderdale) September 30, 2013

Lauderdale is originally from Fayetteville, Ga., which is about 40 minutes southwest of downtown Atlanta. Saddleback College has him listed on the 2013 roster at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds. He's presently committed to play for Tennessee next year, which he made sure to reaffirm after announcing the offer from UF.

Still #VolNation though
— Eric Lauderdale (@e_lauderdale) September 30, 2013

However, it should be noted that Florida has had some success in recent years of prying away JUCO players who were already committed to Tennessee. The Gators landed defensive tackle Edwin Herbert out of the City College of San Francisco in 2009 (Oops!) and then Damien Jacobs from East Mississippi Community College in 2012. Herbert was a non-contributor at Florida and only lasted in Gainesville for a year, while Jacobs has been a valued rotational tackle since joining the Gators. With Tennessee's ongoing struggles this season, it's a situation that certainly bears watching.

It's also worth noting that Florida has not signed a receiver from the junior college ranks since Carl Moore out of Sierra Community College in Rocklin, Calif. back in 2008.

As I've maintained, the Gators need to land at least three more skill prospects in addition to the players they've already managed to bring into the fold. And that doesn't even take into account potential attrition at the wide receiver position (of which I suspect there could be some following the season). So that number could very easily rise from three before National Signing Day rolls around.

During his freshman season at Saddleback, Lauderdale made 60 receptions for 916 yards (15.3 avg.) and 7 scores. He has yet to play in a game for Saddleback this season through three contests.

Cameron Clear impresses at Friday Night Lights...

One of the prospects who clearly stood out among the throng of high school football players at the Swamp on Friday night was the who actually stood out above the crowd. Monster tight end Cameron Clear (6-6, 265, Memphis, Tenn./Central) certainly made an impression on the field of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, drawing the interest of Urban Meyer, who made sure to walk over and greet #224 during warm-ups, not even waiting until the real work of Florida's Friday Night Lights elite prospect camp began.

Clear followed up that performance in Gainesville with a solid showing at the Gridiron Kings 7-on-7 tournament in Lake Buena Vista, where he made an impact at tight end for Team Southwest. Despite being a late addition to the roster on Sunday, Clear proved to be a big target, who showed good hands and athleticism for his size. He didn't get a ton of opportunities during the event, but he did make it count when his number was called.

Overall, it had to be considered a successful trip for Clear, who managed to earn a verbal offer from the Gators, on the basis of his showing in Gainesville. After staying in Gainesville for an extra day on Saturday and meeting with the coaching staff, Florida officially jumped into the Cameron Clear sweepstakes.

"Coach Meyer just told me they wanted me," Clear said of the offer he picked up from the Gators this weekend.

It was enough to propel the Gators into the mix on Clear's list of top schools for the time being.

"Right now I like Alabama, Duke, Florida, Ole Miss and Tennessee (in no particular order)," Clear said of his current favorites.

There is no timetable currently set for Clear to narrow down his list or make a decision. But if his first impressions of Florida are any indication, the Gators could be strongly in the mix to land his commitment from here on out.

"I love it," Clear said of Gainesville. "I feel like I could live here for college."

However, the big catch for Clear? Florida would prefer to bring him as an offensive tackle, the position he will likely end up at in college. Clear, of course, would like a shot at tight end. But for now, the Gators are very much in the mix, and will receive an official visit from the talented Tennessee if things stand as they currently do.

TE Cameron Clear gets a Florida offer...

One of the most intriguing sites at Friday Night Lights in Gainesville this weekend had to be that of Cameron Clear (6-6, 265) and the mohawk on top of his monster frame running around and catching passes while taking part in tight end drills for Gators assistant coach Brian White.

Clear stepped up and had another impressive performance catching the football on Sunday, as he participated at the Gridiron Kings 7-on-7 tournament at the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista. Of course, maybe it was impressive because for a big guy, Clear shows good hands and can run a little bit. Still, many feel his position on the next level will eventually be left tackle (not all that unlike fellow jumbo tight end prospect Austin Seferian-Jenkins, who also participated in the event).

I confirmed that Clear picked up an offer from the Gators this weekend. However, the Gators offered Clear as an offensive lineman, and Clear has made it known that he wants a shot at tight end. Despite the fact that Clear was very excited for the possibility of earning an offer from Florida during his stay in the Sunshine State, the question is whether or not he will be happy with an offer from the Gators to play a position he hasn't fully embraced yet. More coming from Clear on Monday...