David Sharpe

One of the more intriguing prospects on the recruiting trail in this cycle, offensive tackle David Sharpe (6-6, 290, Jacksonville, Fla./Providence) has been drumming up considerable interest since busting onto the scene this spring. The offers have been flying in ever since. While there has been a general consensus that Sharpe will end up at Florida when he signs his letter-of-intent paperwork, I think his recruitment will prove to be much more interesting then that.

Look no further than this quote from former USC and NFL All-Pro offensive lineman Tony Boselli for proof:

Tony Boselli on David Sharpe's planned visit to #USC: "Why wouldn't he? It's the greatest school in America" #Trojans
— Derek Tyson (@DerekTysonESPN) August 23, 2013

The Trojans will reportedly get an official visit from Sharpe, and I wouldn't discount their chances in this recruitment, especially with the presence of Boselli (now an assistant coach at Providence) in his ear.

Still, I think you need to look a little closer to Jacksonville to find the serious contenders for Sharpe's signature.

Alabama will make a run at Sharpe. We already know this, since the Crimson Tide make a run at pretty much every big-time lineman prospect on a yearly basis. Georgia figures to be in the mix. The 'Dawgs very nearly landed Laremy Tunsil from right down the road in Lake City last year, and assistant coach Will Friend has established himself as a strong presence on the recruiting trail. Sharpe has also visited South Carolina as well. The Gamecocks could be a factor in this race too.

However, the two schools I'd keep an eye on are Clemson and North Carolina. Sharpe's uncle ($), James Coley (no, not the former FSU assistant/current Miami offensive coordinator) played his college ball at Clemson before moving on to the NFL. The Tigers, perhaps more than any other team on Sharpe's short list, can sell the playing time angle. Sharpe also visited Clemson over the summer, and we know that the Tigers have had success recruiting the state of Florida under Dabo Swinney.

The Tar Heels could become a factor because of Sharpe's original love: basketball. Sharpe seems to want to at least give college hoops a shot (even if he's not likely to play for more than a season or two), and UNC clearly has the strongest hardwood tradition of any school on his short list. The Tar Heels can also sell the playing time angle as well, although they do have a commitment from a blue-chip tackle in this class (Bentley Spain).

I expect Florida to remain a serious factor in the race for Sharpe, although the rest of the pack has clearly caught up with the Gators. It will be interesting to see who gets cut from his list when he narrows it down to five, as I see six schools: Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and USC, with a legitimate claim to land the consensus top-100 prospect as of right now.

Just to show how athletic this kid is, here's a short video clip of him dunking a basketball. ATHLETIC: