6/19/2010 football Edit

5-Star Wilder enjoys UF visit

Keith Niebuhr

Coveted five-star running back/linebacker James Wilder Jr. of Tampa (Fla.) Plant had a busy Friday and Saturday as he traveled by car with three teammates and his coach to the campuses of Florida and Florida State.

At each, the standout had a good time.

"He really had great visits at both places," Plant coach Robert Weiner said.

In Gainesville, the 6-foot-2, 219-pounder, who is the country's No. 3-rated player and helped lead the Panthers to the Class 5A state title last year, Wilder not only watched his teammates participate in a Gator camp at Florida Field, but met with Florida coaches, watched film and asked questions.

One thing Wilder wanted to know: How would the Gators utilize him at running back?

"He just wants to see how he fits in," Weiner said. "He was able to get a good look at that, talk to the coaching staff and ask some specific questions about that. He really had a great visit to Florida. He's really starting to feel comfortable with their coaching staff. I think he has been (comfortable) all along with their whole situation."

Last week's commitment of Tampa (Fla.) Catholic fullback Hunter Joyer might actually have helped Florida's cause in its recruitment of Wilder. At the very least, it didn't hurt.

"No. 1, he's someone James knows who's in our area," Weiner said. "No. 2, it does signal a little bit of the direction of what they're going to do offensively. I think the (commitment) of Hunter showed a little bit of a commitment to the kind of running game James could really be effective in."

Reiterating what he said last week, Weiner thinks Wilder likely will pick a school by mid-July.

"It's getting down to the point where he may be making some serious divisions and separations," Weiner said.