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* Florida thinking of the unthinkable - flipping an Alabama commit
* Florida offers 2019 Sunshine State target
* Four-star Campbell feels like a priority
* Florida visits four-star Milton, who is ready to decide
* Fast rising defensive tackle talks Florida visit
* Coaches Area Breakdown Part III
* Coaches Area Breakdown Part II
* Coaches Area Breakdown Part I
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Depending on your taste in types of competition, to some the Culpepper name is synonymous with football, while to others it is associated mostly with the reality TV show Survivor.
Former Florida football great Brad Culpepper has appeared on the show twice – including the current season. The first time he was on he didn't exactly come across as the most likable of players - and was quickly voted off the island.
On the other hand his wife Monica was the exact opposite, and partially because of her personality, she was the runner-up during the 24th season of the show.
Their son - Tampa (Fla.) Plant four-star Judge Culpepper – is much happier with the way his father Brad is playing this time around.
“It's kind of crazy,” said Judge when asked about watching his father Brad on the show. “He's doing his own thing out there. I think he's grown as a player in Survivor. The last season he was on everyone hated him, but now he is really killing it. It's really cool to see him out there playing, balling out.”
Though it isn't being aired, if you think about it Judge is playing his own version of Survivor.
Consider the parallels between the the show and recruiting.
In the game of Survivor you start out with a group of people, which is then methodically whittled down until there is but one left.
In the game of recruiting a prospect starts out with a group of schools, which is then methodically whittled down until there is but one left.
In the end, instead of who will Outwit, Outplay, Outlast the others to win $1 million and the title of Sole Survivor, the winner will be the team which lands the services of the younger Culpepper.
There's also another similarity - this season the game is billed as Game Changers – which is exactly what the younger Culpepper has the opportunity to become on the next level.
So, game on.
When it comes to the younger Culpepper, his list of players (suitors) can be divided into two tribes – offense and defense.
“The schools looking at me as a defensive tackle or a defensive end are Florida, Nebraska, Penn State, Syracuse and LSU,” stated Culpepper. “Wisconsin, Missouri and Alabama want me as a tight end.”
Culpepper said that where a school projects him to lineup won't play a part in his decision.
“To me it's all about playing football. If the school is the right fit for me, then I'll do whatever I have to do to get on the field and play.”
Because spring football doesn't actually start in the Sunshine State until next week, only two programs have sent coaches by Plant High School so far (Minnesota and Florida).
Speaking of Florida this week you could say that they were the challenge winners, in that the Gators got the advantage of being able to visit with the 6-foot-5, 240-pounder twice in two days.
“He [UF defensive line coach Chris Rumph] was here on Tuesday and the day before we went up there to visit with him,” explained Culpepper. “We talked some ball, watched some film together, toured around campus some. It was great to go up and see him again. We went and got some coffee on campus and he and my dad talked some football, recruiting, just things. Then I met with Coach Mac [Jim McElwain]. It was just one of those short four or five hour visits.”
He may have spent quite a bit of time with Florida this week, but make no mistake about it, with over 30 offers to date there is a big competition going on to see who makes the cut – and who gets cut at Tribal Council (a Survivor reference for those who don't watch the show – if there are actually people who don't watch the show).
“I have a couple of top schools in my mind who are vying for the No. 1 spot. They are constantly going up and down and my overall list is changing. I haven't given much thought to a leader or a solidified top 10 even. I know those schools that want me really bad and those are the schools kind of at the top right now. Florida, Nebraska, Syracuse, LSU and Penn State. Also Tennessee and Georgia. Those are schools that are kind of standing out right now, but I haven't really formulated a pecking order.”
While his list may not be written in stone just yet, with a scheduled commitment just months away, that is coming sooner rather than later.
“Talking with my parents I am going to take a few more visits this summer and then make my decision before my senior season so I won't have to worry about it and I can just go ball out and win a state championship.”
Though he still has to decide which program he wants to play with, when it comes to the game of Survivor, if he were to ever get invited to play in the Blood vs. Water edition (two relatives on the same show) he has decided which family member he would prefer to play with.
“I would probably want to play with my dad, because I would feel less bad about sending him home,” replied Culpepper while laughing.
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