Gators reel in commitment from 2021 Rivals250 CB Clinton Burton
After labeling Florida as his leader (LINK) back in June, Rivals250 cornerback Clinton Burton has now decided to take it a step further by serving up a commitment to Dan Mullen's program.
The 2021 prospect was presented with a verbal offer in February, and then received his first taste of the Swamp just roughly four months later. Burton primarily speaks with cornerbacks coach Torrian Gray, but has also established a strong rapport with Dan Mullen and assistant director of player personnel Keiwan Ratliff.
A product of Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances, the 5-foot-11, 180-pound Burton is equipped with additional offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, Texas A&M, Penn State and Nebraska among others.
"The academics, weather, (and) I like the program and I like the coaches," Burton told Rivals' Adam Friedman. "It was just a feeling like I already go there when I went down there. It felt good just being down there. It just felt like the school I wanted to go to."
Penn State and Michigan are additional schools that hosted Burton in recent months, while Clemson and Alabama have been linked to the defensive back's recruitment at times as well.
The four-star prospect was also one of roughly 50 prospects to share a prediction for the Florida and Miami matchup, with 38-14 in favor of UF being his prediction.
"When we were down there, we talked about school and academics really more than football; that's why I liked it," Burton said of his summer visit to UF. "(My family) was fine with whatever decision I made. They like Florida; they like the weather; they like how good of a school it is; they like the campus."
Not only did Burton serve up his commitment yesterday, but Monday also marked the first day colleges could start communicating directly with 2021 prospects. He had already been preparing his commitment, but having Florida reach out before anybody else made it that much sweeter for the blue-chip defender.
"Florida first at 12:01," Burton said. "Then Alabama, and then (cornerbacks) coach (Mike) Reed from Clemson. Everybody was after that."
Burton, who is returning to Gainesville for next month's homecoming game against Auburn, says the Clemson Tigers finished second for his services.
The four-star prospect is obviously locked in with UF, but with roughly two years of high school still on his plate, don't be surprised if he journeyes out to additional campuses as well.
"I don't have any visits planned, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to come up with some," Burton said. "I know I still want to visit Alabama, and coach Reed is pretty mad right now, so he's making me come down there again."
Burton, the 12th-ranked cornerback, is commitment No. 5 in UF's 2021 recruiting haul. Offensive lineman George Jackson, along with Rivals250 prospects Tyreak Sapp, Carlos Del Rio and Kamar Wilcoxson, are teamed up with the Gators as well.
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