Unheralded wide receiver commits to Florida

FLORIDA FOOTBALL & RECRUITING:

5-star defensive end Jonathan Bullard Monday afternoon update | Pre-camp positional previews: The backfield | Current player first hand observations | 2014 DT commits to Florida | UF offer shakes up things for four-star Bailey | FNL: Walker has an idea | FNL: Jones chasing two dreams | Post FNL Recruiting Tidbits | Current player observations and notes | FNL Notebook: Receiver surprises | FNL - Five things we learned | Gators add commitment No. 19 | Impact Analysis: Five-star picks Florida | 10 Pre-Camp Predictions | Impact Analysis - Leonard transferring (free) | Linebacker no longer on UF's commitment list | Four-star impressed with UF visit, names a final four | Gillislee sets lofty goals | Breakout Candidates: #1 Loucheiz Purifoy | UF commit solid, but taking visits | Breakdown of Florida prospects at The Opening III (free) | Ranking UF's Opening prospects 1-to-15

The Florida Gators have been scorching hot along the recruiting trail lately, picking up their fifth commitment in past five days. The latest coming on Monday afternoon in the form of Gainesville (Fla.) wide receiver Chris Thompson.

"I feel so good right now," said Thompson. "I met with Coach [Will] Muschamp, [Brian] White, Brent Pease, and Coach Aubrey Hill. They just laid it out there and gave me the offer and told me I worked for it."

Being from Gainesville, Thompson grew up a Gator fan.

According to Thompson, to play for a team he grew up rooting for is big.

"It's great to be a Gator and I'm glad to join what they have," exclaimed Thompson. "I feel like I have been waiting a long time for this. I already got to see a lot of Florida being so close, but the weight room and the locker room are my favorite part of what they have. I just feel like I'm home. I know so much about Florida already and I am from here, it doesn't get much better than that."

Until the 6-foot, 170-pound wide out participated in Florida's Friday Night Lights camp this past Friday, not a whole lot was known about him. He had a couple of mid-level offers, but none from a BCS Conference school. Then, on Friday night, he exploded onto the scene - out performing many prospects who were rated much higher.

Throughout the course of the night he displayed above average speed and hands.

He said he feels his speed is a big part of what he can bring to the next level.

"I can get open and think I run good routes and my speed," said Thompson. "The coaches told me they liked that about me also."

The two-star rated prospect has been working to get the Gator coaching staff's attention for some time now and says to finally accomplish that means a lot to him.

"It feels great," said Thompson. "I have wanted this for a long time. I wasn't trying to think about it too much because I didn't really know if they were going to offer me. I didn't want to get over-excited if they were going to tell me to wait, but they didn't do that."

Thompson is the fourth wide receiver to commit to the Gators in the Class of 2013.