Lakeland's Javares McRoy Decides He'll Be a Gator

Published: Thursday, June 10, 2010 at 11:14 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, June 10, 2010 at 11:14 p.m.

By Brandt Merritt
The Ledger

The University Florida will get another highly touted Gatornaught.  Javares McRoy, who will be a senior at Lakeland High, decommitted from Texas Tech on Wednesday and called Gators head coach Urban Meyer later that night to make his commitment to UF official.

"I just thought about where I really wanted to go and what best fit me and my running style, and UF fits my style," McRoy said.

McRoy said Meyer and running backs coach Stan Drayton told him they were going to stop recruiting the running back position with his commitment, and he expects to fill a similar role that Percy Harvin and another former Dreadnaught, Chris Rainey, have filled in the offense.

McRoy said when he committed to Texas Tech in the fall, he fully intended to play for the Red Raiders. But when the school fired coach Mike Leach and his staff, McRoy said he started looking at other schools.

Ben McRoy, Javares' older brother, signed with Texas Tech in February and already is enrolled at the school and working out with the team. The duo had been considered a package deal during the recruiting process, but Javares McRoy said his brother supported his decision to go to Florida.

"I just told him that Florida made me happy, and (Florida) is where I want to go," McRoy said.

McRoy finished with 786 yards receiving and eight touchdowns for Lakeland last season, but he broke out on the ground in the team's spring game, running for 299 yards and three scores against Tarpon Springs. His speed has made him one of the top recruits in the country, as he has been ranked the No. 148 overall prospect by Rivals.com.