Five-star defensive end Jonathan Bullard committed to Florida during Saturday's U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
Bullard picked the Gators over Clemson and South Carolina. He hails from Crest High School in Shelby, N.C., and is the teammate of UF safety commit Rhaheim Ledbetter.
“I'm happy for him,” said Bullard's high school coach Mark Barnes. “Florida has always been heavy on his radar, and he was serious about attending. Now I got two of them that are gonna be Gators.”
The 6-foot-4, 255-pounder is ranked by Rivals.com as the nation's No. 20 overall prospect and third-best at his position.
“I feel like the University of Florida is getting a great player,” Barnes said. “He plays defensive end really well, but he's thick enough to move inside too. He has 4.6 speed and that athletic ability makes him a great pass rusher. He makes plays that guys with his size and strength very rarely can do.”
As talented as Bullard is on the field, Barnes said his qualities off the field are just as important.
“Jonathan is a high-maintenance guy for the opponents, and he's a low-maintenance guy for the program,” Barnes said. “He's not gonna cause any trouble or distractions. He'll be on time to class and team meetings and act the way student-athletes are supposed to. He's a great young man and an outstanding citizen. I feel very confident that he'll represent Crest High School and his community in a positive light.”
Bullard is the 19th commitment of the 2012 recruiting class for UF head coach Will Muschamp, who continues to address both lines of scrimmage.
