3-star WR Gardner eyes Gators, Terps

Three-star receiver David Gardner of Jacksonville (Fla.) Atlantic Coast wants to decide his school of choice before the first game of the season. While he doesn't have a clear-cut favorite, Florida was is favorite school growing up and he was also impressed by an offseason visit to Maryland.

While the 6-foot, 172-pound Gardner has yet to receive an offer from the Gators, he's hoping to hear from them soon. He's been talking with Gators wide receivers coach Chris Leak and offensive coordinator Kurt Roper.

"I've been a Gators fan since I was little," Gardner said. "I was over there for Friday Night Lights and performed very well. I'm very high on their board, but I haven't been offered yet. Coach Leake told me he's just waiting on (head coach Will Muschamp) to pull the trigger."

Gardner does hold an offer from the Terrapins, and of his offseason visits that included Maryland, Florida, Florida Atlantic and Florida International, Maryland stood out the most.

"I got to visit D.C. for the first time," he said. "I enjoyed it. I liked everything about the campus and the relationship I've been building with (receivers coach Keenan McCardell has been great. They're definitely a top contender."

Both schools offer an offensive system that suits Gardner's style of play, he said.

"The offensive set that they both run, I would fit in just fine," he said. "They both line up in a three-wide set, spread the ball and throw downfield. Florida is not going to be such a run-first team this year from what coach Roper told me. He said they're going to more of a three-wide set so I think I'd fit in just fine in that system."

While Gardner has tentatively decided to announce his school of choice before the season - he also holds offers from Cincinnati, Florida Atlantic, Florida International and UAB - he said that's not a hard deadline.

"I hope to hear from Florida soon," he said. "If I have to push (my decision date) back, then that's fine. I'll just keep praying on it and discussing my options with my family and God will lead me to the right school."

Adam Krohn is a Southeast Region football recruiting analyst for Rivals.com. You can click here to follow him on Twitter.