Florida LB taking it slow

Fort Pierce (Fla.) Saint Lucie West Centennial linebacker Jamar Chaney is one of the top playmakers in the Sunshine State. He recently attended his final camp of the summer and came away impressed.

“I camped at Georgia a couple of weeks ago,” Chaney said. “I had a real good time up there. I went up there one time earlier in the summer and really liked it so I decided to go back. I talked to (defensive coordinator) coach Van Gorder and (head) coach Mark Richt. They were telling me that they really want me to come back for an official visit in the fall.”

Chaney is a 6-foot-0, 216-pound bruising linebacker who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.63 seconds and the shuttle in 4.28 seconds at the Miami NIKE camp.

“My top five schools are Georgia, Miami, Florida State, LSU and NC State,” Chaney said. “I am also looking at Georgia Tech and Florida. I really don’t have any favorites right now. I want to make a decision after the season is over.”

He has a 285-pound bench press max and a 605-pound squat max. He did 15 reps on the bench press and has a 33-inch vertical jump.

“We start practice on Tuesday,” Chaney said. “I think we are going to have a really good team this year. I think that we are going to make a run at the 4-A state championship. We have a lot of Division I players on our team and almost our whole defense returns.”

He had 120 tackles, 22 for losses, with six sacks and an interception last season as a junior. He also earned defensive player of the year honors on his team as a junior.

“Miami has been sending me stuff everyday,” Chaney said. “I have been hearing from them a whole lot. LSU is sending me a lot of stuff too. Florida State is the school that I’m not hearing too much from right now.”