Florida takes early lead for 2019 safety

MIAMI GARDENS -- Jordan Battle isn’t wasting time dealing with his recruitment. Instead, the three-star linebacker is attacking it from the jump. Just a junior, he already boasts a long list of scholarship offers and knows more will arrive in time. Still, that’s not stopping him from naming one school that stands out from the pack.

Young as Battle is, he doesn’t hesitate when asked to name a leader.

“It’s Florida. It’s early, but it’s Florida,” he said.

The reasons for Florida’s early lead may simply be because it’s the only school on his list he’s had the chance to visit. More recruiting trips are in store for the year ahead, but, at least for now, his tour of Gainesville is still fresh in his head. The trip seems to have left quite an impression.

“It’s a nice place with a nice facility,” Battle said of UF. “I was actually surprised by the facilities and how they were nice. That and the Gatorade company. I didn’t know they had that. That was sweet.”

Then, there are others. Battle says Florida’s lead in his recruitment isn’t massive by any stretch. There are other programs involved and the teams running in second place span time zones.

“I’m also liking Tennessee, Oregon and Michigan,” Battle said. “Those are the main ones up there with Florida.”

Battle, who is ranked as the No. 33 safety in the class of 2019, attends Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas High School.

IN HIS WORDS:

-- I want to visit Michigan for sure this season. I might do that this season or after the season. Tennessee, too. I want to check that out.

-- I’m going to try to commit early. Maybe I’m going to do after this season. Maybe in the summer. Before my senior year for sure.”

RIVALS REACTION: The good news for Florida is that an impressive prospect has taken an early shine to the school and intends to announce before his senior season. The bad news is that it will be five months until an announcement is made and more than a full year before Battle is permitted to sign a letter of intent. Plenty can change here, so predicting Battle’s landing spot is difficult.