Gardners options expanding quickly

Things have a way of changing quickly in recruiting. But, at least as things stand now, Chauncey Gardner is intent on taking this thing down to the wire. According to the four-star safety, he's still just less than a full year away from announcing his college choice.

"It's all equal right now," Gardner said. "I'm not releasing a top 5 or a top 10 because it's all equal right now. I'll pick on Signing Day."

His 16 scholarship offers provide him with plenty to mull over. He's picked up a handful of offers in recent weeks and, of the recent group, one offer seems to be standing out. Gardner, who plays his highs school football at Florida's Cocoa High School, doesn't mind discussing it, even if he doesn't know a ton about the program.

"I think the Oklahoma one really stood out to me," Gardner said. "I didn't know any Big 12 schools were really looking at me, so that was crazy. That's the new one that stands out so far."

Gardner holds scholarship offers from teams in multiple time zones that compete in a variety of conferences. Doesn't care about geographic location. And while a handful of in-state schools have already extended offers, he does not intend to take geographic location into account when choosing a landing spot.

Instead, he feels other things are more important.

"I just want to make an impact wherever I go," Gardner said. "I want to make an impact early."

The No. 71-ranked prospect in the class of 2015, Gardner will spend part of his offseason running track. He runs the 100, 200 and a pair of relays at Cocoa. He also participates in the long jump and triple jump.