Gators rising for Georgia DB

Moultrie (Ga.) Colquitt County cornerback Vance Cuff is one of the fastest-rising defensive back prospects in the Southeast. Big Ten power Ohio State has jumped out to an early lead for the 5-foot-11, 170-pounder, but an SEC program to the south of Moultrie is quickly climbing Cuff's list.

"I'm still feeling Ohio State," Cuff said. "I want to go up there pretty soon and check it out. Right now, the top two is Florida and Ohio State. I'm supposed to be going down to Florida's Friday Night Lights camp on July 21."

For Cuff, the appeal of the Buckeyes was well-documented in an article that ran 12 days ago on Rivals.com. He likes the chance at a national championship, the tradition of the school producing high-end talent at cornerback and his recruiting coach Tim Beckman. He reiterated that he still feels the same way about all of those things Thursday night.

The Gators, who are the newcomers to the top of the list, have yet to offer Cuff, but he feels like that could be imminent with a good showing at the camp.

"I was text messaging my recruiting coach (John Hevesy) and he said that they really wanted me in their camp and made it sound like they could offer if I do well there."

So what makes Florida stand out?

"When I went down there for the Gainesville NIKE Camp (May 21), I walked around and got to feel what the campus was like," Cuff said. "It's also close to home. That's not that important, but it's important.

"I also think that Florida has a good coaching staff. I want to go some place where the coaches make you better and I feel like I have the opportunity to get better at Florida."

Cuff camped at the University of Georgia this past week.

"It went good," he said. "We didn't think there would be that many people at the camp, so my coach and I just stayed for one day and then we left and came back. I did a good job though in the 40 (4.4) and did good in the one-on-one drills.

"They were very interested in me. They called my coach and I believe that they did offer."

Cuff plans to make a decision close to National Signing Day.

"I talked it over with my coaches and I'm going to narrow it down to three schools and then make (three) official visits," Cuff said. "I know that on the official visit, everything will be better than it actually is and I won't get to see what the school really is like, but it will give me a good gauge."

Cuff is the No. 37 prospect in the Rivals.com Georgia Top 50.