Cocoa's Cedrick Hawkins credits Ohio State coaches, fans for recruiting success
COCOA Cedrick Hawkins thinks it’s obvious why Ohio State is having so much early success in Florida this recruiting cycle.
“Everybody notices how good the program is doing,” Hawkins said. “And the great coaches they have in. And everything else really.”
Ohio State already has four verbal commitments from Florida players in the class of 2023. All four rank in the top 55 on the USA Today Florida Network op 100.
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Hawkins, Cocoa’s all-state safety, was the first when he announced on New Year’s Day.
“It was the right moment to do it and I took my chance,” he said. “It was the coaching and the atmosphere. The fans are crazy. They love to be there. It can negative five degrees and 60,000 people. They’re just there, sitting there in negative degree weather. I think that’s crazy. It’s unreal.”
Plantation-American Heritage running back Mark Fletcher Jr. committed on April 12; Wharton cornerback Dijon Johnson and Wiregrass Ranch wide receiver Bryson Rodgers both announced on Easter.
“It’s very exciting because we’re all from Florida,” Hawkins said. “We’re Florida boys. We’re going to put on wherever we go. It’s exciting for us to go up there together, put on a show together and represent the state of Florida.”
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It’s still early in the cycle, but Florida State and Miami are the only other teams that have commitments from four Florida athletes.
Here’s a look at which programs are having the most success recruiting Florida so far. (USA Today Florida Network top 100 rankings are in parenthesis.)
1. Ohio State
In-state commitments (4): CB Dijon Johnson (18), RB Mark Fletcher Jr. (29), S Cedrick Hawkins (41), WR Bryson Rodgers (53)
The Buckeyes jumped to the top of the list with three commitments during a five-day period in mid-April. Johnson and Hawkins give Ohio State two of the state's top defensive backs.
2. Florida State
In-state commitments (4): EDGE Lamont Green Jr. (39), WR Darren Lawrence (69), TE Randy Pittman (73), WR Vandrevious Jacobs (89)
Green is a legacy edge rusher who has been committed for more than a year. Lawrence, Pittman and Jacobs all are standout pass catchers.
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T3. Notre Dame
In-state commitments (2): EDGE Keon Keeley (3), RB Sedrick Irvin Jr. (54)
Keeley, arguably the nation's premier edge rusher, and Irvin both committed in 2021 and have remained solid.
T3. Georgia
In-state commitments (2): TE/WR Pierce Spurlin (23), WR Raymond Cottrell (31)
Spurlin (6-foot-6) and Cottrell (6-foot-2) both are long, athletic receivers who can stretch the field.
No need for a long message this my crib !! 110% 🟩🟧🙌🏽 pic.twitter.com/kb1FuwUDNv
— Robby Washington (@RobbyWashingt10) March 25, 2022
5. Miami
In-state commitments (4): ATH Robby Washington (37), WR Lamar Seymore (77), LB Bobby Washington (82), OL Frankie Tinilau
The Washington twins committed on March 24, while Seymore has been committed since 2020.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Cocoa DB Hawkins credits Ohio State coaches, fans for recruiting success
