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Class of 2018 4-star wide receiver Jacob Copeland Commits to the Gators

The 6’1 Wideout from Pensacola chose Florida over Alabama and Florida State with a homegrown commitment video

By Joe Boone
4-Star WR Jacob Copeland of Pensacola, FL chooses Gators with the help of family and friends in unique commitment video Wednesday night.
Video/Photo courtesy of Rated GP Media, Giant Productions, and SEC Country.

The Florida Gators received some more good news last night as 4-star wide receiver Jacob Copeland verbally committed to play for coach Jim McElwain. His commitment has been expected and heavily anticipated since his recent visits to Tuscaloosa this week and Gainesville for Friday Night Lights last month.

Last week, Copeland made mention of a commitment video on Twitter and worked with SECCountry.com to create the video over the weekend. The video, which was uploaded last night, can be viewed below:

Copeland’s recruiting ranking varies from service to service, with some having him as high as the No. 5 and No. 9 WR in the 2018 class. All agree that he is a Top 250 prospect at any position and a 4-star recruit. The 6-foot-1 speedster from Pensacola joins Ja’Marr Chase, Corey Gammage, Jalynn Williams and Tyquan Thornton as the fifth receiver in the class.

We wrote at length of the potential impact a revitalized Friday Night Lights could have on the recruiting results of this coaching staff and touched on the ability to have 5-star QB Commit Matt Corral recruiting on behalf of the coaches. It appears this is already paying off as the Gators have been able to pick up nine commitments since July 18. If the coaches can keep these recruits in the fold and carry this momentum through the season and into National Signing Day, the Gators could end up with a Top 5 class. Corral believes he can help land the number one spot:

The 2018 recruiting class currently has 16 verbal commitments to the Gators and has shot up the recruiting rankings. Rivals currently ranks the class 11th and 247Sports has the Gators in the Top 10 at No. 8 ahead of Alabama (51) and Florida State (10), who the Gators beat out for Copeland’s commitment.

Similar to Corral and Chase recruiting on behalf of their future school, Copeland has already begun the process of using his commitment to encourage other prospects to commit to the 2018 class. Unlike his first two years, McElwain’s coaching staff has a fast start with #AllBite18 and with his record of closing strong in February, Gators should be excited about this class moving forward.

You can see Jacob Copeland’s Junior Highlights in the Hudl video below.

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