Recruiting Notebook: Blaine Gabbert's younger brother commits to UCF
The University of Central Florida is getting a quarterback with a familiar last name.
Tyler Gabbert, the younger brother of Jacksonville Jaguars starter Blaine Gabbert, committed to the Golden Knights on Monday.
It's the latest stop for Tyler Gabbert, who followed Blaine's path to the University of Missouri but transferred after his redshirt season in 2010. He wound up at Louisville, but he didn't play last year. Gabbert (6-0, 200) was a four-star recruit by Rivals during his final season of high school at Parkway West (Mo.).
Gabbert's commitment wasn't the lone pledge that UCF picked up.
Jonathan Wallace, a 6-2, 200-pound quarterback from Phenix City Central (Ala.), committed to the Golden Knights on Sunday, according to the Orlando Sentinel. With those commitments, the Golden Knights' position with the most uncertainty surrounding it now has a little more depth. UCF had just one quarterback on scholarship entering spring football, Blake Bortles. He started 10 games last year, passing for 958 yards and six touchdowns.
The Golden Knights now have 11 players committed, although pledges are non-binding until national signing day on Feb. 1.
LSU loses top quarterback recruit
Gunner Kiel, one of the country's top recruits at quarterback, has apparently had a change of heart.
According to Rivals and NBC Sports, Kiel backed out of his commitment to LSU and will instead enroll at Notre Dame today. Scout.com's Shea Dixon posted on Twitter that the Tigers' early enrollees had a meeting on Monday and that Kiel was a no-show. Kiel committed to the Tigers on Dec. 27.
The Columbus East (Ind.) star is a five-star prospect, and the top pro-style quarterback in the nation.
If Kiel does spurn the Tigers, it would be the second time this year that LSU has lost a major recruit.
Dwyer offensive tackle Pat Miller (6-7, 260) committed to LSU last September and prepared to enroll early this month. According to MaxPreps, a day after the Tigers lost 21-0 to Alabama in the BCS national championship, LSU informed Miller that they didn't have enough scholarships and asked him to pay for a semester. Miller chose to enroll at Auburn instead.
Local commitments
Ribault two-way player Raynard Felton verbally committed to Middle Tennessee.
Felton (6-4, 230) had a handful of offers, including Syracuse, Louisville and Ball State. Felton, who will play on the defensive line in college, had 65 tackles, four fumble recoveries and returned an interception for a touchdown. He also played tight end for the Trojans. ... Monday was a good afternoon for Florida International. The Golden Panthers added a pair of Georgia defensive ends - Bryan Attaway, from Camden County (Ga.), and Valdosta's Michael Wakefield. Attaway (6-4, 240) a three-star recruit, according to Rivals, and Wakefield (6-3, 230), both had visits on Jan. 13 to FIU. The team also picked up a commitment from Daytona Beach Mainland defensive back Deonte Wilson (5-11, 180) and three-star Edens Sineace (6-5, 315) from Palm Beach Central.
Justin Barney: (904) 359-4248