Trip Thurman, the most highly-recruited player in Delaware’s class of 2011, confirmed in a text message to MaxPreps.com he has made a verbal commitment to accept a football scholarship from the University of Florida.
The 6-foot-6, 315-pound offensive lineman from
Dover (Del.) made an unofficial visit along with his parents and brother to the Gainesville campus on Thursday. He sent this text message Friday morning: “It’s great to finally make my decision as to where I want to be the next four to five years of my life and I’m happy with it.
“I want to thank my family and friends, and especially (Dover) coach (Carlton) Brown, for helping me through the decision process.”
Brown said of his star lineman’s choice: “I think it’s a good decision. I wanted him to be happy with what he wanted. Like I do with all my players, I left it up to the family. I just sat back and took the back seat and looked at it overall and I know he’ll be happy with his decision.”
Thurman will play on the offensive and defensive line for Dover this fall, but is slated to play offensive tackle at Florida. He was a first team All-Cape Henlopen Conference selection on both sides of the ball in 2009 and recently said in an interview his individual goal this season is to make first team All-State on both sides of the ball and “be the best lineman in the state of Delaware.”
Thurman, who according to his website (tripthurman.com) received offers from 17 Division I schools, had narrowed his choices to Florida, University of South Carolina and Boston College.
He is ranked the No. 96 recruit overall in the country by CBS/MaxPreps.com recruiting expert Tom Lemming, and No. 15 among all offensive linemen.
