The time is 4:27pm and I’m sitting at the computer preparing for National Signing Day. I start to slightly lose focus and drift to the BCP/Bright House Sports Network Ignite Elite Showcase next month. As my eyes scan the screen I look at the number of Lakewood prospects that are registered for the showcase. “Lakewood” gets me thinking about what the heck is Dante Fowler going to do tomorrow?

I grab the Thunder Bolt [Android phone] search “Fowler” and call the Lakewood 2012 DE. He picks up “Sup coach?” as he always does and we proceed to talk about how big of a day [NSD] this will be for him. He is good Ol’ Dante, laughing and joking how you would expect a high school senior to be with all that lies in front of him.

Dante has been a Florida State commit since December 5th, 2010. He is a lifelong Seminole and loves everything about the program from the color of the uniforms, to what the spear on the helmet represents. Throughout the 2011 season, Fowler has grown to like the Florida Gators more and more, which naturally would cause Seminole fans to question his commitment and criticize his loyalty.

I asked Fowler the standard question; the same one everyone else asks, “Why Florida State, why would you want to be a Nole?” Without hesitation, he talked up the coaching staff and how coach Lawrence Dawsey had been recruiting him since his 9th grade season. He was excited about the Seminole recruiting class that he will enter with and how a National Championship could be within reach. Everything that he said, all in 2 mins sounded sincere and unscripted.

So…I asked him the same generic question about the Florida Gators. “Muschamp! Muschamp! Muschamp!” He seemed to really like how the Gators came at him strong and the personality and fire of Florida head coach, Will Muschamp. He rattled off the names of the defensive coaches and zeroed in on Dan Quinn, the Defensive Line/Outside Linebacker Coach. Fowler was impressed how future Hall of Fame Defensive End Jason Taylor spoke about Quinn. Stated that Quinn was the best coach he ever played for. Fowler reiterated this a few times as if he was talking to one of his buddies and describing a “smoking hot babe” he met.

After the obvious was on the table, I asked another simple question which Fowler again answered without hesitation. “If you choose Florida, how will you handle the flack from Seminole Nation?” Fowler, “Like a man, I know I’m going to catch flack, I saw some of it when my cousin posted a picture on Facebook with me in a UF jersey doing the Gator Chomp. But at the end of the day, I have to be the one sold on my decision, not second guessing it.” Fowler did point out one clear cut difference, “I can play early at Florida.” The depth at the defensive end position at FSU, topped with the talent entering in the 2012 class, makes the route to get on the field just that much longer.” Fowler impressively rattled off every FSU defensive end and each Seminole committed prospect at the same position. He didn’t sound to be afraid of the competition, he sounded like every other top notch recruit, wanting to play ASAP. Nothing wrong with that.

In the end, Bright House Sports Networks (Big County Preps official partner) will record Fowler’s announcement at 10:00am and air the show at Noon during the NSD special. Florida will be disappointed and the Seminoles will rejoice; or the Gators will gloat and the ‘Noles will be very upset. Fowler will be one or the other and that’s HIS decision to make. Whether he breaks his commitment or follows through with his verbal, he has that right. Let the fireworks begin!