Crestview's Lawson commits to Gators

Saturday was a big day for Crestview’s rising senior defensive end/outside linebacker Dillan Lawson.

Lawson, who was in Gainesville at the University of Florida football team’s Junior Day, committed to play football for the Gators and will sign a national letter of intent next February.

The ironic thing is, at one time Lawson, who is the first player in Crestview history to have a chance to play in the SEC, admits that he really didn’t even like the Gators.

“I really didn’t have a lot of interest in the Gators because I was in Alabama and I thought the Gators were cocky,” he said. “I went out on their campus and met all the coaches and talked to some of the players on the team and I saw the weight room and the nutrition program and everything and I liked it. And I like the fit for me.”

The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Lawson runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds and is ranked the No. 351 recruit in the country and No. 51 in Florida by 247Sports. They also list him as 3-star prospect and the No. 27 outside linebacker in the country.

Bulldogs coach Kevin Pettis couldn’t be happier for Lawson.

“I think it’s big having a SEC commit,” Pettis said. “It’s big for Dillan because now all he has to do is relax and play and get his grades, so the pressure is kind of off of him.

“I’m a big proponent of kids staying in state. I like kids playing where they grew up and where they will proba-bly spend the rest of their lives.”

Lawson said the Gators coaching staff has told him that he will be expected to do many of the same things he does for the Bulldog defense.

“Coach (Will) Muschamp (Florida’s head coach) said I have the body and size for a defensive end and also an outside linebacker,” Lawson said. “They are going to want me to rush the passer.”

Pettis explained what the Gator coaches see in Lawson.

“I think he’s a ranging kid,” Pettis said. “He’s got those long arms and good speed. His weight room numbers are phenomenal.

“He’s just a good kid and I think what makes him an SEC player is you can’t coach what he’s got. You can’t coach 6-4 and runs a 4.5. There are a lot of things he can he do.”

Now that Lawson has made his decision, he hopes to be able to help some of his Crestview teammates as they go through the recruiting process.

“With me going to a big school like that I’m going to try and bring as much publicity to the school as I can to help my teammates out,” he said. “I just don’t want to be selfish. I’m going to try to get them there too.

“I don’t want to be the only one from my school at Florida. I want other players from my team to be there with me.”