Florida is a finalist for a game-wrecking 5-star defensive lineman

Either Florida football or Miami football will land this five-star recruit.

Leonard Taylor would be quite the get for either Florida football or Miami football.

The five-star defensive end from Miami Palmetto High School has 21 official offers but has narrowed his search to play for one of only two college football teams in-state: The Florida Gators and the Miami Hurricanes. The 247Sports Composite has Taylor as the No. 3 defensive tackle in his class, the No. 6 player from Florida and the No. 29 player in the country.

If Florida wants to catch the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC East, Taylor is the one recruit the Gators cannot afford to lose. If Manny Diaz wants to keep pace with Dan Mullen’s program in the Sunshine State, he must do everything in his power to keep Taylor from leaving the metro area to play his ball in Gainesville for the rival Gators.

It’s down to Florida and Miami for Leonard Taylor’s five-star commitment.

“I have good connection with the coaches [at Florida] and I feel like I would get a great education there,” Taylor told 247Sports. “Miami is close to home and the coaches show me mad love everyday. I feel like my education would also be great there with their program.”

Staying close to home and getting a good education are very important factors for Taylor. He would be able to achieve both at fine schools like the University of Florida and the University of Miami. Taylor also says he plans to decide between the two Power 5 programs in Florida before or during the Early Signing Period in December. It feels like his commitment is imminent.

Adding a five-star in the trenches is a great way for Florida or Miami to massively improve overnight. For Florida, the Gators have to get past Georgia in the SEC East to get to Atlanta. As for Miami, the Canes will have to fend off Mack Brown’s North Carolina Tar Heels in the ACC Coastal before having their shot against the Clemson Tigers in Charlotte. Taylor’s signing only helps.

As expected, Taylor plans to stay in-state to play his college football career.

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