High school football practice begins on Monday, but three high-profile Osceola Kowboys took care of some business Thursday evening, making oral commitments to college football programs in the fall of 2023.
Defensive linemen John Walker and Derrick Leblanc took to social media to announce their commitments to UCF and Oklahoma respectively. About an hour later, defensive back Ja'Keem Jackson pledged to the Florida Gators.
Walker, rated a 4-star recruit by Rivals and ESPN and in the top 15 nationally among defensive linemen, becomes the Knights' highest-profile defensive signee since the ranking system became more codified. Last season, he was the Osceola News-Gazette Defensive Player of the Year; had 77 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 13 sacks.
He chose UCF and Coach Gus Malzahn over Florida, Miami, Ohio State and Michigan.
LeBlanc was the 2020 county defensive POY, had 38 tackles, 12 for loss and eight sacks. LeBlanc chose Coach Brett Venable's Sooners over Penn State and Florida.
Together as juniors, Walker and LeBlanc anchored a line and a defense that allowed just 11 points a game, recorded three shutouts, allowed less than 500 total rushing yards and a little more than one yard per rush for the entire season.
Jackson, also a 4-star recruit like the others who picked Florida and Coach Billy Napier over Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, Auburn and Penn State, intercepted three passes, and on offense caught 36 passes for 548 yards and four touchdowns in 2021 in a Kowboys offense that featured the pass more than in had in over a decade under first-year Coach Eric Pinellas.
"Th Florida coaches showed mad love every day. My parents and I talked with Coach Napier all the time, we've got a good relationship. He's the one who's going to bring Florida back." Jackson said in a video on his Instagram account. "They've got a resume of producing good DBs who are now in the NFL."
He noted on the video that he's "locked in 100 percent" to Gainesville.
These commitments do not become binding until the early signing period on Dec. 21, when they and other athletes can sign National Letters of Intent with their schools of choice.
