Jacob Copeland recommits to Florida Gators on National Signing Day
Four-star wide receiver Jacob Copeland recommitted to the Florida Gators on Wednesday, which was National Signing Day, and his mother walked out of the announcement ceremony sooner than most people expected.
The 6-foot, 192-pound Copeland had narrowed down his recruiting decision to Florida and Alabama, where he made his final two official visits. The Pensacola (Fla.) Escambia High receiver — who is rated 69th nationally — was also heavily pursued by Tennessee, and hats from all three schools that were laying on the table before Copeland reached out to place the blue Gators cap on his head.
As soon as that happened, several people behind Copeland — as well as his mother, who was seated at the table with him — burst into tears. However, his mother — who was wearing an Alabama sweater and a Tennessee hat — also stepped off camera.
She did return to hug Jacob, and though some may imagine Copeland was upset by his mother’s action, it sure didn’t seem like it. The receiver was laughing, saying he wasn’t surprised about this given the type of person he knows his mom to be, the type to “put on a show,” he said:
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Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher — Florida State’s former head coach — and Nebraska were also among those who recently made Copeland an offer.
Watch Copeland explain his decision:
And then his mother returned:
Florida finished the 2017 season 7-4 and fifth in the SEC East.
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