Five official visits in the works for Florida SDE Sedrick Clarke
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
College programs that want Florida swagger and athleticism on their roster have identified strongside defensive end Sedrick Clarke as a key addition to their 2024 class. Clarke (6-4, 255) bullied Florida offenses last fall at the Benjamin School and will put his full array of talents on display this season with Palm Beach Gardens High School. As Clarke goes through his last run with the Gators, five possible official visits in the works but ACC and Big Ten teams are watching which could change the course of his decision-making process.
Summer days were spent at college camps helping fine-tune the pass rushing skills.
“I went to a USF camp, and I went to the FSU and FAU camp; they had a joint camp,” Clarke said. “I also participated in USF’s 7-on-7 tournament.”
The events held by the Bulls helped draw ties to Tampa for Clarke.
“It was good,” Clarke stated. “I got to learn a lot and see how the coaches coach, and it helped me gain information on USF.”
Clarke continued sharing his recruiting process with USF’s staff, “Coach KP (Kevin Patrick – DL) and I, we talk. I also have a good connection with their head coach, coach (Alex) Golesh. At their camp, the atmosphere of the school and the energy level was high. There is a lot of hype around the team. They gave a great feeling for their football program. I enjoyed being out there.”
Competing in front of the Seminoles’ staff led to one-on-one time with head coach Mike Norvell.
“That was great as well,” Clarke shared. “I got to talk to some of the players and I talked to coach Norvell; I had met him before. I also did drills with the FAU coaches.”
Holding 16 offers, Clarke listed the teams showing interest ahead of the 2023 schedule, “Indiana, Virginia, Northwestern, and I am receiving tons of mail from FSU.”
With Western Kentucky, Marshall, Temple, USF, and Toledo making Clarke a top target in this recruiting cycle, official visits are being planned.
“For my official visits, I am planning on going to WKU, Marshall, and Toledo,” Clarke said. “The more the schools reach out to me, I plan on visiting them as well. UCF is another official; I am planning on visiting them as well. They have been reaching out as well.”
Interest in the four programs was detailed.
Western Kentucky: “With Western Kentucky, I like that they are recruiting me as a hybrid player. I would be able to play end and drop back in coverages. I would be used in more ways, not just as a one trick guy. They would use me all around the field.”
Marshall: “It is the same with Marshall. They are recruiting me as a hybrid. The past the town has, the plane incident, there is a lot of history behind the team; I want to learn more about them. I am interested in them as well.”
Toledo: “The relationship with Toledo is good. I am being recruited by their head coach, coach (Jason) Candle. It was crazy, I ran a corner route and he saw me. He liked the way I moved, and now he is recruiting me. We text and catch up with each other. They have a new d-line coach (Frank Okam), that didn’t change how he saw me and still wanted to recruit me.”
UCF: “UCF is close to home where my family can watch me and in case of an emergency, I would be a couple of hours away. I have been to their practice before; I liked how they are fast-paced, and I like their coaching staff. My former Benjamin teammates tell me all the time about how good it is there and that they have celebrities in and out of there because it is so great. All around UCF is a great school.”
On June 26, Clarke dropped his top schools listing Western Kentucky, USF, Toledo, Marshall, and Temple. The relationship with the Owls’ staff is ongoing.
“Their d-line coach (Larry Knight) was recruiting me at Toledo; he has the same idea for me from Toledo but now at Temple,” Clarke stated. “We talk every now and again. He has the same plan for me, I am trying to set up an official there as well.”