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Urban Meyer details how Gators almost had Patrick Peterson

Untitled designby:Nick de la Torre•02/02/23•

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Patrick Peterson
BATON ROUGE, LA - OCTOBER 16: Patrick Peterson #7 of the Louisiana State University Tigers smiles as he walks off the field during the game against the McNeese State Cowboys at Tiger Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — College football recruiting is filled with “what would have been” stories. On Wednesday, former Florida Gators’ head coach Urban Meyer gave a great one. What if Patrick Peterson had committed to Florida instead of LSU?

That wasn’t a crazy thought back in 2007-08. Especially to Meyer, who thought that they had Peterson as good as committed when he was at Blanche Ely High School.

“It wasn’t only recruiting him, it was a wrap. It was done, I had him,” Meyer said on the All Things Covered Podcast, co-hosted by Peterson. “I went into his home, and he’s got a beautiful family with his mom and his dad. I remember sitting in his house, and I look over and on his laptop or personal computer, it’s Gator everything on the screen.”

The LSU star laughed but also told Meyer he was right!

“You guys did have me, coach,” Peterson said. “I was locked in and, as you said, we had great communications. You guys were coming to the house a bunch of times. I remember the game that you guys came to, you and Doc Holliday, I ran a punt return back, and — I think I told Bryant this story — I did the Gator Chomp.”

What happened with Peterson and the Gators?

Meyer led the Gators to a National Championship in 2006. Les Miles and the Tigers took the trophy home in 2007. The Gators would win in 2008, not that there was any way for Peterson to know that prior to his commitment on National Signing Day. Peterson was picking between the two best schools in the country, a tough task for a 17-year-old kid.

Ultimately, it came down to family and playing time.

“What it really came down to, it was my dad giving me more insight on college football. As far as giving a more deeper look into the recruiting process. Understanding where you would fall in that totem poll as far as coming in there to play,” Peterson said. “I had no problem coming in and competing with the Joe Haden’s and (Janoris Jenkins). He was like, I think it’ll be a better opportunity for you to go to LSU where it’s a clean slate. Where there’s no DBs, all the guys are seniors and you can go step right in and dominate right now.”

Peterson became an All-American and won the Thorpe Award in 2010. He was a first-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals and just completed his 12th season in the NFL.

Still, it’s fun to imagine what that secondary would have looked like with Joe Haden, Janoris Jenkins, Ahmad Black, Major Wright, and Patrick Peterson all in the same secondary.

Watch Urban Meyer discuss Patrick Peterson and the Gators

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