He was one of Florida’s first football commitments for the Class of 2010, and on Wednesday at the FHSAA boys basketball final four in Lakeland, Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer athlete Matt Elam said he has every intention of honoring his pledge.

“There won’t be any change of mind,” Elam said. “I’ll be in Gainesville in January.”

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound safety/running back/receiver said he hopes to play defense for UF. He listed the Gators’ tradition, UF’s fervent fan base and the city of Gainesville as reasons for selecting Florida, but said his eventual signing primarily will be because of coach Urban Meyer.

“That
had a lot to do with it,” said Elam, whose family has a relationship
with Meyer dating back to his brother Abram’s recruitment toNotre Dame
when Meyer was a Fighting Irish assistant. “I know what he is about. My
brother told me a lot of good things about him. We have conversations.
We have a relationship. We have a real good relationship that I don’t
think any other player and coach have.

“The coaches have shown my family and me lots of love.”

Elam said his decision hasn’t deterred other coaches from trying to change his mind.

“A
lot of schools are still calling, and a lot of schools are still
offering me and want me to come on visits,” Elam said. “I don’t ignore
them. I just listen to what they’ve got to say.”

Included in the programs attempting to sway him is Tennessee, which was successful in turning Pahokee receiver Nu’keese Richardson from Gator to Vol late in the 2009 recruiting process.

Elam
said there will be retribution coming for Richardson, who had been a
Florida commitment for more than six months before signing a national
letter of intent with UT.

“Well, I feel he let my team down,”
Elam said. “But, it really doesn’t bother me. We’re just going to go
and get him and beat him for four years.”