FLORIDA BOY: Bartram Trail 4-star DB Sharif Denson becomes Gators' 4th commit in 8 days

The top defensive player in St. Johns County is officially off the market; self-described "Florida boy" Sharif Denson will soon become a Florida Gator.

Denson, Bartram Trail's 5-foot-11, 170-pound rising senior defensive back, announced his verbal commitment to the Gators in a Monday night Instagram post. Last month, Denson named Florida one of his five finalists in an exclusive piece for the Record, along with Florida State, Ohio State, South Carolina and Texas A&M.

Miami also made a late push for the coveted cover corner.

Denson's relationship with co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Patrick Toney played a significant role in the Gators' final-five inclusion, he wrote.

"PT is my guy," Denson said. "He was at our school the first day of spring and watched the whole practice and at the track, too. It was the day before my district meet.

What separates Florida is how analytical PT is. I talked to my dad about it and said that (Toney) is really a scientist when it comes to football. He's going to make sure every little thing you can get is the best."

During his junior year for district champion Bartram Trail, Denson hauled in two interceptions and was credited with 34 tackles. He was a Nominee for the Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns Defensive Player of the Year.

Per 247Sports' composite rankings, Denson is the No. 24 cornerback recruit in the nation. The four-star prospect cracked the USA TODAY Top 100 back in April, checking in at No. 47.

Denson will join another former Bartram standout in the Florida secondary — STAR 'backer Tre'Vez Johnson. As a sophomore, Johnson started seven of the 10 games in which he appeared.

Despite missing out on top quarterback Jaden Rashada recruit, who controversially committed to Miami on Sunday night, Florida is finishing June with some momentum.

Billy Napier and his staff have landed four commitments in eight days, flipping Lakewood edge rusher Isaiah Nixon from UCF and adding pledges from Buchholz defensive lineman Gavin Hill and Trinity Catholic offensive tackle Tommy Kinsler.

Eight of the Gators' nine commits hail from the Sunshine State. According to 247Sports' composite team rankings, UF checks in 28th out of the 131 NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision programs.