Friday Night Lights getting bigger? – Gator Prospectus - Gator Sports - Gainesville, FL - Archive

Friday Night Lights attracts some of the best talent in the nation to Gainesville, Fla., every year in late July. (Gainesville Sun file photo)

UPDATE: Look for updates at the bottom of the list right up through Friday, July 22.

Emerging from the haze of a nice, long summer vacation, there is one thing looming at the forefront of my mind — Friday Night Lights.

Friday Night Lights (also known as FNL) is a one-night summer camp, or showcase, for high school football players from around the country. It was the brainchild of Urban Meyer and his inaugural staff at Florida in 2005, and it has grown into a monster.

Within a few years of its inception, FNL became the best-known on-campus summer showcase  in the nation. It benefits most from being among the last camps of the summer, so as to maximize the number of elite recruits who can attend. It also benefits from the atmosphere of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at night with music blaring and videos of Gator exploits on a massive TV screen.

As the years have gone by, FNL has attracted more and more top prospects. And while there were some questions about how new Florida coach Will Muschamp would embrace and continue FNL, all signs are pointing to this year’s event being the biggest yet.

With about a week and a half to go, this blog will serve as the updated list of who is planning to attend. The Gator coaching staff has to be overjoyed to see so many players (and so many at important positions of need) expected to be on hand.

I will not be surprised if UF picks up a commitment or two or even three. In fact, as spots begin to fill up in the Gators’ Class of 2012, some of the battles on Florida Fields this July 22 could actually have an impact on who makes it into the class. This year’s edition of FNL very well may be its most competitive.

So without further adieu, here is the latest list with a disclaimer that recruiting (as always) is an ever-changing, fickle and unpredictable mistress.

Kaiwan Lewis (will be on campus before FNL, may not stay, may not work out)

July 13 – Moved S Marcell Harris and LB Reuben Foster from maybe to attending; removed DL Danny O’Brien, who will not attend but reportedly hopes to schedule an official visit.

Source: http://recruiting.blogs.gatorsports.com