Wooten impresses at Owls developmental camp

Gary Wooten came into FAU’s development camp looking for his first offer. The Owls’ coaching staff made that happen, by extending a scholarship bid to the athletic linebacker Sunday afternoon.

“I wouldn’t say I’m 'committed' yet, but I would really like to play at FAU,” Wooten explained. “I’m waiting for everything to get worked out, and for a written offer to come next week".

Working out in front of the FAU coaches for just the second time, Wooten showed off all the skills that have given him a “sleeper” tag by his high school coaches. Wooten also participated in last years’ junior day at FAU.

“Forty-nine different schools have come through here, and I have told everybody, the sleeper at the linebacker position in the Dade, Broward and Monroe counties is Gary Wooten,” Hialeah Senior High School head coach Marc Berman said when asked about Wooten’s potential.

“Gary could be a lot like Cory Lemonier, his work ethic in the weight room and this summer will determine how far he goes,” Berman said.

Wooten has done it all for his high school, starting at the outside linebacker position, he has lined up at receiver position as well. He also runs the 200m, 400m and the 4x100m events for the school’s track team.

“The coaches like my size and height to go along with my hips and my speed,” Wooten said after he met with the Owls' coaches.

After a solid sophomore year, but a slow and underachieving junior season, Wooten had a big spring; which some believe is the reason why his recruitment has picked up.

“He didn’t have the kind of junior year that many people expected, but he had a good spring and a very big spring game,” Rivals.com publisher Mark Stampini said of Wooten.

“He’s very fluid when he runs; he kind of just glides across the field.” “He’s similar to current FAU linebacker Randell Johnson when he came out of high school, they almost look the same,” said Stampini.

Florida Atlantic coaches look to have found a player under the radar in Wooten, and haven’t wasted any time trying to bring him into the program.

And Wooten looks to be all for the Owls: “That’s (FAU) my number one choice,” Wooten said during a break from drills Sunday morning prior to receiving his offer.

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