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In the 100 days leading up to signing day 2015, RecruitingNation will be looking back at our ESPN recruiting rankings from 2006 to the present and count down the best player of the past 10 years at each ranking position, No. 100 to No. 1. Jerry “Jaye” Howard, No. 76 in 2007 class Howard was a longtime commitment to Florida before finally choosing the Gators for good on national signing day over Auburn and Florida State. He took official visits to all three following his senior season at Jones High in Orlando. Howard’s father played at Florida State, but the Seminoles didn’t put the full-court press on until after then-Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong zeroed in on Howard. Having his cousin, Eric Sledge, as a player at Florida helped Urban Meyer and Strong secure Howard’s commitment in April 2006. Howard was a member of the Gators' stellar 2007 class that included Carlos Dunlap, Joe Haden, Cam Newton, Maurkice Pouncey, Mike Pouncey, Chris Rainey, Aaron Hernandez, Torrey Davis, John Brown, Major Wright, Ahmad Black and others. After a redshirt season in 2007, Howard played in nine games and recorded eight tackles on the Gators' national championship team in 2008. He played in 12 games and made four starts in 2009. In 2010, he appeared in 11 games with eight starts, missing time with an ankle sprain, but still managed to rack up 10 tackles for loss. His best season in Gainesville was his senior campaign. He started all 13 games and recorded 65 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 55 sacks to finish his college career with 131 tackles, 25.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks in 45 games. Howard was selected in the fourth round (No. 114 overall) by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2012 NFL draft. He currently plays for the Kansas City Chiefs. Honorable mention: Damian Swann, No. 76 in 2011 class. Swann, a cornerback, picked Georgia over offers from Alabama, Miami, Auburn and several others coming out of Grady High in Atlanta. He’s currently finishing his career at Georgia as a three-year starter, having made 161 tackles and seven interceptions in the last three seasons. He is expected to be selected in the draft next spring.
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