FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Top247 linebacker Derek Wingo was presented with his All-American Bowl jersey on Thursday when the All-American Bowl Selection Tour made its first top in sunny South Florida.

The Florida Gators verbal commit, who has totaled 42 tackles and 10 sacks in nine games as a senior, couldn't have been more than excited as he was recognized in front of his parents, teammates, friends and coaches.

“It’s kind of a dream come true," Wingo told 247Sports. "I have been watching that game since Day 1 and being able to see all the NFL stars and guys go through that, and me being able to finally know that I have accomplished this and can go to the next level and be able to go through the same path that they all did is a blessing. It’s a huge accomplishment for me.”

The All-American Bowl will be played on Jan. 4 in San Antonio. NBC will televise the game from inside the Alamo Dome where 90 of the country’s top high school football players will compete. Wingo will be the first St. Thomas Aquinas player to participate in the event since wide receiver Mike Harley three years ago.

"It’s huge for the people that helped me get here like Steve Quinn and Erik Richards," Wingo said. "Those guys kind of got me the recognization that I needed. They were kind of the standard and set the foundation for me to be here and be at St. Thomas Aquinas.”

Wingo committed to Florida back in June. He said that he's "100 percent" locked in with Dan Mullen and the Gators.

"I love [Christian Robinson], Coach Mullen, [Billy Gonzalez] and all the stuff that they have working up there," Wingo said. "When I get up there I can’t wait for them to develop me with [strength coach Nick Savage] in the weight room.”

Wingo said one of the main reasons why he picked Florida after initially committing to Penn State is because of how comfortable he feels in Gainesville.

“A lot of people ask questions about staying home and staying at the crib and stuff like that. And no disrespect to Miami or anything like that, but Florida has kind of been more of the leeway towards where people want to go," Wingo said while noting that St. Thomas Aquinas has sent plenty of players to UF in recent years. "I think personally for me that was a big thing. I love Miami, Miami was recruiting me since Day 1, but I just felt like The Univeristy of Florida was the place for me, the place that could develop me the best and the place that could get me to the next level.”

Wingo also believes in what Mullen is doing.

“If you like in the past, three years ago they were what, 4-8?," he asked. "So Coach Mullen comes in and does a great job and is able to turn that program around. Last year I believe they were 10-2 or something like that. This year they are 8-2. So you can just see they are starting to get it going and now we just got to break that last barrier with those last couple of SEC teams like LSU and Georgia."

With Wingo not wavering on his pledge to Gators, he has instead been busy helping Mullen's staff recruit. The athletic 'backer said that he has not only been pushing Florida on a pair of his high school teammates in Top247 offensive tackle Marcus Dumervil and three-star offensive guard Marlon Martinez, but also been in the ear of Deerfield Beach Top247 running back Jaylan Knighton.

"I got to get those guys," Wingo said.

Wingo will take his official visit to UF the weekend of Nov. 29 when the Gators host rival Florida State. A few weeks after that he hopes to capture a state title in Daytona.

“We let up my sophomore and junior year," Wingo said while discussing the Raiders' potential playoff run. "So my senior year it would mean a lot to me and a lot to my teammates and these coaches to end it with a bang and go out with a state championship.”

Wingo is ranked by 247Sports as the nation's No. 95 overall prospect and the No. 7 outside linebacker in the Class of 2020.