When word of Rocky Mount (N.C.) Nash Central defensive end Houshun Gaines announced a commitment to Florida at a ceremony held at his high school Friday afternoon, it came as a shock to many. As reported by 247Sports shortly after word spread of his announcement, the Gators were not in a position to accept his commitment at that time, especially with five-star defensive ends Byron Cowart and CeCe Jefferson considered heavy Florida leans.

So who had Gaines been in contact with at Florida the past several weeks?

Nash Central athletic director Michael Mosley tells Andrew Ivins of the Rocky Mounty Telegram it was someone posing as a member of the Florida football staff on Twitter. Ivins wrote the following:

For the past month and a half, Gaines had thought he was communicating on social media with a member of the Gators coaching staff. He said just minutes after he committed on Friday, that person was Florida assistant coach Brad Lawing. But that couldn’t have been further from the truth. Gaines – according to Nash Central athletics director Michael Mosley – was catfished. He wasn’t talking to Lawing, he was talking to someone who was posing as Lawing.

To read Ivin's complete account of what went down with Gaines and his commitment that never was Click HERE.