Indiana University.

The up and coming football program is a popular pick for National Signing Day 2017.

Recruits are flocking from Florida, but the Hoosiers seem to have a hold on Tampa Bay, specifically.

"The college you choose, you want to make sure it’s the right fit for you and for your family," said Plant athlete and new Indiana commit Juwan Burgess.  "They offer you the best education and also the best future as in football."

A consensus top 25 recruit, Burgess decided to switch from storied USC less than two weeks before signing day.

"The best part of the opportunity for him was Tom Allen as the head coach," said Plant head coach Robert Weiner.

Allen, whose son played with Burgess at Plant, became the Hoosiers head man in December. He is the former defensive coordinator at Armwood, USF and Indiana.  The Plant players familiarity with Allen allows him to fill a role not many other coaches could.

"Coach Thomas is also like a father figure, right next to Coach Weiner," said Burgess.

"He recruited me at USF," said Plant 3-star wide receiver, Whop Philyor.  "He’s the one who offered me. As soon as he got there (Indiana) he offered me and you know, I love his son."

Allen’s son Thomas, is already on campus at Indiana. Philyor will complete the Plant-to- Indiana trifecta for the Class of 2017.

Indiana recruiters have saturated Florida nabbing eight kids in this class alone, five from Tampa Bay.

"They recruited me and they also recruited my mom," said Philyor about the process.  "So that’s what I liked. She liked (when) the schools talked to her. They were the only school that talked to her."

"I feel like all of our guys are kinda going from home in Tampa to home in Indiana," said Weiner.

The power of family is driving plant players to a basketball power, with a football program which hasn’t been ranked since 1988, but is trending up.

"Change the culture," said Philyor.  "We’re changin’ it. Just getting these Florida guys. They said they need some speed, so.

"We already have that chemistry going on," said Burgess about playing with current or former teammates in college.  "We played with each other so we already have that winning experience. Hopefully at Indiana we can bring home a championship."

The trend: Florida players to Indiana 

Class of 2017 Indiana Commits (From Tampa Bay and Orlando)

Juwan Burgess, Plant Athlete
Whop Philyor, Plant Wide Receiver
Thomas Allen, Plant Linebacker (enrolled in January)
Tyler Knight, Northside Christian Offensive Lineman
Tramar Reece, Clearwater Defensive Lineman
Michael Ziemba, Lake Mary linebacker/DE/TE

“Other" Florida 2017 Recruits
Nick Tronti, Ponte Vedra QB “Mr. Florida Football”
Craig Nelson, Booker T. Washington, Running Back

Current I-4 Corridor Indiana Players

Jonathan Crawford, Sophomore DB, Largo

Donavan Hale, Sophomore WR, Largo

Nick Westbrook, Sophomore WR, Lake Mary

T.J. Simmons, Senior LB, Lakeland

Delroy Baker, R-So. Offensive Lineman, Admiral Farragut

Brandon Wilson, R-Fr. Defensive Lineman, West Orange