Last Friday, the Florida Gators picked up their second offensive line commitment but the coaching staff is still looking to add more to the 2018 class.
During the bye week, head coach Jim McElwain visited offensive lineman William Barnes (6-4, 312, Apopka, FL. High) at his school to check on one of the Gators top targets.
“It was really good,” Barnes said. “He came in and talked to my coaches a little bit. It was just really good and I really appreciate him coming by the weight room. He was able to watch me work out a little bit with Coach [Brad] Davis there too.”
Barnes was the first prospect that McElwain and Davis visited and that was a notion that isn’t forgotten by the linemen.
“It means a lot, it shows how much I mean to them,” he said on being the first visit of the bye week. “I definitely appreciate that and definitely appreciate them coming by. I told coach that I will be taking another visit up there very soon.”
Offensive line coach Brad Davis has spoken with Barnes about why the Gators are high on him and need him in Gainesville.
“He wants guys that know the game on and off the field,” Barnes said of Davis’ message to him. “He said that I’m a great player and that he definitely wants me a part of that squad. I can definitely see that happening.”
Davis has also explained to Barnes where they Gators see him playing on the offensive line in college.
“He said he mostly wants me at tackle,” he said of where Davis wants him at. “But any other position will be fine to me too.”
McElwain is also taking a personal interest in Barnes recruitment and the two speak a lot.
“He likes the way I am on a personal level and I talk to him on every visit I go up there,” Barnes said of McElwain. “He’s always a great person to talk too and he’s a great person and a great coach.”
Barnes has also been able to watch the Gators play and evaluate the offense for himself and he likes the direction they’re going.
“I’m seeing some really strong improvements from the offensive line,” he said of the play this year. “They keep on fighting and keep on pushing no matter what they go through. I see some great potential from the Gators offense through the next couple of years.”
The Gators not only have the coaches recruiting Barnes but several commits as well and the newest commit Richard Gouraige already has Barnes thinking about Florida.
“I remember when we both went up there, we were talking and both of us were talking about how much we like it up there,” Barnes said of Richard Gouraige. “He committed because he likes it a lot and got me thinking that maybe this is a great place for me.”
Quarterback commit Matt Corral is also sending a message to Barnes about the Gators needing him in this class.
“He’s telling me that they need the line and that it’s going to be great the next few years,” he said of Matt Corral’s message to him.
INSIDERS TAKE: Barnes says that he plans to take official visits to Florida and North Carolina in January before announcing on signing day. The Gators are still in good shape for the offensive lineman.