After watching the Florida Gators on Saturday it’s clear that they need a good offensive line class and so far they have just one commitment at the position.
However the Gators have three major targets instate including offensive lineman William Barnes (6-4, 312, Apopka, FL. High) who says he hears from three Gators coaches a lot.
Yes, I hear from the a lot,” Barnes said of Florida. “They’re really cool to talk to. They give me a call once a week at least, really. I talk to mostly Coach [Brad] Davis, and then sometimes Coach [JaJuan] Seider, and then sometimes Coach [Kerry] Dixon.”
Offensive line coach Brad Davis has made Barnes a priority since the day he was hired and he’s stressing how big of a need the lineman is for the Gators.
“He’s saying that he’s really looking forward to having me in this class,” he said of Davis’ message. “He said he’s really looking forward to me coming back up there if I come and that he really needs me. He says he will use me whether they need help.”
Barnes like the rest of America watched the Gators offense struggle on Saturday but the lineman believes Florida will rebound and he also believes in Florida’s starting quarterback.
“Honestly, I think after they get their guys back with the team, I think they’ll be fine after that,” Barnes said of Saturday’s performance. “I thought he [Feleipe Franks] was doing some good things, some bad things, but you know, everyone does. I think he’ll be okay.”
The Gators offensive line was a big reason for the struggle on Saturday but Barnes took it as a positive for recruits because early playing time is there.
“I see it as they need help,” he said of the offensive line. “ I can definitely see myself as having a chance to be a potential starter if I work hard at it.”
Barnes and his family are trying to work out plans to return to Gainesville and the lineman says that could be as early as the Tennessee game.
“Yeah, I’m trying to see which one is best for me and my family,” Barnes said on visiting Florida this fall.
After the summer, Barnes says that Florida and North Carolina were his leaders and he says that’s still true now but others are looking on as well.
“Yeah, they’re still there, but I’ve got the other schools with me right now that are still in the mix as well,” he said on if Florida and North Carolina are still his leaders. “Both of them, really. They’re both pushing me hard.”
Barnes will not take official visits until after his high school season is over and he knows three schools that will get a visit.
“No, not yet,” Barnes said on official visits. “ Most definitely Florida, Florida State and UNC will get one.”
INSIDERS TAKE: It’s going to take a lot for a team to knock off Florida or North Carolina here as Barnes has the best relationship with those two schools. Florida needs to continue to get Barnes on campus to continue the momentum they had heading out of the summer.