Boulware sets up a Florida Gators official

The Florida Gators are leaving no stone unturned when it comes to recruiting offensive linemen and head coach Jim McElwain is trying to schedule as many of them as he can for official visits to Florida.

On Monday night offensive lineman Quarvez Boulware (6-2, 283, Washington D.C. Friendship Academy) made news as he’s the latest lineman to set up an official visit to Gainesville.

“I got in touch with Coach McElwain last week and then I set my official visit to Florida up on Monday night,” Boulware said. “I’m going to take my official visit to Florida on January 30th.  I’ve already been down there before so I just want to get down there and meet the new coaching staff.”

McElwain knew that Boulware had an offer from Florida already but he wanted to make sure the lineman knew that Florida still wanted him.

“He was basically telling me that he’s interested in me and he was asking me if I was still interested in them,” Boulware said. “He was telling me that a lot has changed with the coaching staff but that this coaching staff wants me at Florida. I told him that I still have a lot of interest in Florida.”

One thing that stands out to Boulware is the fact that offensive line coach Mike Summers is still on staff because the two have a previous relationship with each other.

“Keeping Coach Summers was big for me,” Boulware said. “Coach McElwain told me that Coach Summers liked me a lot and that Florida only has seven linemen returning so that there was a big opportunity available for me at Florida.”

Right now four teams are still vying for Boulware’s signature but one school has already received an official from him.

“Maryland, Wake Forest, Florida and Alabama are the four schools recruiting me the hardest right now,” Boulware said. “I’m visiting Alabama this weekend then Wake Forest and then Florida is my last official visit on the 30th. I visited Maryland already.”

Florida still has a little work to do though because Boulware has never met McElwain, however, according to the D.C native the Gators still have time to get in the race.

“I don’t think it’s too late for Florida to get back in the mix because I’m pretty open right now,” Boulware said. “I just need to make a relationship with the new coaches but that shouldn’t be a problem since Coach Summers stayed on.”

 

INSIDERS TAKE: Boulware is being recruiting as a guard and the Gators have a big need at that position. The fact that Florida needs interior offensive linemen in a bad was is something that Boulware says stands out to him. Boulware kept bringing up how Florida only had 7 linemen on scholarship and that he thought he could play early. I also expect Jalen Tabor, his former teammate, to be in his ear for Florida.

Andrew Spivey
Andrew always knew he wanted to be involved with sports in some capacity. He began by coaching high school football for six years before deciding to pursue a career in journalism. While coaching, he was a part of two state semifinal teams in the state of Alabama. Given his past coaching experience, he figured covering recruiting would be a perfect fit. He began his career as an intern for Rivals.com, covering University of Florida football recruiting. After interning with Rivals for six months, he joined the Gator Country family as a recruiting analyst. Andrew enjoys spending his free time on the golf course and watching his beloved Atlanta Braves. Follow him on Twitter at @AndrewSpiveyGC.