After Saturday’s big win over the Georgia Bulldogs, the Florida Gators recruiting efforts were turned up on several state of Georgia prospects.
Defensive line coach Chris Rumph called defensive end Markaviest Bryant (6-4, 226, Cordele, GA. Crisp County) on Sunday to talk recruiting with him.
“Florida is still recruiting me real hard, I actually just spoke to coach [Chris] Rumph today [Sunday],” Bryant said. “He came by my school two weeks ago too. Things are going good with them.”
Rumph and Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain are both working on Bryant with the same message.
“They’re really trying to get me back down there on a visit so they can show me what they’re all about,” he said of Florida’s message. “I’ve been talking to Coach Mac on the phone all the time and he’s keeping me up to date on things and talking to me. They’re telling me good things right now.”
The Gators coaching staff is noted for the way they build relationships with prospects and Bryant backed up that statement.
“Every time I talk to Coach Rumph, we don’t have to talk just about football,” Bryant said. “He will ask me how my mom is doing and things like that. He tells me that he needs me and we talk straight business too. He looks out for me kind of like a father figure.”
Bryant hasn’t been to a Gators game this year but he says he has been watching them closely on T.V.
“I knew heading into the season that the defensive line was going to be good,” he said. “When they get an offense that can help them out then they will be even more lights out. I love everything about them, I love it.”
It looks like Rumph’s message to get Bryant on campus has worked as the defensive end has plans to get to Gainesville soon.
“I’m going to come down for the South Carolina game in two weeks,” Bryant said of upcoming visits. “That’s when I’m supposed to come down there so that I can see what the Swamp is all about.”
Despite having an unofficial visit setup to Gainesville, Bryant says he’s still trying to plan out his official visits.
“I’m not sure yet on when I’ll take my official visits,” he said. “I’m thinking about taking official visits to Florida, Georgia, Clemson, Alabama, LSU and Florida State maybe. Those my top schools so five of those schools will get official visits.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Right now it seems like Clemson and Alabama are the schools to look out for but Florida and Georgia are trying to change that. Rumph has really been working hard on Bryant as of late in hopes of getting him down for an unofficial and then an official.