The Florida Gators top target on the board is defensive end Byron Cowart (6-3, 252, Seffner, FL Armwood) and on Thursday morning he got the chance to meet new Florida defensive line coach Terrell Williams, but the visit didn’t go exactly how Florida had planned it to go.
“It was cool meeting Coach Williams,” Cowart said. “I mean he’s like my defensive line coach at Armwood now but I sign in three weeks so it’s a little late to try and get to know those guys.”
Williams came in with a simple message for Cowart but that message wasn’t exactly well-received by Cowart.
“His message was could I see myself playing for him at Florida,” Cowart said. “I don’t know if I could or not. I mean I know he coached in the NFL and that’s a good thing but I don’t know him really. I told him it wasn’t his fault that he was getting in so late but [Will] Muschamp, [Nick] Saban and Coach Tosh [Lopoi] have been recruiting me for years and I have a good relationship with those guys and Florida fired the guy I like, Coach Lawing, so yeah.”
Cowart was scheduled to visit Florida next weekend but that plans may be changing against the Gators now.
“Yeah it sets Florida back some,” Cowart said. “I was supposed to visit Florida on the 23rd but we will see because I have to get back up to Alabama. It’s not going to be an official but it could be an unofficial. There is a chance I may not visit Florida. I may go to LSU on the 30th instead of Florida State.”
Going into the visit this morning it was big for coach Williams to not only meet Cowart but his mother as well and Williams got that opportunity today.
“My mom got to meet Coach Williams this morning too,” Cowart said. “She liked him but she goes off of me but she really doesn’t know football. She likes it because it gives me an opportunity to get a higher education.”
INSIDERS TAKE: I’m honestly not sure what to make of this meeting because just a week ago it seemed as if Cowart was still strongly leaning towards Florida but now it almost seems as if Florida is out of the picture. The Gators have to find away to get Cowart back on campus soon.
Still don’t understand not keeping Brad Lawing
Man.,..that sucks. Though, I’ve learned from the 2012 class not to get too excited with NSD expectations based on gut feelings from recruiting experts or buzz trends on twitter.
AS, you’re as good as they come in the business and I know you work your tail off, but I know it’s a guessing game most of the time. Let’s hope the staff makes a big impression with the 3 weeks left.
Spivey, you think this is just a smoke screen of sorts? Everyone seemed to have him pegged for Florida which is a bit anti climatic for a signing day decision, maybe he wants a little more intrigue in regards to his recruitment is concerned. I mean he did say oregon was his top choice for a long time yet never visited then so he’s not exactly above throwing us off his trail.
I think it’s just part of his game he’s playing. He had on FSU stuff today.
figures
Whatever…I don’t get to wound up on recruits any more. In my book you either love Florida or you don’t! I get that with a lot of them its about the coaches and getting to the next level. Its about the relationships and their decision on what feels right for them. I just want people playing for UF that want to be at UF, that want to help UF win! If they are wishy washy…maybe they should go some place else that excites them. If you dont want to compete go elsewhere, if you think there is better opportunity elsewhere good-bye. IF you love UF, then dont play games…come on and get it started. Make a name here. If you ain’t a gator…your gator bait! Let the love stop the minute you decide on another school. If you decide the good guys…the love and the support flow freely. Otherwise step off..and go somewhere else! I got no time for begging and pleading with an 18 year old to play for UF! Some will be sorry later and some won’t, either way…so long..farewell..see ya. Its all about the Gators for me!
Geez… Following this guy’s recruiting feels just like the weeks before high school prom where the hot popular chick is flirting with all the guys, enjoying the attention and admiration, and everyone’s gossiping about who she wants to go with. Only in this case the hot chick is a giant dude.
I personally love the 3-star guys that end up playing like 5 star guys should. Guys that really want it, guys that are motivated to prove themselves and guys that aren’t head cases. Entitlement issues, wishy -washy attitudes and the 18-year-old underdeveloped mind is a scary place. Who knows if this kid is gonna pan out? Would it be nice? Yeah. Is it the end of the world if he doesn’t come? He’s just a symptom of a changing of the guard in a program. Maybe our defensive line coach sucks at recruiting? He might be a fabulous coach (or not) and a crappy recruiter. It just might be a bad fit…who knows? But…he could be part of the solution here or not. Other people could be making his decisions. A confluence of possibilities out there, at the end of the day it might be unfortunate, maybe not. That’s all I gotta say about that. Go Gators.