It was a busy Tuesday for the new Florida Gators coaching staff has two new assistant coaches hit the road under Dan Mullen on his first day out recruiting for Florida.
New assistant coach John Hevesy visited offensive lineman Jerome Carvin (6-4, 330, Cordova, TN. High) on Tuesday and reoffered him after a good visit between the two.
“It went real good, it was kind of weird seeing him in the Florida Gators gear but it was all good,“ Carvin said of his Wednesday meeting with Hevesy. “It was no different, he’s still the same.”
Hevesy made sure to explain to Carvin that Mullen plans to bring his same attitude to Florida that he had at Mississippi State.
“His main thing was that they still have the program just now at Florida,” he said on Hevesy’s message about Florida. “He said they’re still about development and winning. He said that they’ve been there before and won them a national championship so that’s cool to see.”
Carvin who had a lot of interest in the Bulldogs now has interest in the Gators because of his relationship with Hevesy.
“He’s a great person and a great coach,” Carvin said on Hevesy. “He’s a good guy that relates to people real well. He’s a hard nosed on the field but off the field he’s a different person. He’s going to coach you to his full ability and he might yell and scream but he’s just trying to teach you.”
Hevesy also made sure to explain to Carvin on Tuesday that the Gators are desperate need of linemen in this class.
“He was telling me that he needs offensive linemen,” he said on his message about needing him. “He said that they have a great need for linemen and plus with me coming in early that I have a great opportunity to come in and compete for a job right away. He thinks I can play both guard and tackle.”
The Tennessee native has visited Florida once already but he says he remembers Dan Mullen’s time at Florida and what the Gators have done in the past.
“I grew up watching Florida and the whole SEC,” Carvin said on what he knows about Florida. “I grew up watching Florida and Tim Tebow when they won the national championship. I know the football aspect of Florida but I don’t know the academic part of Florida yet. I’ve been there once but I need to see more.”
The Gators and Mullen will get another opportunity to visit Carvin when he makes a trip to Gainesville next month.
“I’ve already taken all five of my official visits but I’m going to take an unofficial visit to Florida,” he said on visiting Florida. “I’m going to take on December 13th and I’m going to stay through that Saturday. I’m going to try and get to see everything.”
Carvin has several school vying for his signature and he admits that Florida is now in the hunt for it as well.
“The schools that I’ve taken an official to and Florida and Indiana,” Carvin said on schools standing out to him. “I’m trying to narrow it down before December 20th so that’s the group I’m picking out of. I’m making my decision an signing that day.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Carvin took official visits to Mississippi State, Auburn, Memphis, Tennessee and UCLA but Mississippi State was the leader out of that group. Carvin speaks very highly of Florida and the new Gators coaching staff and a good visit in December could push the Gators in front.