The Florida Gators currently have three receiver commits in the class of 2016 but Jim McElwain and the Gators coaching staff aren’t finished with the position yet.
On Tuesday Florida hosted one of its biggest remaining targets at the position in receiver Tyrie Cleveland (6-3, 180, Houston, TX, Westfield), who returned to his former home state.
“It went great, it was a great time down here,” Cleveland said. “I’m from Florida so it was great to come back and get a campus tour and to see the dorms. I also got to talk to a lot of the coaches during the visit.”
Receivers coach Kerry Dixon and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier have been leading the charge in Cleveland’s recruitment and Dixon made sure to explain how important the receiver was to Florida.
“I got to talk a good bit with Coach Dixon about the opportunity to come in and play right away at Florida,” he said. “He was telling me that he wanted me to be a Gator and that there is a big need for receivers at Florida. He said he needs a big time playmaker like myself to help the offense.”
Dixon has been building a relationship with Cleveland for several months now and that relationship only grew on Tuesday.
“Coach Dixon is very outgoing and cool guy,” Cleveland said. He’s a very intense guy, but we are building a good relationship with each other so far and I think he would be a nice coach to play for.”
Head coach Jim McElwain was able to meet Cleveland for the first time on Tuesday and he made sure to give Cleveland the full message about what attending Florida means.
“Coach McElwain was keeping it 100 with me all day,” he said. “He was telling me that he wants me to be a Gator and that I can be a big help in the offense if I choose to come to Florida. He was talking to me a lot about what being a Gator meant outside of football.”
Cleveland has shied away from naming leaders in the past and he didn’t budge from that on Tuesday but he did open up about where the Gators stand for him.
“It was a very successful trip and this trip helped Florida out a lot,” Cleveland said. “Florida is one of my top schools and I have some family here so I have high interest in Florida.”
Florida fans definitely have to keep an eye on Cleveland in the coming months as a decision could come soon or it could be a long wait.
“I may decide before my senior season or I may do it at the All-American game,” he said. “Right now I’m just thinking about every school and keeping my options open.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Florida made a big move on Cleveland during this trip and the huge need for receivers at Florida is something that stands out to him. The Gators should be considered a big threat here.
It is interesting to study the approach McElwain is taking in recruiting the offensive side of the team. I get the impression that with RB’s and WR’s McElwain has concluded that the players he is inheriting from the Foley-Muschamp regime lack SEC-level talent and must be replaced in total. As a result this staff is going aggressively after these position in addition to the obvious need in the OL.