The Florida Gators hosted five official visitors this weekend for the LSU game and one of those was top linebacker prospect Tevon Coney (6-1, 222, Palm Beach Gardens, FL High) whose main mission this weekend was to get comfortable with everyone and have fun during the visit
“The visit was good, my mom, my dad, my friend and my sister came up with me this weekend,” Coney said. “I had fun at the game, before and after the game was real fun too. I got time to talk to the coaches again and hang out with the players. I had already seen a lot of Florida so I just wanted to relax and see the game day atmosphere and I did that.”
Coney considered the visit a good one and a lot of that was due to the atmosphere inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
“It was a successful visit and it was the best visit out all of them,” Coney said. “I think the game was crazy and the fans were roaring. It was an electric environment but the Gators played good but they just let it slip away at the very end. I could definitely see myself playing on that field in front of those fans.”
Defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin has told Coney that he would be playing the MIKE at Florida so he watched the Gators current MIKE linebacker during the game.
“Antonio Morrison played good and he’s the person I watch because Coach Durkin says he sees me replacing him or backing him up,” Coney said. “Jarrad Davis played good too. I think the whole front seven played really good. Morrison led the team in tackles.”
On Sunday before Coney and his family departed Gainesville the linebacker sat down with Will Muschamp to finish up the visit.
“Coach Muschamp didn’t put to much pressure on me this weekend,” Coney said. “He wanted to know when I was going to decide and wanted to know how I felt about Florida and if I had any questions for him. It was just a refreshment on everything.”
Durkin made sure to get the last message in with Coney and that was a message of how valuable of a prospect he is to the Florida Gators.
“Coach Durkin just wanted to know how important I was to him and how much he really wants me there,” Coney said. “He said that he needs me to come there and that I would get reps with the two’s from the get go.”
During official visits prospects have a player host and Coney was able to ask some questions to his host this weekend.
“Daniel McMillian was my host and it was fun,” Coney said. “He and all of the linebackers answered all of my questions that I had so that was nice to hear.”
For a few months now Coney has said he was going to decide in October and a date of when he will announce should be finalized soon.
“I have to talk to my principal about a date because I’m doing it on ESPN so I have to find out when they can come from my principal,” Coney said. “I’m going to do it this month though and I’m done with visits until I decide.”
The question has been going around on the talk of Muschamp being on the hot seat would affect Coney and he says that he doesn’t believe Muschamp is in trouble.
“That talk isn’t in mind at all because Coach Muschamp is a good coach and Florida has great coaches,” Coney said. “I think they are going to finish up good and I believe that everyone will be there next year.”
INSIDER BUZZ: This one is very close to call as both Notre Dame and Florida have shown Coney he’s a huge need. I think even his family is somewhat split on his decision right now as well.