Saturday night was the Florida Gators football team’s first opportunity to show off Jim McElwain and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier’s offense to recruits and they did so in a big way by scoring 61 points.
Receiver Nate Craig-Myers (6-2, 205, Tampa, FL Catholic) was one of those prospects in attendance on Saturday and he was very impressed by what the Florida Gators football team showed.
“It was a great experience to see a new era and see what Coach McElwain can do with the program,” Craig-Myers said. “They did a good job. I really did expect it after watching camp the past few weeks. They were doing great things with the ball and they finally have the quarterback situation playing out now.”
Just like the fans, Craig-Myers noticed that the Florida Gators football team has two quarterbacks who can make plays.
“It’s really good to have know you’re going to have a quarterback here for the next three to four years,” Craig-Myers said on the QB situation. “They looked great.
McElwain has preached to prospects since he arrived in Gainesville that he will play the best player no matter their class and he proved that to Craig-Myers and to the world on Saturday night.
“Definitely, you see Antonio Callaway playing and really a few more freshmen playing,” he said on if he noticed the freshmen playing. “It really made a big impact on myself.”
Another key point in McElwain’s approach is that he says that will find ways to get his playmakers the ball and that was something that Craig-Myers noticed in a big way on Saturday night.
“He’s true to his word, and when he really wants to make plays for a guy then he’s going to do that,” Craig-Myers said when asked if he saw McElwain getting the ball to his playmakers. “You seen that with Rashard Higgins at Colorado State and he’s really trying to do that with Demarcus Robinson here. He has told me those things.”
Craig-Myers has also had a lot of conversations with McElwain and Nussmeier about how he will be used in the Florida Gators offense.
“He told me that I could be a screen-type guy here,” he said on ways McElwain would get him the ball. “A guy that could jet sweeps and do a lot of things on the offense. He says that he would get me all over the field.”
Most Florida Gators football fans believe that Craig-Myers is a top target for the Gators and that’s the impression the Tampa receiver has gotten as well.
“I definitely feel like a top priority for Florida,” Craig-Myers said. “I definitely feel like things are going in the right direction and it’s mutual feelings.”
After decommiting from the Auburn Tigers earlier this year, Craig-Myers has slowed down his process, but he has a decision date in mind now, plus what he’s looking for.
“I’m going to make a decision on my mom’s birthday, January 8th,” he said on his decision date. “I don’t have any top group, I’m still working on it. I’m looking for a home away from home and a family atmosphere.
INSIDERS TAKE: Florida continues to trend up with WR Nate Craig-Myers and Saturday’s game was a huge statement for McElwain to send to Craig-Myers. The Gators will continue to try and get the playmaker on campus this fall.