The Florida Gators are about to start a wild month of recruiting and one of the biggest needs in this class is running backs. The new Gators coaching staff has reviewed the roster and they identified running back as a position of need and are already lining visits up with some top prospects.
Last week running back Jordan Cronkrite (5-11, 196, Miami, FL Westminster Christian) reached out to new running backs coach Tim Skipper and the message was straight to the point from Skipper.
“I talked to Coach Skipper last week, I called him and talked to him,” Cronkrite said. “He was just telling me that he saw my film last week and that they really think I can be a great player there. Coach Skipper said that he really wants me to come up for a visit as soon as possible.”
One of the first running backs new head coach Jim McElwain made a trip to see was Cronkrite and according to the running back the short visit went well.
“I talked to Coach McElwain when he came down to my school to talk to Tim Irvin because Irvin was graduating early,” Cronkrite said. “Coach McElwain was telling me that he wants me to come up to Florida and get familiar with all of the coaches and understand what they’re trying to do up there. He said that he wants me to feel comfortable with them.”
Will Muschamp and the previous Gators staff didn’t push for Cronkrite but the Miami native feels different about the new Florida staff.
“Coach McElwain is definitely making me feel like more of a priority because the last staff didn’t really talk to me much but Coach McElwain reached out to me right when he got the job,” Cronkrite said. “It made me feel good about them but I just need to get them around my parents.
Florida and McElwain will have a chance to impress Cronkrite’s parents as the running back will take an official to Florida in January.
“I’m scheduled to go to Louisville on January 16th but I’m not sure about that one anymore,” Cronkrite said. “If I don’t go to Louisville on the 16th then I’m going to try and go to Florida then but if not I’ll go after the 16th. I have three visits left to take but I’m not sure on them right now.”
Most prospects wait until signing day to decide but Cronkrite doesn’t want to wait that long.
“I would like to make my decision sometime in January if I can,” Cronkrite said. “I’m just trying to get some of my visits in first.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Florida has made Cronkrite a priority now under McElwain and his new staff. It was always my thought that if Florida made a run at Cronkrite that he would be a Gator and I still believe that.
This one looks good for the good guys, as soon our new RB coach is named Jordon reaches out to him. Then he says no reason to go up to Loiusville. Sounds like he just has to get parents ok. & he’ll pull the trigger. I hope we get something sooner, but he could be our next commitment on Jan 16. Since “Ass wipe” Muschamp isn’t recruiting him we don’t have to worry about him waiting until Natl signing day like the rest of our big prospects. Im sure Champ is behind some of the dates being pushed back. He’s going to try to get Cowart & company to wait as long as possible & try to get him with 4 or 5 to follow. Holland even already spoke about how it would be cool for he & Cowart to play togather & we know CeCe & he want to play togather. Just hope they realize that Champ has a black cloud over him and he doesn’t know how to win. Hell the black cloud already made an appearance when Auburn had a Feild Goal attempt in OT hit the upright and they lose. Just glad he took the cloud with him. Come Jordon pull the trigger