Running back Malik Davis (5-11, 190, Tampa, FL. Jesuit) was the latest player to join the Florida Gators recruiting class last month when he committed days after getting an offer.
Davis made his first visit as a commit to Gainesville two weeks ago when the Gators took on South Carolina and during that visit, he liked Florida’s offense.
“The play was good and the quarterback play was good,” Davis said of his thoughts on the South Carolina game when he visited. “They drove the ball down there and they had some great drives. Jordan Scarlett is a good back. I see the running backs here having some success.”
While in town Davis got the chance to speak to several members of the coaching staff and they all told him the same thing about playing early.
“They feel like I’m an every-down back,” Davis said of what Florida sees him doing. “They feel like I can come in and make an impact soon. They said they know that I don’t have to come out if they want to throw the ball because I can catch.”
The Gators almost didn’t have that chance to talk with Davis as the running back was about to commit elsewhere before Florida offered.
“I was choosing between Miami and North Carolina before Florida offered,” Davis said. “I was leaning towards North Carolina because I had a better relationship with them. The Florida offer changed everything. Once Florida came into the picture I knew this is where I wanted to come.”
When Florida, Davis said it was a dream come true and he described why the Gators were the easy pick.
“Just the way they run the ball and I feel like I fit in pretty good with this offense,” he said on why it was Florida. “It isn’t far from home either so my family can come and watch me play.”
Despite Davis committing to Florida, his two other finalists are still trying to get him to visit but he says their chances are slim.
“I don’t know about other visits yet,” he said. “But I’m pretty much all in with the Gators. I might visit North Carolina and Miami but I’m not sure. It’s probably not a chance they can flip me though because I just feel at home here and love the atmosphere.”
Even though Davis has over 6,000 yards rushing and is a SEC commit, the running back still isn’t talked about a lot but he has learned not to let it bother him.
“At first it bothered me but at the end of the day God works in mysterious ways,” he said on if he feels slighted with stars and hype. “I’m committed to Florida, a school that I’ve always liked and wanted to come to. Even though I still look at it and say come on now.
INSIDERS TAKE: Davis is very pro-Florida and is good friends with Zach Carter and Daquon Green. It would take something crazy for Davis to leave the Gators class after he waited so long to get the offer.