The Florida Gators are looking to reload the defensive secondary in the class of 2017 as several key players could leave for the NFL draft after the season.
One of the top targets for 2017 in the secondary is safety Grant Delpit (6-1, 180, Houston, TX Lamar) who visited the Gators for several days two weeks ago for the spring game.
“The visit was good, I got to see the spring game there,” Delpit said of his Florida visit. “I got to tour the campus, got to get know the coaches a little bit and got to know the players a little bit. It was a good time visiting Florida and I got to sit down with a lot of the coaches.”
Delpit, who has watched the Gators on TV a lot in the past, was able to watch the secondary first hand during the spring game.
“I liked the spring game, I was able to watch the secondary a lot,” he said. “I saw Chauncey [Gardner] out there a lot and he’s good player like me so I was able to watch him and see where I would be out there if I came there. I loved the atmosphere and they had a lot of people there for a spring game. I love the fans and how they come out to support the team.”
The safety also had the chance to sit down for a lengthy talk with head coach Jim McElwain who expressed a big need for Delpit in Gainesville.
“Coach McElwain told me they have a need at the position,” Delpit said. “He said that I fit their defense really good and that they are the DBU school. He said that I would be a perfect fit for them and that I can play early in their system.”
Defensive backs coach Torrian Gray also got his chance to talk with Delpit about needing him at Florida and how he could play early in Gainesville.
“Coach Gray is a new guy and just came over to Florida but he knows what he’s talking about,” he said of Gray. “He told me a lot of the same stuff that Coach McElwain did and he said that I would be a good fit for the program at Florida. He said that since I’m coming in as a mid year guy that I would have a better chance of playing as a freshman at Florida.”
Gray told Delpit, who has played multiple positions in the secondary in high school, that he could continue that in college.
“Coach Gray said that he thinks that I can play anywhere in the backfield until I show him that I can’t play it,” Delpit said. “He said that he likes guys that can play both safety and corner like I can. I know I can play anywhere back there.”
The talented Texas prospect arrived in Gainesville with interest in the Gators and left the visit impressed by what Gainesville has to offer.
“I saw everything I needed to see during the trip and it helped Florida out,” he said. “They’re definitely going to be in my top 10 and I’m going to release my top 10 coming up soon. I may commit at anytime, it can happen at anytime.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Delpit is friends with Florida receiver signee Tyrie Cleveland but the Gators look to still be trailing LSU for the safety. Delpit says he may visit Florida this summer and that would help the Gators out.