Last Saturday the Gators flipped 2016 cornerback Chauncey Gardner (5-11, 190, Cocoa, FL High) from Miami to Florida during his visit to Gainesville.
Gardner came to Florida without an offer from the Gators but left committed and he says it’s about the opportunity he sees at the University of Florida.
“I flipped my commitment because Florida is a better opportunity, better school-wise and better all-around atmosphere. Florida is simply a better place.,” Gardner said. “Florida is a place that I will fit in at and be proud to be there. Florida is also in the SEC and I think I can become a great person there and help my family by going there.”
When Gardner told Will Mushamp he was flipping the Gators head man was happy and told Gardner a few things to remember.
“Coach Muschamp was excited when I told him that I wanted to be a Gator,” Gardner said. “He said he was glad, and welcome aboard and just know that I was a member of the class. He said that he had watched my film and watched me at camp and that he was glad to have me there.”
Another major reason Gardner flipped to Florida was because of cornerbacks coach Travaris Robinson and his ability to coach the defensive backs.
“Coach T-Rob is a great coach and he showed me a lot of things at the camp on Saturday,” Gardner said. “He knows what it takes to be the best cornerback in the nation. I want to be the best cornerback to ever play at Florida and I think Coach T-Rob can help me become that.”
During the visit to Florida on Saturday Gardner took part in camp and during the camp. He used the opportunity to get better and the coaching staff showed him how well he would fit in Florida’s defense.
“The coaches said that I fit in perfectly at Florida because I’m athletic and fast,” Gardner said. “They put me through a lot of one-on-one’s in camp and I did well but I told Coach T-Rob that I will play wherever they want me at.”
Greatness is something that Gardner talks about a lot and he knows that Florida has had a lot of great players come through on the defensive side of the ball lately.
“Florida is putting out a lot of good defensive backs lately,” he said. “Some of the best DB’s in the NFL came from Florida, like Janoris [Jenkins], Joe [Haden], [Matt] Elam and Reggie Nelson. I want to be like them and be in the NFL.”
Now that Gardner has flipped to Florida he says that he’s solid but that a decision isn’t final until he signs in 2016.
“Recruiting is never done in football but my decision is to go to Florida,” Gardner said. “I’m strongly committed to Florida and like I told Coach Champ, I’m going to sign with Florida unless something bad happens. I told him that Florida is a great school for football and academics and I’m committed.”
INSIDER TAKE: For a 2016 prospect Gardner talks like a grown man, has lofty goals for himself and he expresses it a lot. I wouldn’t say he does it in a cocky way, more of in a confidence way. I think Gardner sticks with Florida but with so much time left anything is possible but he is very excited about Florida.
Good stuff Andrew