Florida Gators “in the top” group for LSU commit Joseph

The state of Florida is loaded with defensive backs for the class of 2018, which is a good thing for the Florida Gators who are looking to reload the position.

One of the top targets is LSU defensive back commit Nadab Joseph (6-2, 173, Miami, FL. Edison) who speaks to Jim McElwain and other Gators coaches a lot.

“I talk to Florida all the time,” Joseph said. “I talk to Coach [Corey] Bell, Coach Mac and Coach [Randy] Shannon on Twitter all the time. I knew and talked to Coach Bell when he was at FAU before he got to Florida.”

Unlike most defensive backs who are talking to the Gators, Joseph already has a relationship with defensive backs coach Corey Bell.

“Me and Coach Bell are good with each other,” he said on his relationship with Bell. “From what my coach tells me, he’s a good coach but I didn’t really see too many FAU games. I did get a chance to get coached by him at a camp at FAU and it was fun. He’s very energetic and you can tell he’s from Miami.”

When Bell and Joseph speak over the phone, the defensive backs coach keeps one message with the LSU commit.

“He tells me he wants me at Florida,” Joseph said of Bell’s message. “He says I have a chance to check in and make an immediate impact there. He also tells me he can really help me take my game to another level.”

Defensive coordinator Randy Shannon has been recruiting Joseph the longest for the Gators and he has told the defensive back where Florida wants him at.

“Coach Shannon says pretty much the same thing that Coach Bell does,” he said of Shannon’s message. “I don’t talk to Coach Shannon as much as I do to Coach Bell because he’s my position coach. They’ve talked to me about playing corner and safety but I want to play corner in college.”

Despite being committed to LSU for months now, Joseph is continuing to listen to the Gators pitch because of their history at his position.

“Florida is definitely in my top,” Joseph said on where Florida is at with him. “I like their style of defense and the way they develop their defensive backs at Florida. I think that I can play early wherever I go though honestly because I feel like I’m a dog like that.

The Gators aren’t the only school that Joseph is listening to as several other schools have his ear as well.

“Right now I’m still locked into LSU,” he said. “But Florida is in the mix with Georgia, Florida State, Penn State, Ohio State and Oregon. I’ll visit Florida for a practice and I’m going to LSU’s spring game and I’ll also be at FSU’s spring game.”

 

INSIDERS TAKE: Florida has continued to push for Joseph and getting Bell on staff only helps the Gators chances here. Getting Joseph on campus this spring is a big step since he hasn’t visited since last summer.

Andrew Spivey
Andrew always knew he wanted to be involved with sports in some capacity. He began by coaching high school football for six years before deciding to pursue a career in journalism. While coaching, he was a part of two state semifinal teams in the state of Alabama. Given his past coaching experience, he figured covering recruiting would be a perfect fit. He began his career as an intern for Rivals.com, covering University of Florida football recruiting. After interning with Rivals for six months, he joined the Gator Country family as a recruiting analyst. Andrew enjoys spending his free time on the golf course and watching his beloved Atlanta Braves. Follow him on Twitter at @AndrewSpiveyGC.