The Florida Gators didn’t sign a linebacker in the class of 2014 and signed just one in the class of 2015 which means the need for linebackers in the class of 2016 is huge.
One of the Gators top targets is linebacker Ben Davis (6-4, 231, Gordo, AL High) who says he has a good relationship with one of the Gators new coaches on staff.
“I’ve been talking to Florida a good bit,” Davis said. “I have a good connection with coach [Geoff] Collins, the coordinator at Florida from when he was at Mississippi State. He was recruiting me hard when he was there and now he recruiting me hard to Florida.”
Davis says he talks to Collins and the Gators weekly and the message from the Gators defensive coordinator is pretty simple.
“He just tells me that he really wants me to come down there for a visit,” Davis said. “He said that I need to come down and check out the campus and see what Florida has to offer. He says that he seems me as a middle or outside linebacker so he wants me to come down and sit in a meeting with him to go over the defense.”
The Alabama linebacker has never visited Florida but he’s eager to learn more about the Gators when he visits Gainesville. Although his knowledge of Florida is limited now, Davis is intrigued by the depth chart and the potential for early playing time.
“I know Florida has a big need for linebackers in this class,” Davis said. “That’s one of the reasons I’m interested in Florida so I just need to get down there for a visit and meet everyone. I haven’t met coach McElwain yet so I want to meet him. I know of him from when he was at Alabama though.”
Just last week the five star linebacker Davis announced that he had narrowed down his list to a top 7 and the SEC dominates that list for Davis.
“I’m open to everyone in my top 7 right now,” Davis said. “Right now my top 7 schools are Florida, Alabama, LSU, USC, Auburn, Georgia and Ole Miss in no order right now.”
Davis’ father played for Alabama so the Crimson Tide have the leg up in his recruitment, but the Gators will have their chance to impress the Davis family soon.
“I’m going to get down there either this summer or this fall,” Davis said. “I want to take visits to all of my top 7 schools before I make a decision so I’ll definitely visit Florida before I make a decision.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Alabama will always be the team to beat for Davis due to his family ties to the program but who knows what could happen if Davis does indeed take his visit to Florida like he says he will.
For reasons I do not understand there is a huge difference between Alabama and the Gators. Sure, after four years of Muschamp-Foley the Gator program is trying to put distance between itself and Vanderbilt/ Kentucky. But, things appear to be going positive in The Swamp. Still, a 5-Star is often willing to sit on the bench for a year or two at Alabama rather than come to Florida and play early for a staff that understands that in American football there is both an offense and a defense.
He’s a legacy at Alabama and the state of Alabama is the toughest state to recruit in.