With an idle week on the football field, the Florida Gators were focusing on recruiting a lot last week and on Sunday they handed out a new offer to instate prospect.
That prospect was Virginia Tech offensive line commit Fred Johnson (6-8, 285, West Palm Beach, FL Royal Palm Beach) who learned of the offer from Will Muschamp.
“Coach Muschamp called me and offered me a scholarship on Sunday,” Johnson said. “He told me that he was offering me and he explained how they came to the conclusion of offering me. He said that my film looked really good and that I had good academics and that he had talked to some coaches about me and that they had good things to say about me.”
Muschamp didn’t get into where Johnson would play if he chooses the Gators but the Gators head coach is trying to get the offensive lineman on campus as soon as possible for a visit.
“Coach Muschamp said that he wanted me to visit them so I’m trying to set up a date now,” Johnson said. “I’ll probably take an official and unofficial to Florida. My teammate Charles Perry is supposed to take an official to Florida so we may go up there together but I don’t know yet.”
Johnson, who hasn’t visited many schools, didn’t know too much about the Florida Gators but he was quick to research them on Monday morning.
“I actually looked up Florida today on the Internet and I noticed that they had good facilities,” Johnson said. “I looked up their graduates and stuff like that. I found out that they have good academics up there. I just need to see everything for myself.”
There is also a few things Johnson wants to see in person and that includes a gameday this fall.
“I want to see the campus life and see how the facilities look in person,” Johnson said. “I want to also see the game atmosphere and how the fans are.”
With Johnson’s stock growing as of late he has been advised to continue looking at all options before signing in February.
“I’m solid to Virginia Tech but my mom wants me to make sure that I pick the right school so I’m still looking around,” Johnson said. “If Florida is right for me than I’ll go with the Gators but if not I’ll go with Virginia Tech. I just have to do what’s best for me.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Johnson has started to pick up a lot of interest from schools after watching his senior film. Florida was one that has been monitoring him closely and that led to the offer on Sunday. With Johnson being teammates with linebacker Charles Perry that could help Florida get both of them on a visit soon. Johnson is a tackle prospect that could project as the second tackle if the Gators sign Martez Ivey.