New Florida Gators defensive line coach Terrell Williams isn’t wasting any time getting his feet wet in recruiting prospects to Florida.
On Thursday Williams handed out his first offer and that was to defensive lineman Shareef Miller (6-4, 235, Philadelphia, PA George Washington) who reached out to Williams first.
“Coach Terrell Williams offered me a scholarship last week,” Miller said. “He followed me on Twitter and when I saw that it was the Florida defensive line coach, I wrote him on there and then I got his number and called him. He was telling me that he could see me being a defensive lineman for the Florida Gators.”
When Miller got Williams on the phone the message was simple and to the point from the Gators.
“He said that I have good talent and good speed and that he could see me being a force in the SEC,” Miller said. “Coach Williams said that Coach McElwain loved my film and that’s why they offered me so soon. Coach Williams says he wants to get me down there on a visit.”
Miller has been a late riser in the recruiting world but he has seen his recruitment pick up as of late and the Florida offer is a big one in his book.
“It’s a very exciting offer for me to get because an offer from Florida doesn’t come around that often,” Miller said. “I was really shocked to get it but it was a great day when I got the news because Florida is a big one.”
The defensive lineman has never visited Florida before but a famous Gator alum is a mentor to him and that connection is a big one for Miller.
“I go to George Washington High School which is the same school that Shariff Floyd went to so I know a lot about Florida,” Miller said. “Me and Shariff are real cool. He’s going to freak out when I call him and tell him that I have an offer from Florida. He’s someone that I look up to so following in his foot steps may be something I do.”
Miller has had visits planned to Penn State and Arizona State for awhile now but the Gators offer may shake some things up in the defensive lineman’s recruitment.
“Penn State was my leader but things change now that Florida has offer,” Miller said. “Florida is a game changer for me and I’m going to try and get down there to visit on the 30th. Florida is a big opportunity for me and it’s opportunity that doesn’t come around for a lot of people.”
When Miller does visit Florida the one thing he says he’s looking forward to doing is meeting with defensive line coach Terrell Williams because Miller believes Williams is a solid coach with a good background.
“Coach Williams is a really good coach and from the research I’ve done on him he’s coached a lot of good NFL defensive lineman,” Miller said. “He’s coached Anthony Spencer, Khalil Mack, Justin Tuck and Lamarr Woodley and those are all guys that I look up too.”
INSIDERS TAKE: If Miller visits Florida then I believe he ends up a Gator because Miller truly looks up to Shariff Floyd and Floyd is a big supporter of the Florida Gators. Miller is a high upside and the Gators see him gaining enough weight to possibly move inside to defensive tackle.
Hopefully, this kid is off of some of the others schools radars. We need some known talent, but we also need to land a few folks that ‘develop’ into five-star kids. With so many 4 and 5-star kids being busts, hopefully, some of these diamonds in the rough can rise to the occasion once on campus. I love the idea of hitting the road out of state too. While we have struck out on a few in-state guys, they haven’t rung the bell just yet and the coaches can hit the road again real soon here. Obviously, we are at a disadvantage with the coaching change. But let’s hope they can make up some ground. Go Gators.