Defensive end Zachary Carter (6-4, 237, Tampa, FL Hillsborough) is one of the top prospects on the Florida Gators recruiting board for the class of 2017.
On Saturday Carter visited the Gainesville campus and he was able to see a different side of Florida during the visit with his parents.
“The visit was really good, every time I go to Florida they impress me,” Carter said. “It felt like home at Florida. I’ve pretty much seen everything there but today [Saturday] I got to see the academic side of things. That really impressed me and my parents.”
Head coach Jim McElwain met one-on-one with Carter and his family on Saturday and made it known that the Gators want the defensive end.
“Coach McElwain said that I could make a big impact in my class,” he said. “He said that they’re really trying to hit Florida hard because there is a lot of talent here. He said that I could make a difference at Florida and that I was a big priority for them.”
Carter also had Florida Gators defensive line coach Chris Rumph in tow with him all day on Saturday and the two have built a good bond.
“I spent all day with Coach Rumph pretty much, kind of like 1-on-1 with him,” Carter said. “I guess because I was the only defensive end there so I was able to be with him all day. Pretty much he said that he’s ready for me to commit because we have a good relationship with each other. We’re tight.”
Saturday was big for the Gators as they were able to get Carter’s mom on campus and Florida impressed her.
“My parents really enjoyed the visit,” Carter said. “That was my mom’s first time there with the new coaching staff and she really liked it up there. They like the new coaching staff.”
After the good visit on Saturday, Carter says that the Gators are in good shape with him, but he has no leaders right now.
“Florida is pretty high on my list,” he said. “There is others in the mix for me, but Florida and Clemson are just two schools that I’m high on right now. I’m planning on keeping my recruitment going for awhile so that I can take some more visits.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Carter says that he will visit Florida for a spring practice next month so he can see Rumph coach the line. Florida and Clemson are the two schools out in front for Carter early on.