The Florida Gators recruiting efforts are full steam forward for the class of 2017, and on Saturday the Gators will welcome several prospects to campus.
On Saturday these prospects will get a chance to meet with the entire Florida coaching staff, plus get to tour the facilities and meet with academic people from the University.
Another thing that you will notice on this visitors list is that most of the prospects are out of state recruits. The Gators will have a lot of instate prospects on campus in the coming weeks for spring practices and such.
So here’s a look at Saturday’s visitor’s list.
The Big Uglies
The 2017 class is full of top-notch offensive linemen, and the Gators will host three of those prospects on Saturday including an Auburn Tigers commit.
Auburn Tigers offensive line commit Calvin Ashley (6-8, 311, Orlando, FL First Academy) will be making his first visit this offseason, but was on campus last fall for the Florida State game. Ashley has been committed to Auburn for close to a year now but Jim McElwain is personally recruiting him to Gainesville.
Florida had luck in North Carolina a few years ago with five star offensive lineman D.J. Humphries, and the Gators are going back to his old school looking for more.
The Gators will host teammates Eric Douglas (6-4, 275 Charlotte, NC Mallard Creek) and T.J. Moore (6-4, 270, Charlotte, NC Mallard Creek) on Saturday. Douglas has an offer from Florida already, but Moore is looking for one. Moore has been talking to offensive line coach Mike Summers and McElwain in recent weeks. He could get an offer on Saturday.
Defensive backs coming to town
The Gators need to load up with defensive backs in the class of 2017 and they will host three potential prospects for the class on Saturday.
Alabama safety commit Xavier McKinney (6-1, 185, Roswell, GA High) highlights the visitors for Saturday. McKinney, who just picked up an offer from Florida this week, was excited about the offer.
Athlete Devan Barrett (6-1, 195, Tampa, FL Catholic) is an all-around good athlete who can play both sides of the ball in college, just as he does in high school. Barrett likely ends up at defensive back in college, but the Gators are keeping the door open for either side of the ball. Early on Florida is in good shape for Barrett.
Three weeks ago cornerback Latavious Brini (6-2, 184, Hialeah Gardens, FL Mater Academy) visited Florida and picked up an offer from the Gators. Brini is scheduled to visit Florida State early in the morning on Saturday and then visit the Gators before returning. Brini is very high on the Florida Gators early on in the process.
Defensive ends
Florida did a good job of landing some really good defensive ends in the class of 2016 and they will try to add to that in 2017. There are several good ones already on the Florida Gators recruiting board, and one of the top instate guys will be on campus on Saturday.
Defensive end Zach Carter (6-4, 237, Tampa, FL Hillsborough) is a top defensive end in the country and he likes Florida a lot early on. Carter has been on the Gainesville several times, but this will be his first trip of the offseason. Carter visited Clemson a few weeks ago, and the Gators are looking to get the momentum back in their favor.
Defensive end Logan Rudolph (6-4, 230, Rock Hill, SC Northwestern) will be making his first visit to Gainesville on Saturday with his parents in tow. Rudolph plays both defensive end and tight end in high school but likely plays on defense in college.
Stay tuned to GatorCountry all weekend long for updates on these top 2017 prospects.
Reel them in!