MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA- The Florida Gators recruiting class picked up a big commitment on Saturday at defensive tackle but there’s still a big need to add more at the position.
One of the guys the Gators are after the position is defensive tackle Alec Jackson (6-5, 270, Montgomery, AL. Jeff Davis) who played in the Alabama/Mississippi All-Star game on Saturday.
Jackson is hearing from a lot of schools and he talked about why he wants to visit the Gators in January.
“Florida actually came to visit me this year at my school,” Jackson said. “I can’t wait to finally get down there on a visit and meet the coaches and the players. I want to sit down and talk about what I can do down there and see what they’re all about.”
Defensive line coach Chris Rumph has been the coach recruiting Jackson and he explained to the lineman where he will play at in Gainesville.
“They’re recruiting me as both a defensive tackle and defensive end,” he said. “They’re just telling me to come down on a visit and Coach Rumph says that I need to come down and see everything for myself. Coach Rumph wants me to talk to the players and get a feel for them.”
Rumph has also shown Jackson the depth chart and explained that early playing time is available in Gainesville if you work hard.
“Coach Rumph says that they have a big need for me guys like me,” Jackson said of Rumph’s message. “He said that they have some guys going into the draft so they need more linemen. He says I can play early for them.”
Jackson didn’t make it down to Gainesville for a game this fall but he did watch the Gators on TV and was impressed by the defense.
“Florida’s defense is always great and it was great enough to go to the SEC championship game this year,” he said. “It’s almost mandatory that Florida will have a great defense and that’s needed in the SEC.”
Not that football season is over for Jackson the defensive lineman is planning out his visits for next month.
“I just visited USC and the rest of them will be in January,” I’m going to visit Florida, Auburn and Ole Miss. Florida is January 20th and then the last weekend I go to visit Ole Miss.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Auburn is the team that is talked about the most with Jackson but this past spring the defensive lineman admitted that Florida was his leader. This seems to be a battle that will be determined by official visits in January.