The Florida Gators are in desperate need of offensive linemen in the class of 2016 and the Gators are even looking at some JUCO linemen to help the immediate need.
On Monday the Gators handed out an offer to JUCO offensive tackle Brandon Autry (6-4, 320, Coffeyville, KS Coffeyville C.C.) who heard the news from offensive line coach Mike Summers.
“I got the offer from the offensive line coach at Florida on Monday,” Autry said. “Coach Summers was telling me that Florida was a good situation for me to come to because they’re losing a lot of starters and that they really need a guy like myself to come there.”
The conversation was brief between the two but Autry liked what he was hearing from Summers about the Gators offensive scheme.
“He didn’t really get into which position he wanted me to play but he said we would talk more about it soon,” Autry said. “He was telling me that their offense is going to be a pro-style offense that likes to run the ball. He asked me if I liked to run block and I told him that was the best part of my game.”
Autry is a native of Mobile, Alabama and he grew up watching the SEC and now he’s hoping to play in that conference soon.
“I really don’t know much about Florida yet but I’m going to look into them,” Autry said. “I have a lot of interest in Florida because they are in the SEC and because they need help on the line. The offense sounds good too.”
Over the last few weeks Autry has seen his offer list balloon out to double digits but the linemen isn’t ready to narrow down his list just yet.
“I don’t have any leaders right now, I’m just taking it day by day,” Autry said. “Just recently Florida, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Missouri, South Carolina, Southern Miss and Arkansas State have offered me so I would say those schools are recruiting me hard right now.”
One thing that’s for certain is that Autry plans to get out and take visits as he’s looking for a new home to finish out his college career.
“I’m waiting until I go home for break to talk to my mom and dad about visits and then I’ll set them up,” Autry said. “I’m going to graduate in December and enroll at my new school in January so I’ll take visits this summer. I’ll have two years of eligibility and a redshirt year left for when I get to my new school.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Autry admits that playing in the SEC is something he wants to do and he says that he didn’t really grow up with a favorite team so he’s not waiting on any particular offer. Autry is a native of Mobile, Alabama so he’s familiar with the lay of the land in the SEC.