Last weekend Gainesville was full of top notch prospects from all over the country that came into town to watch the Gators go through spring practice on Saturday.
One of those was defensive end/BUCK Austin Bryant (6-5, 244, Thomasville, GA Thomas County Central) who enjoyed his visit and detailed his day to Gator Country.
“The visit was fun, I really liked it,” Bryant said. “When I first arrived I went to the academic center after that I went and sat in on the position meeting with Coach (Brad) Lawing and after that I went to the team meeting where Coach (Will) Muschamp addressed the team. When that was over we went out to the practice field and after practice I went and saw the communication and journalism school. Right before we left I got the chance to sit down with Coach Lawing and Coach Muschamp and they talked to me about how I would fit in at Florida.”
When Bryant had the chance to watch Lawing coach his players on Saturday he left impressed by the veteran coach.
“Coach Lawing is a hard-nosed coach,” Bryant said. “The thing I like about him though is that he will coach you hard but when you do good he will pat you on the back and tell you good job. I like a coach like that. He is big on hand technique and being physical.”
One thing that stood to Bryant was the energy level the Gators brought to the field on Saturday and it was led by a defensive lineman according to Bryant.
“The practice was very intense since Saturday was the first day of pads,” Bryant said. “It was real fast and the defensive line was really getting after it. Dante Fowler was really a beat at the BUCK position though.”
Fowler impressed Bryant on Saturday on the practice field and UF is recruiting him to fill the void that Fowler will leave when his time is done as a Gator.
“Florida really wants me at the BUCK position,” Bryant said. “They want me to put my hand in the ground sometimes and rush and other times stand up rush. Coach Lawing also thinks that I can be a guy that drops back into coverage on some plays.”
As Bryant noted, he had the chance to sit down with Muschamp before he and his family left on Saturday and Florida’s head man detailed what he could for Bryant if he chooses Florida.
“Coach Muschamp was telling me that I had a good opportunity to play at Florida,” Bryant said. “He was telling me about how he coaches and how he likes to max out player’s potential and that he will treat everyone like family.”
Now that the defensive end prospect has seen UF in person he’s very high on the Gators as he gets ready to narrow his list down.
“Florida is going to be high on my list when I cut it down,” Bryant said. “I don’t have any leaders yet but I want to visit Florida again and visit Clemson and South Carolina.”
I’ve always thought Fowler was a beat. Or a best. Maybe a beast.