McElwain calls Thomas a “first-rounder”- Florida Gators

DBU is getting small for the Florida Gators and the coaching staff is trying to restock the position in the class of 2017.

The Gators recruiting board is loaded with big name prospects from all across the country including Ambry Thomas (5-11, 174, Detroit, MI. Detroit MLK) who talks to head coach Jim McElwain.

“I still talk to Florida a lot,” Thomas said. “I really talk to Coach Mac and Coach [Torrian] Gray from Florida. They talk to me every week. They tell me all the time that they want me.”

Being from Michigan, Thomas hasn’t been to a game yet but that doesn’t mean he isn’t paying attention to what is happening down in Gainesville.

“I haven’t gotten to visit yet, but I’ve been watching them on TV,” he said of the Gators. “I think I fit right into their defense. Their defensive backs are amazing, they’re DBU.”

Defensive backs coach Torrian Gray worked with Thomas during a satellite camp and since then has been talking to the cornerback a lot.

“Coach Gray tells me about the depth they have at defensive back,” Thomas said of Gray’s message. “He says that me coming in early, would be big for me and them. He says that I will be a big impact on them and could help them out.”

Gray has explained to Thomas that the Gators need instant impact players and has explained how the Michigan native can get on the field early.

“He tells me that I can play corner or nickel for them,” he said of where he will play if he chooses Florida. “He said for me to touch the field my freshman year, they would probably work me in at nickel. He said that he most definitely sees me as a corner in my career but for me to get a good feel for things, they would put me at the nickel.”

McElwain has been sharing a message with Thomas that would excite any football player who has dreams of playing in the NFL.

“Coach Mac has been telling me that the first time he seen me at the satellite camp that I was a first-round type of guy,” Thomas said of McElwain’s message to him. “He said that a guy with my speed, size and length that I will be a first rounder.”

Since Thomas hasn’t been able to visit Gainesville, the Gators are working hard on getting him back on campus again very soon.

“They’re trying to get me back down there again, and I’m trying to do that,” he said. “I’m early enrolling so I’m actually trying to decide on who all will get official visits. I know that Florida will get one though.”

INSIDERS TAKE: Right now it seems Florida, Michigan and Michigan State are battling for Thomas with the Gators and Wolverines a little ahead. Thomas visited Gainesville this summer and liked the trip but he needs to get his mom on campus for the Gators to have a real shot with him.

Andrew Spivey
Andrew always knew he wanted to be involved with sports in some capacity. He began by coaching high school football for six years before deciding to pursue a career in journalism. While coaching, he was a part of two state semifinal teams in the state of Alabama. Given his past coaching experience, he figured covering recruiting would be a perfect fit. He began his career as an intern for Rivals.com, covering University of Florida football recruiting. After interning with Rivals for six months, he joined the Gator Country family as a recruiting analyst. Andrew enjoys spending his free time on the golf course and watching his beloved Atlanta Braves. Follow him on Twitter at @AndrewSpiveyGC.

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