After a disappointing year on the offensive side of the ball that included a rash of injuries on the offensive line has the Florida Gators dipping into the junior college ranks to seek immediate help. Last Saturday, JUCO offensive lineman Sebastian Tretola (6-5, 315, Council Bluffs, IO Iowa Western) got an offer from the Gators and the big guy was excited to talk about it.
“Coach (Will) Muschamp offered me and obviously getting an offer from Florida is a blessing,” Tretola said. “Florida has all of the jazz surrounding them and they play in the SEC. They were definitely late to offer me but Florida is a good place and its Florida, so it’s good that they offered me.”
When Muschamp called to him offer, he talked to the JUCO prospect about the team as well as the vacancy at the offensive line coaching position.
“Coach Muschamp told me what was going on with the program,” Tretola said. “He said that he working on getting a new OC (offensive coordinator) and new OL coach and that they need more linemen at Florida. It’s a concern that they don’t have an offensive line coach but I know they will get someone good and that they aren’t going to get some bum off of the street or anything so in reality it’s ok.”
With Florida being late to the party, the Gators are trying to make up ground quickly, sending out an assistant coach to see him weekend after offering him.
“Coach (Brian) White came by my game on Sunday,” Tretola said. “He was just telling me that I needed to get him my transcripts and everything sent into Florida. We didn’t get to talk too much because he had to go somewhere else but he just wanted to get everything straight in case I decide to visit Florida.”
Tretola has already used four official visits so he only has one more official left and he’s trying to decide where he wants to take that visit too this weekend.
“Me and my mom are going to talk about where I’m going to take my last official too,” Tretola said. “It’s either going to be Florida, Arkansas or Cincy so we are going to talk about it and get it worked out. I want to take that visit this weekend and make my decision next week.”