The Florida Gators are searching for a second running back to join commit Iverson Clement in the 2018 class. Right now, Dameon Pierce (5-11, 205, Bainbridge, Ga., Bainbridge) is priority number one.
“They say I’m perfect,” said Pierce. “I’m the guy they want.”
The No. 9 running back in the nation visited Florida for the second time this weekend for Friday Night Lights, and while he didn’t compete in the camp, he got just what he wanted out of his visit—more time with running backs coach JuJuan Seider.
“It wasn’t different at all,” he said. “You know, same old same old. Me and Coach Seider kicked it all day. Also, I got to see him coach a little, just got more acquainted with him.”
Since he wasn’t working out, he got a chance to follow Seider around the whole night and study him while he coached. Anyone who watched Seider from the sidelines on Friday could feel the passion oozing out of him, including Pierce.
“He’s passionate about it,” Pierce said. “When a player’s got passion, the coach has got passion, those two together can make great things.”
Seider wasn’t the only one who impressed Pierce on his visit, he felt that same passion coming from the entire staff.
“It’s an awesome coaching staff,” he said. “You now they love their players and they’re passionate about the game. They’re passionate, man.”
Pierce even observed a great vibe from current Gators players at camp. There were players roaming the field and helping coach at camp all night, which stood out to him as something special.
“You know if they’re up there, the coaches are doing something right,” said Pierce. “They’ve gotta love their coaches. Most players wouldn’t be up there, but it takes a special coach to have players out there on the field incorporating them into the whole camp, and just seeing it was a great thing.”
Pierce is buying the message the Gators are selling, and he can see himself fitting in perfectly in Florida’s offense.
“I think I’d be a great fit,” he said. “Most of the schools I’m talking about, if I’m talking to them, I see myself there. Florida’s one of those schools.”
As of right now, there are four other schools on that list with Florida, including Alabama, the school he decommitted from back in May.
“Top five right now would be Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Auburn and Florida State,” said Pierce. “Those are all the schools I’m talking to right now.”
While all five schools are recruiting him hard and he has interest in all of them, he was willing to boost Florida into the top tier of that list after his visit. The Gators continued to stay on him even during his commitment to Alabama, and that is something that set them apart.
“Top three at least,” Pierce said. “At least top three.”
Pierce said he is not in a hurry at all to make a decision, but he is not against committing to a school if the feeling is right.
“Whenever I feel like it,” he said. “If I feel I need to commit, I’ll commit. No doubt about it.”
Following his high school season, Pierce plans to make visits to all of the schools mentioned above. Those visits will be a key in his decision.
He is on track to early enroll at whichever school he chooses, but it will depend on if he commits in that time frame or not. Pierce wants to be sure his decision is right this time, so until that time comes, he is willing to wait it out, but Florida gave him a lot to think about after this weekend.