Saturday had a lot of 2019 prospects in town for the Florida Gators junior day but Dan Mullen and his staff also had several 2020 prospects in town.
2020 offensive lineman Jalen Rivers (6-5, 327, Orange Park, FL. Oakleaf) was one of those guys in town and he liked his trip to Florida.
“It was great,” Rivers said on his junior day visit. “I got to meet the new coaching staff and tour Florida’s campus and facilities.”
Rivers was very impressed by the Gators coaching staff on Saturday and the atmosphere they set for junior day.
“It was real chill,” he said on the atmosphere at Florida. “The people there were very friendly and welcoming to everyone. It was more of a family atmosphere with this staff.”
Offensive line coach John Hevesy was one of the coaches who spoke with Rivers on Saturday and he explained what he liked about the 2020 lineman.
“He was saying that he likes my film,” Rivers said on Hevesy. “He said that player development is very important to him and hopefully one day I could be a player that he can help develop.”
Hevesy also explained to Rivers what he likes out of his offensive lineman coming out of high school.
“He just said what he looks for in a lineman is a flexibility,” he said on what Hevesy likes in lineman. “He wants someone who can run with quickness and is smart and has mental toughness.”
Head coach Dan Mullen also spoke with Rivers on Saturday about the University of Florida and what they can provide him as a student-athlete.
“He basically said the same thing about the player development part,” Rivers said on Mullen’s message. “But he also talked very highly about their academics and the improvements he is willing to do to improve their productivity.”
Heading into the visit Rivers had Florida on his mind but the Gators really left a big impression on the lineman.
“Yes, they were really convincing,” he said on if Florida helped its chances with the visit.
The Gators aren’t the only team chasing Rivers right now as three other big programs are after the offensive lineman.
“Georgia, Florida, Miami and Clemson,” Rivers said on teams recruiting him hard. “I don’t have any other visits planned right now.