LAKE BUENA VISTA — Decision day is coming for 2014 wide receiver Travis Rudolph (6-1, 185, West Palm Beach, FL Cardinal Newman). Rudolph has narrowed his decision down to five schools: Miami, Auburn, Alabama, Florida State and Florida and will make his choice known to the world during the 2014 Under Armour game.
Rudolph has not been to Gainesville since the summer of 2013 when he attended the Friday Night Lights camp on campus but if he ends up committing to the Gators, he will take an unofficial visit (he’s exhausted all five officials). Florida is still in the mix, but the Gators aren’t the sole leader for Rudolph’s services anymore. He originally named UF as his No. 1 choice early in his recruiting process.
“Really it wasn’t like they dropped majorly it was just at the time when I announced that they were the leader I had only been on two campuses, it was them and Miami,” Rudolph told Gator Country when checking in at his hotel for Under Armour week.
For him to commit to Florida he says he’ll have to look into new offensive coordinator Kurt Roper and whether or not the Gators are actually going to change the offense. He hasn’t talked to Roper yet, but has spoken to UF receivers coach Joker Phillips throughout his recruiting process.
“[Phillips’] message is just saying like really the offense they have now he’s saying I can just be an immediate impact and catch six or seven balls a half, and that’s big, really,” Rudolph said.
He stressed the importance of opportunities at whatever school he decides to attend, not necessarily early playing time but opportunities to make himself a better person and preparing him for his life in future. Things like Florida’s 4-8 record and stagnant offense don’t scare him off.
“I don’t look back at last year I mean that’s just with all the colleges I’m thinking about,” Rudolph said. “I’m not looking back on if you had a horrible season last year because look at what Auburn did this year they only won three games last year but they’re in the national championship this year.”
As Rudolph prepares to make his final choice, Florida’s decision to make changes on offense certainly don’t hurt its chances.
“Main thing is I don’t want to go and block 100 times I want to get the ball in my hands so that’s a good thing that they’re running spread,” Rudolph said.