Thursday marked the first day that college coaches could hit the road and the Florida Gators staff did just that.
Coaches were spread out all across the south including Director of Player Personnel Drew Hughes, who’s filling in on the recruiting trail, and he was in Alabama on Thursday.
While Alabama Hughes visited receiver Henry Ruggs (6-0, 175, Montgomery, AL. Lee) and the visit went well according to the receiver.
“It went good, he was just checking in on me and letting me know that I’m a priority for them,” Ruggs said of Hughes visit. “He was telling me that I’m a top priority and he was explaining the opportunity I have if I come to Florida.”
The Gators were the first team to stop by to see Ruggs on Thursday and the receiver took notice of that gesture from Florida.
“It’s always a big factor to know you’re a priority. To see him on the first day is big,” he said of Florida visiting on day one. “That’s a big thing to me that they show that I’m high on their list. Coach Hughes explained that I was one of the first guys that they wanted to see.”
Ruggs and Hughes have a relationship that is different than most coaches and prospects as Hughes is a Montgomery native who knows the receiver very well.
“Him being from here really helps our relationship and the trust,” Ruggs said. “It’s a pretty good relationship because I know that we can talk about anything. He knows my background situation and where I’m from so we can talk outside of football.”
The Gators have just one receiver committed and that was something that Hughes explained to Ruggs, plus the chance to see the field as a freshman.
“He pretty much said that the wide receiver depth chart is wide open,” Ruggs said. “He said that I could come in and be an immediate impact guy as a true freshman. The opportunity of early playing time is there and that’s something I’m looking at.”
A few weeks ago it looked the Gators were out of it for Ruggs but now the receiver says that isn’t the case.
“Florida is still one of my top schools and I’m planning to visit this month,” he said. “Coach Hughes said that we would work out when I will visit because I have a tight schedule with basketball. But I’m planning on visiting with my parents.”
One of the big reasons for Ruggs not taking as many visits as others is the fact that he plays on one of the top basketball teams in the state and the Gators are open to the receiver playing ball for Mike White in college.
“They’ve told me that the opportunity to play basketball is there if I want to play,” Ruggs said. “I told them that football is my future and what I want to do but they say if I ever change my mind and want to play then the opportunity is there for me.
The Gators aren’t the only team getting a visit from Ruggs this month as two other big time programs will get the receiver on campus.
“I’m going to Florida State this weekend and then Alabama the next weekend,” Ruggs said. “After that, I’m not sure on the next weekend.”
INSIDERS TAKE: If Florida is able to get Ruggs on campus that would go a long ways in helping the Gators chances. One thing is for sure is that Florida and Drew Hughes aren’t going to lay down and bow out of this race for Ruggs until he signs somewhere else.