Tannor likes the outside linebacker role that the Florida Gators explained to him

The linebacker position is a big need for the Florida Gators in the 2018 class and the options are limited at the position heading into the final two weeks of the recruiting period.

However this weekend, the Gators hosted defensive end/outside linebacker Caleb Tannor (6-3, 225, Lithonia, GA. Miller Grove) on a visit as the linebacker prepares to make a decision.

“It was a nice visit, I really enjoyed it down here,” Tannor said of his official visit. “Good visit, take my next visit and then it should be decision time.”

Tannor doesn’t plan to announce his decision until February 7th but he believes he will know where he’s going before then.

“I’m going to do it on signing day,” he said of when he will make a decision. “But I’m going to know by the week after but I’m going to sign then [Signing Day]. Nobody else is going to know.”

Florida wasn’t a school that was talked about much with Tannor under the last staff but the new coaching staff showed him to his in-home in a big group and secured an official visit.

“The whole coaching staff, the defensive coach staff came by to Atlanta,” he said on how the Gators got involved. “It was just a big thing for me so I just had to come show them some love.”

Head coach Dan Mullen and the defensive staff explained how Tannor would play outside linebacker if he chooses Florida and that’s something that impressed the 2018 prospect this weekend.

“Coach Mullen, Coach Christian Robinson, Coach [Todd] Grantham they all came,” Tannor said on who came to see him. “They said they need people at my position and my type. That’s what I want to play, I like running around [he said on playing outside linebacker].”

New linebackers coach Christian Robinson is a guy that’s new to the recruiting trail but his age and personality is something that Tannor likes.

“I liked him, he’s cool, he’s young and he’s real cool,” he said on his impression of Christian Robinson. “Real chill person.”

This weekend the Gators put a current linebacker with Tannor this weekend and the message from him was simple and to the point.

“Vosean [Joseph],” Tannor said on who his host was. “Come [on Vosean’s message to him.]”

Tannor didn’t caught up with a lot of things outside of football this weekend as his highlight of the trip came in the meeting room.

“Highlights probably how they going to be using me,” he said on the highlights of the trip. “That was probably the coolest thing that stood out to me.”

The Georgia prospect also got a good feeling about the Gators future while on the trip this weekend.

“They’re trying, they got something coming, I can tell,” Tannor said on what’s different about Florida. “I can tell they got something, their players can tell that too. Because like they got a whole other mindset now.”

That feeling and the position that the Gators want Tannor at, all helped Florida improve their chances as the linebacker prepares for more trips.

“It helped, just right now all of the schools I’ve visited, I’m deciding,” Tannor said on if this visit helped. “Right now as the week goes on, me and my coach sit down and plan visits. I’ve been to Nebraska. I’m taking two more visits. Probably Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Auburn or Tennessee.”

When it comes decision time, Tannor says he knows what he’s looking for out of a school.

“Somewhere that I visited and felt like home the most,” he said on what plays into his decision. “Somewhere that I just got a good opportunity after football because I’m not going to be doing this my whole life.”

 

Andrew Spivey
Andrew always knew he wanted to be involved with sports in some capacity. He began by coaching high school football for six years before deciding to pursue a career in journalism. While coaching, he was a part of two state semifinal teams in the state of Alabama. Given his past coaching experience, he figured covering recruiting would be a perfect fit. He began his career as an intern for Rivals.com, covering University of Florida football recruiting. After interning with Rivals for six months, he joined the Gator Country family as a recruiting analyst. Andrew enjoys spending his free time on the golf course and watching his beloved Atlanta Braves. Follow him on Twitter at @AndrewSpiveyGC.