The Florida Gators have played host to several California prospects on campus the last month or so and that included an offensive lineman recently.
Offensive lineman Jonah Tauanu’u (6-4, 317, Harbor City, CA. Narbonne) was on campus for the Gators last weekend of visit two weeks ago and enjoyed his time on campus.
“The visit was nice, the campus was nice,” Tauanu’u said. “The football facilities were pretty cool. We hung out with the coaches and talked with them about the history of the program.”
This was an unofficial visit to Florida for Tauanu’u and he explained why he wanted to get out to Gainesville this summer.
“Just interest in the program,” he said on why he decided to visit Florida. “I just wanted to take the visit and see how everything was out there. It lived up to expectations.”
Offensive line coach John Hevesy spent a lot of time with Tauanu’u during the visit as he explained why the Gators like him at on the line.
“He just talked to me about me being a talented player,” Tauanu’u said of Hevesy’s message to him. “He was just talking to me about how I could make myself better. He wants me at the tackle position.”
This was the first time for Hevesy and Tauanu’u to sit down and have a lengthy conversation and the lineman left with high praise for the Gators assistant coach.
“We talked about how each other was doing and stuff like,” he said on his relationship with Hevesy is now after the visit. “He’s a great coach and he’s real focused on techniques.”
Head coach Dan Mullen also spent some time with Tauanu’u during the visit and he explained how the environment is at Florida.
“Coach Mullen always talks about how I can fit into the program there,” Tauanu’u said of his talks with Mullen. “He talked about how much of a family it is at Florida. He was explaining what he has done at Florida in the past. It’s nice to know that and good to know what kind of coach he is.”
Hevesy has been on Tauanu’u a lot but safeties coach Ron English and his California ties has also been recruiting and speaking with the lineman a lot.
“Coach English and Coach Hevesy both,” he said on who has been the main recruiters for him. “Coach English has talked about how it’s going to be a lot to get used to out in Florida but that I’m not going to regret it.”
This likely won’t be the last time for Tauanu’u to be on campus as the lineman plans to return to Gainesville.
“Yes, most definitely,” Tauanu’u said on if he plans to take an official to Florida. “In the fall is when I’m taking my officials.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Tauanu’u said that he’s still looking at his top 10 schools but his interest in Florida is pretty high. USC is the team most talked about with Tauanu’u early in his recruitment.