One of the biggest keys for the Florida Gators in the 2018 recruiting class is to add depth to the linebacker position a spot where they’re very short this year.
The Gators hosted a big target at the position in Texas linebacker commit Ayodele Adeoye (6-0, 231, Bradenton, FL. IMG Academy) on Saturday for the first time.
“The atmosphere was good for my first time seeing these boys play,” Adeoye said of the game. “They came up short but it was a pretty good game overall.”
Linebackers coach Tim Skipper has been working Adeoye on visiting Florida and Saturday just worked out for the lienbacker.
“My friends wanted to come up and Coach [Tim] Skip has been trying to get me to come here,” he said on why he visited Florida on Saturday. “It was a perfect timing type of deal to come here and watch these boys play and me to come up here with my homies.”
Adeoye says that Skipper has been telling him since day one that the Gators need bodies at his position and that an opportunity to play early is there in Gainesville.
“From the start he has been telling me how bad he wants me,” Adeoye said on Skipper’s message to him. “I just hadn’t had a chance to get up here and see things for myself until today [Saturday]. He was telling me that the depth at linebacker is really low and there would be a chance for me to come in and compete for a starting job right away.”
Like any other prospect, Adeoye paid close attention to the defense on Saturday and he liked what he saw from that side of the ball.
“The defense overall was pretty good,” he said on what he thought of Florida’s defense. “Just the offense came up short a few times but the defense was pretty live for the most part.”
Going forward Adeoye says he knows what he’s looking for out of a school including Texas who he’s committed to.
“Just a good head coach and a good position coach,” Adeoye said on what he’s looking for out of a school. “I feel if you have those two then you can get to the next level.”
The Gators impressed Adeoye on Saturday and now will likely host the linebacker at least one more time this year.
“I plan on taking on official here,” he said on when he plans to return. “I’m also taking one to Texas, maybe Oklahoma, maybe Georgia, I’m still sorting them out.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Adeoye is pretty solid to Texas but he has been talking to Florida recently and hearing about the need for linebackers in Gainesville. Adeoye is going to be a tough pull but getting him back on an official is key.