One of the biggest needs in the class of 2017 for the Florida Gators are linebackers. After Matt Rolin left the team, the Gators are getting low on numbers at the position.
Florida already has two commits at the position and they’re hard after linebacker Rahyme Johnson (6-4, 210, Los Angeles, CA. Bishop Mora Salesian) after he picked up an offer last month.
“Florida is talking to me a lot, I talk to pretty much all of the coaches every day,” Johnson said of his talks with Florida. “They’ve been really on me hard. coach [Jim] McElwain is talking to me, coach [Randy] Shannon, coach [Tim] Skipper, they’re all talking to me daily.”
Johnson, who has over 20 offers, says it’s special feeling to have McElwain personally recruiting him to Florida.
“It’s blessing to have the head coach of a school like Florida recruiting me himself,” he said of McElwain recruiting him. “It’s a dream come true for me, being able to have a head coach recruiting me is amazing.”
McElwain first met Johnson in July at Friday Night Lights and since then the Gators head coach has sent a strong message to the California linebacker.
“He’s just been saying that there is nothing like being a Gator,” Johnson said of McElwain’s message. “He said that they want me out there and that could use me on defense. He said that I would be a big part of their team and they’re just trying to get out me out there.”
Linebackers coach Randy Shannon has also been sending a strong message to Johnson about how he can develop the linebacker at Florida.
“Coach Shannon is just saying that he can really develop me as a player,” he said. “He said that together we can do great things and with him being a great linebacker coach, I think he can get me to the next level.”
The Gators are not the only team hard after Johnson, several other schools are recruiting the linebacker.
“UCLA, Nebraska, Cal, Notre Dame, Texas A&M and a few others are recruiting me hard,” Johnson said of the teams after him. “I have a Nebraska visit set up for October first, I’ll most likely be in Gainesville on October 8th and maybe Notre Dame on October 15th. I’m working on a few others but right now all of those will be officials except the one to Florida. I’m going to take an official visit to Florida after the season.”
Johnson had thought about committing to a school before his season but now he says that won’t happen.
“I’m waiting to see if I get the Under Armour invite before I set a decision date,” he said. “If I get the invite then I’ll do it there but if not then I’ll probably wait until signing day or until right after the season.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Johnson remains a huge target for the Gators and right now Florida is one of the top teams on the linebacker’s list. If Johnson takes two visits to Florida before announcing then you have to believe the Gators have a good shot.