When 2015 tight end Jackson Harris (6-5, 241, Columbia, TN Central) visited the Florida campus last weekend, he got the usual grand tour of the campus and facilities, but seeing how the Gators plan to use the tight end in the future is the hook that will get him back for a return visit.
The visit to Gainesville went pretty much as expected.
“The visit went great,” Harris said. “We got there on Friday afternoon and got to look around the campus and meet everyone. It was a great trip. The whole visit was good and I had the opportunity to tour the facilities and see the academics as well. I knew it was going to be good and that’s exactly what I saw. Florida has great coaches.”
Everything was going well when Harris got his first taste of the spread offense that the Gators will employ under new coordinator Kurt Roper.
“On Sunday I got to sit down with (tight ends) Coach (Derek) Lewis and talk about the offense,” Harris said. “He was showing me how Coach Roper used his tight ends at Duke and how they plan to use them here at Florida. He was also telling me some things that I could work on to be better on the field.”
After a visit with Lewis, Harris sat down with Roper to talk about how Florida’s offense will change next fall.
“Coach Roper said that they are going to be an up-tempo fast pace offense at Florida,” Harris said. “I think I fit in well at Florida now with that offense. Coach Roper said he’s excited about me and that he thinks that I fit in well too.”
The Gators signed three tight ends in the Class of 2014 but all three are smaller and will require extensive work in the weight room to become SEC ready. With his size, Harris will fit in immediately if he chooses Florida.
“Coach Lewis said that the three tight ends that are coming in this year are coming at 215-220 and they will need a few years to become an SEC tight end,” Harris said. “Coach Lewis said that at my size I can come in and play early on so having three tight ends that are freshmen doesn’t affect me too much because I know wherever I go that I’m going to have to compete.”
Following the unofficial visit Harris still doesn’t want to name a leader but he says that Florida is high up on his list.
“Florida is definitely going to be one of my top schools,” Harris said. “There is a good chance that Florida will be in my final five and I plan to return to Florida for a camp to work with Coach Lewis in-person.”