A lot of schools around the country are on spring break, which gives more prospects on the Florida Gators recruiting board the chance to see the Gators go through spring practice.
On Saturday, defensive end John Waggoner (6-5, 230, West Des Moines, IA. Dowling Catholic) took advantage of that and visited the Gators.
“It was good,” Waggoner said. “We first toured all of the facilities and looked at the academic center which is really nice. Then we went to watch practice, which was very competitive. After that, I spoke with Coach [Chris] Rumph and Coach [Jim] McElwain and that concluded the visit.”
While on campus Waggoner picked up an offer from Florida after he spoke with head coach Jim McElwain.
“That came during the conversation with Coach McElwain,” he said on when he was given the offer. “He said he likes my film and wants me to get back down there sometime this summer.”
This offer was a special one to Waggoner and it came on a visit that he wasn’t sure he was going to take a few days ago.
“It means a lot, especially to be my first SEC offer,” Waggoner said on what the offer meant to him. “I was on spring break and we drive by Gainesville each year so I texted Coach [GA] [Eric] Ellingworth to see if there was a good time to visit and he said today [Saturday].”
When Waggoner spoke to McElwain, the Gators head coach explained what attending Florida can do for a player both on the field and off the field.
“He said it’s all about finding a school that will be good for me for life after Florida,” Waggoner said on what McElwain told him. “He said it will be easy in Florida for me to find a job if I decide to go there.”
Defensive line coach Chris Rumph got the chance to meet Waggoner for the first time on Saturday and shared a message with the defensive end.
“I liked him a lot,” he said on his impressions of Chris Rumph. “He just said that he’s glad that I’m here and he wants me to come back down for another visit.”
After the offer from the Gators, Waggoner says that he’s already looking into a return trip to Gainesville.
“I don’t have a top group at this point,” he said on if anyone was standing out to him. “Distance isn’t really a factor, it’s all about the feel/fit. I’m going to look into returning this summer for another visit.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Waggoner is a really good defensive line prospect that doesn’t get the hype he should for a guy with his talent. Waggoner vacations a lot in Florida so that helps the Gators out as far as him knowing the area.