The Florida Gators recruiting board expanded a lot in June when the coaching staff handed out new offers during camp.
One of the guys that got an offer was 2018 receiver Xavier Williams (6-0, 180, Hollywood, FL Chaminade-Madonna Prep) who got his offer from head coach Jim McElwain.
“Coach McElwain was the coach that offered after camp this summer,” Williams said. “The offer meant everything because they’ve visited me at my school a couple of times and I’ve been waiting on this offer. Florida is one of the schools that I really like. I grew up watching Florida a lot because my brothers love Florida.”
Receivers coach Kerry Dixon and McElwain have both recruiting Williams hard since last year and McElwain explained that he wants the receiver.
“I spoke with Coach Mac and Coach Dixon, those are the two coaches that I really I talk to a lot,” he said of the coaches he talks to from Florida. “Coach McElwain tells me that I’m a Gator and that might as well tell every school that my recruiting process is over. It was a surreal moment to be there.”
The offer was somewhat of a surprise to Williams, but he knew an offer was coming sooner rather than later. He did have an interesting time at football camp in June.
“Coach Dixon had been telling me that if I did good at the camp that the offer was coming so I knew it was only a matter of time,” Williams said. “Coach Dixon and Coach [Torrian] Gray were actually arguing about which side of the ball I was going to play in college. I started off camp with the defensive backs and Coach Dixon was like ‘dang, you left me’ and then he said I was offensive guy and to come with him.”
Williams admits that he has a good relationship with the Gators coaching staff, but also admits it could be even stronger than it is.
“My relationship with Coach Dixon is good but it could be better,” he said. “It’s my fault because I have to start reaching out to coaches more and calling them more but I’ve been busy lately. I’m going to start calling him more.”
The 2018 receiver says that Florida was an offer he has been waiting on and the Gators only helped their chances with McElwain spoke to Williams.
“I will always consider Florida because it’s a great school,” Williams said of his interest in Florida. “Like Coach Mac says once a Gator, always a Gator because they’re always going to take care of you. I really loved that, everything he told me I really believed it.”
Florida will get another opportunity to impress Williams when the 2018 receiver visits Gainesville this coming week.
“I’m going to be up there for Friday Night Lights,” he said of his next visit to Florida. “I’m just looking to meet the coaches again and catch up with them on things. I want to compete at camp too, some guys ask me why I’m competing, but I tell them that I want to compete.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Williams says Florida, Florida State, Alabama and Clemson are all recruiting him hard as he’s one of the top receivers in the state for 2018. The Gators are a team that should be in the thick of things because of his relationship with the staff.