Offensive line has been the biggest need for the Florida Gators for the last few years and it will continue to be for head coach Jim McElwain over the new few years as he looks to rebuild the line at Florida.
On Monday McElwain stopped in to see 2017 Alabama Crimson Tide offensive line commit Alex Leatherwood (6-5, 298, Pensacola, FL Washington) at his practice, as he hopes to flip the big offensive lineman to Florida.
“Coach McElwain came by my practice on Monday and it went good,” Leatherwood said. “We were doing individual period at practice and I was hitting the sled when he showed up to practice. He told my coaches that he just wanted to stop by so that I could see his face and know that they were interested in me.”
Since McElwain wasn’t able to speak directly to Leatherwood, the Gators head coach left a message with the offensive lineman’s head coach.
“He told my coach that he wanted to see me at Florida in a few years,” he said. “He told my coach that he wanted me to stay instate and how that Florida has a great program. He said that Florida is starting something new down there and that they are going to get Florida back on track and stuff like that. My coach was telling me a lot of stuff that he said.”
A lot of head coaches do not go out on the road but McElwain has taken a hands on approach ever since he took the Florida Gators job, and that meant a lot to Leatherwood on Monday.
“It meant a whole lot to see Coach McElwain stop by practice,” Leatherwood said. “It’s not something that head coaches just do all the time. Him stopping by showed me that I’m a big priority to him and to the program.”
This summer Leatherwood had plans to visit Florida, but those plans fell through. However, the Alabama commit says that will change soon, as the Florida Gators are now squarely in the mix for his signature in 2017.
“I’m going to try to get down there for the Florida/Florida State game this season so I can meet everyone and see everything,” he said. “Florida was my first offer and I’ve always thought highly of them in my recruitment. Florida is in second place behind Alabama right now in my recruitment. I’m thinking about them heavily now.”
One thing that is helping the Gators with Leatherwood is the instant need for offensive linemen in Gainesville.
“I know that they don’t have much depth on the offensive line but the offense has looked good this year,” Leatherwood said. “I know they have a lot of good things going on in Gainesville with guys like David Sharpe and Martez Ivey playing for them.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Leatherwood is one of the best prospects in the 2017 class and he would be a huge pickup for the Florida Gators if they were able to flip him from the Alabama Crimson Tide next year.