New Florida Gators linebacker coach Randy Shannon wasted no time in offering his first prospect as he offered a South Florida cornerback on Monday night.
That prospect was Kentucky cornerback commit Jeremiah Dinson (5-11, 180, Hialeah, FL American) who has been recruited by two of Florida’s new coaches at their previous coaching stops.
“Coach Shannon called me last night (Monday night) and he offered me a scholarship to Florida,” Dinson said. “He was talking to me about the transition from Arkansas to Florida for him and then he got straight to the point about Florida. He said that he had talked to the coaches at Florida about me and they liked me. Coach Kirk [Callahan] had been recruiting me to UCF so we already knew each other and he already knew about me.”
Dinson was scheduled to visit Arkansas on January 16th because of his relationship with Shannon that goes back a few years.
“Me and Coach Shannon are cool, he’s been recruiting me since the 10th grade,” Dinson said. “Our relationship is like a father and son relationship. We’re real close and he always tells me that he loves how I get in guys face on the football field and how I play the game.”
Not only does Dinson have a good relationship with Shannon but new defensive backs coach Kirk Callahan has already built up a good relationship with Kentucky cornerback commit.
“Me and Coach Kirk’s relationship is good too and it has grown over the last year,” Dinson said. “I was headed take an official to UCF this month because of him but now I’m not going to visit anymore because he’s at Florida. Coach Kirk came down for a home visit in December and I really liked his vibe he gave me.”
Now that the Gators have two of Dinson’s favorite coaches on staff he feels like Florida is a good place.
“Having Coach Shannon and Coach Kirk at Florida is a bonus for me right now and that makes Florida standout,” Dinson said. “They both tell me that they like my ball skills and how I’m a long corner that doesn’t give away space to a receiver.”
Shannon and Callahan will get their opportunity to impress Dinson in a few weeks when he visits campus.
“I’m taking my official to Florida on January 16th,” Dinson said. “I’m taking an official to Louisville on the 30th and I want to take a visit to Auburn in between those two.”
INSIDERS TAKE: If Florida truly wants Dinson then the Gators have a great shot here because of the relationship Dinson has with Callahan and Shannon. Dinson is a late blooming prospect that a lot of schools have jumped in on lately.