The Florida Gators recruiting efforts are not only focused on the class of 2016 but the coaching staff is also focused on the class of 2017 as they start to prepare their board for next year.
One of the top players in the class of 2017 is receiver Trevon Grimes (6-4, 195, Fort Lauderdale, FL St. Thomas Aquinas) and while the Florida Gators recruiting pitch has been good for the receiver, the Gators still trail another school.
“Ohio State is actually my leader right now,” Grimes said. “Florida State and Florida are right behind Ohio State in my recruitment.”
Florida has a built-in recruiter at St. Thomas in 2017 quarterback commit Jake Allen, who is talking up the Gators to Grimes on a daily basis.
“My quarterback Jake Allen is a Florida Gators commit, he always tells me about Florida,” he said. “I have class with him everyday and he tells me great things about Florida. He tells the way the program is going and how good the program is going to be in 2017. Jake tells me that they have an amazing class coming so I definitely want to get up there and get a feel for it. I want too see how it is for myself.”
Florida Gators offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier visited the St. Thomas Aquinas campus in December and Grimes says that’s the coach he talks too but he hopes to build on that relationship soon.
“Right now I DM [direct message on Twitter] Coach Nussmeier some and we talk,” Grimes said. “I want to get up there and express to them my interest and talk to them on a more personal level. I want to build a relationship with them over the next year or so.”
Grimes has yet to visit the Gainesville campus since head coach Jim McElwain and his staff arrived at Florida but that will change soon .
“I’m definitely going up there for junior day,” he said. “I also want to get up to Florida State because I hear they are a great college. The atmosphere there is great and that’s one thing that I look for in my school.”
One thing that the Florida Gators recruiting pitch has made Grimes notice is that Florida needs players like him in their style of offense.
“I definitely look at Florida because they need a receiver, I’m definitely looking at schools that throw the ball a lot,” he said. “That’s one of the big aspects that I look for in schools when I’m looking.”
Despite Ohio State being Grimes childhood favorite team, the receiver says he won’t make any quick decisions on his future.
“Ohio State has been my leader since my freshman year but I definitely don’t want to commit too early,” Grimes said. “I want to give everyone a fair chance just like I gave Ohio State a fair chance. I’ve loved everything about Ohio State since I was little.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Grimes is one of the best receivers in the class of 2017 but Florida and Florida State have a lot of ground to make up on Ohio State right now. The good news is that the Gators have Jake Allen in his ear.
Get em Jake