Jim McElwain is known for his use of the tight end position in his offense and that has helped the Florida Gators recruiting pitch when it comes to recruiting the position.
Last week offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier went and visited tight end Jacob Mathis (6-5, 227, Tampa, FL Berkeley Prep) at his school and that was something that made Mathis happy.
“Coach Nussmeier came by our game on Friday night,” Mathis said. “It was pretty cool to have him at the game. It was nice to know that he cared enough about me to come to my game. It was nice to see him have a presence there on the sideline.”
Nussmeier and McElwain have already given Mathis the Florida Gators recruiting pitch as far as football goes, but now they are giving him the academic pitch for the University of Florida.
“We have really just talking about the university as a whole lately,” he said. “I already know about the football program, so he’s just telling me what they have to offer there as a school. It’s really going to come down to where I’m the most comfortable at.”
When Nussmeier talks to Mathis about football it usually revolves on how the Florida Gators will use him in their offense if he chooses the Gators.
“He said that they will move me around the offense a lot if I come there,” Mathis said. “The tight ends have had a lot of success this year in the offense so I have been able to see that so far. I think it’s a nice offense to play in for a tight end because they throw the ball to them a lot.”
The Tampa tight end has gotten very comfortable around Florida and McElwain and he believes in what McElwain is building in Gainesville.
“I like Coach McElwain a lot, I like his style and his personality,” he said. “He’s a good guy and a good person. I think he’s turning the program around and he’s doing a lot with what they already have. I think once he gets a few of his own recruiting classes in then they will be even better.”
Mathis has already visited the Gators twice this year, and he says he will back again, but he isn’t sure who will get his remaining official visits.
“I’ve already taken an official visit to Michigan but I don’t have anymore set up yet,” Mathis said. “I’m just really trying to wait some things out right now before I decide who else to visit. I will definitely be back up to Florida this season though.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Mathis is a guy that is on the Florida Gators recruiting board and someone that they are continuing to monitor this year. Mathis is a flex out tight end much like Jake McGee and C’yontai Lewis are right now the Gators’ roster.