The Florida Gators recruiting class last year didn’t have a JUCO lineman in it, but on Monday the Gators offered one for 2017.
That prospect is offensive lineman Badara Traore (6-8, 310, Garden City, NY Nassau JUCO), who received the offer from Mike Summers.
“Coach Summers was the coach that offered me,” Traore said. “He said that he really liked who I was and my character. He really loved my film and said that he liked the way I played the game.”
Traore has never visited Florida before but he was able to meet Summers last year and he liked the Gators coach.
“I met Coach Summers when he came up to recruit a teammate this year,” he said. “He’s awesome man and an awesome coach. I know he’s a calm guy and that knows what he’s talking about when he coaches the line.”
When Summers offered Traore on Monday, he had a message about the Gators need JUCO linemen in this class.
“He said that he needed some linemen to fill in some spots next year,” Traore said. “He told me that I could fill one of those and be a big impact guy for them on the offensive line. He said that they have a need for some experienced guys.”
The New York JUCO prospect was pretty happy to receive the offer from Florida, as he likes several things about the Gators.
“I know a lot about Florida actually, I know they’re a big time school on academics,” Traore said. “I know that they’re also a football school and I’m excited to have received an offer from Florida. I’m planning on visiting Florida sometime.”
Traore has a lot of time before he has to enroll in school and he’s focused on one thing right now.
“I’m enrolling in the summer of 2017,” he said. “I have three years to play two years because I have a redshirt year. Right now I’m trying to get my academics all done so that I graduate and get into a school.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Traore is one of the top JUCO offensive linemen for next year and is a guy that likely plays once he gets on campus. The Gators definitely caught his attention with the offer and he was excited about it.
I hope he can make it in academically,unlike his teammate Malcolm Pridgeon.