As the Florida Gators try to get back to their championship roots by upgrading recruiting along the offensive line, 2015 target Martez Ivey (6-5, 271, Apopka, FL) continues to build a strong relationship with the Florida coaching staff. Those relationships were strengthened recently when Ivey visited Gainesville for the Florida-Tennessee game at The Swamp.
“It was great because I got to talk with Coach (Tim) Davis for a little bit,” Ivey told Gator Country. “I got to witness all of the fans and the atmosphere. It’s great up in Gainesville. The fans bleed orange and blue. I grew up a Gators’ fan when I was little. Nobody in Florida has won any championships in a while except Florida.”
When Ivey sat down with Davis, the Florida offensive line coach told him about how he would fit into the Gators’ plans for the future.
“He [Davis] was telling me about the game plan and where I would fit into the program,” Ivey said. “He was talking to me about which side I prefer at the tackle position. I told him it didn’t matter and he was glad. He was also telling me that when I come in they have a lot of guys graduating that year so I could compete for early playing time.”
Florida’s offense has been less than exciting the last two years but against Tennessee Ivey saw an immediate change when backup quarterback Tyler Murphy got into the game because of a season-ending injury to Jeff Driskel.
“When Tyler got in the game I said they can actually move the ball again,” Ivey said. “When Tyler got in the game it was different and kind of lit a fire in the team. I know he has been there for a while so he knows all of the formations and plays and seemed comfortable out there.”
Although Ivey says that he has a great relationship with Florida and one coach in particular, he isn’t ready to name the Gators as his leader.
“I have a good relationship with everyone at Florida, especially with Coach (Derek) Lewis … we talk a lot,” Ivey said. “I don’t have any leaders or anything because I still have another year of football to go and what schools are telling me now won’t be the same next year.”
Ivey was going to visit Florida this weekend for its game against Arkansas but he’s scheduled to help a friend move so the next visit will be rescheduled later this fall.