Louis Nix took Florida and Miami fans by surprise when he committed to the Hurricanes in late November. Playing at Raines High School in the heart of a pro-Gator city like Jacksonville, the Gators are now trying to get back into the race for the star 6-3, 300-pound defensive tackle. Step one came Saturday afternoon when Nix came to Florida’s Junior Day.
“It was really nice in Gainesville,” Nix said. “The facilities were delightful.”
The day started off with an academics presentation, where the recruits were made aware of how seriously school is taken in Gainesville.
“I thought a lot of the academics presentation,” Nix said. “That was the first thing we saw. I kept thinking ‘The first thing the Gators are thinking about is academics?’ That was a lot to think about for me. It was great to see. I was very impressed. Of all the schools out there are, Florida was at or near the top on all the academics.”
Head coach Urban Meyer, defensive line coach Dan McCarney and quarterbacks coach Scot Loeffler (who recruits Jacksonville) have played the biggest role in getting the Gators back in the race for Nix, a full year away from when he will officially sign with a school. Saturday allowed them to show Nix how important he is to their recruiting class.
“They were just happy that I came,” Nix said. “They said they’re still recruiting me and still want me to be a Gator.”
The relationship with fellow Jacksonville recruit and Florida commitment Ian Silberman is one the Gators may use to their advantage for the next year. The two know each other from area All-Star teams and other functions, and they were together again in Gainesville Saturday.
“I talked to Ian when I was there,” Nix said. “We talk a lot when we see each other. He’s real cool.”
A high point of the trip for Nix was when he was able to see the crystal ball from the 2008 National Championship. He was hesitant to re-enact what 2009 recruit Orson Charles did when he dropped the 2006 trophy, so Nix decided he was just going to look.
“I didn’t hold it, but I looked at it real hard,” Nix said. “They have those trophies, and I don’t want to be the one who drops it!”
The last few weeks have given Nix some food for thought with the success being had in Gainesville. Seeing the Gators win their second national championship in three seasons and then seeing the trophies with his own two eyes have his mind running right now.
“That always gets my mind going,” Nix said about Florida winning two national championships in the last three years. “Winning a national championship is high on my list. I’ve never won a championship at any level. I want one.”
The next year will present many opportunities for Nix. Recently, Louisiana State, South Florida and Florida State have also joined Florida and Miami in the race for Nix, and he plans to give them his attention. While he is examining the field, he knows the biggest aspect of a school he will focus on.
“The coaches are the biggest thing I’m looking at,” Nix said. “I want to play for good people who treat me like I’m at home. I want coaches to treat me like family. They have to want me to get an education, not just to play football. That is coach Meyer’s biggest thing.”
Nix downplayed rumors that he has de-committed from Miami, but did say he is starting to check out other schools.
“It’s up in the air still,” Nix said. “I wouldn’t say that my commitment is up in the air, I’m just looking at other schools and keeping them in mind.”
Nix also said his family and friends are very high on the Gators.
“They love it, just like everyone else around me here in Jacksonville,” Nix said. “They love the Gators. The other schools are obsolete. They don’t care where I go, as long as it’s the Gators!”