Receiver Keith Gavin is Reconnecting with the Florida Gators

“Winners will win.”

That was the message Florida Gators recruit Keith Gavin (6’3”, 223 lbs., Wakulla) left with after he saw the Gators beat the Vanderbilt Commodores to win the SEC East.

The wide receiver recruit has held on to an offer from Florida since his freshman year of high school. Since then though, the phone has been noticeably quite on the line from Gainesville.

During that time, Gavin received—and returned—interest from schools like Florida State, Alabama and Georgia. That’s also how his “Top 3” has rounded out. Those three schools are still shuffling amongst the top of his list, but as lines of communication have reopened, the Florida Gators have moved back up the football rankings and Gavin’s as well.

“They’ve kind of been moving in since the season started,” says Gavin.
“This is the first time I really talked to them that much since my 9th grade year…cause they’re like my second offer I ever had. But we talk daily almost [now].

Most of the time Gavin speaks with coach Greg Nord, and his main focus is a relationship with the receiver right now.

“We just talk, he hits me up like every week after my games and all that, ask me how I did and how I’m feeling.”

Finally getting to make the trip from Crawfordville to Gainesville, Gavin saw a lot to like in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

“It was a great game,” says Gavin.

“Both teams had a great defense and they could stop the run pretty good; especially Florida. They’ve got one of the best defenses in college football. I think the receivers they did real well, especially [Demarcus Robinson] and [Antonio Callaway], he did his thing.”

Those two receivers combined for 117 yards on Saturday and despite the low scoring affair (Gators won 9-7) it was still enough, combined with the Gators first seven games, to impress Gavin.

“They got a big win, a SEC team. I feel like, it wasn’t the best win, but they did good. I think them boys deserved it man. They put on a good game. They’ve got one of the best defenses in college football… they pass the ball around a lot and that’s what I like being a receiver… I grew up a Florida State fan, but I think I could fit in here.”

He sees himself fitting in much the same way he’s currently being utilized, as an outside Z receiver, though “I play a lot of slot too.”

The fact that he’s seeing himself possibly playing in the Swamp for Jim McElwain and company is evidence of the fact that Keith Gavin’s “Top 3” looks a lot more like a “Top 4” now, and that includes the Florida Gators.

Those four schools (Florida, FSU, Alabama and Georgia) will be getting official visits from Gavin, and though they aren’t scheduled yet, he says most will likely take place during December.

No school, including FSU who he decommitted from in August, has a lead over the others according to Gavin while he “still counts everybody in really; I’ve still got my four people.”

As for when the final decision will come, it’ll be a couple more months, after the receiver plays in the All-American Under Armour game on January 2, 2016.

An interesting factor to Gavin’s recruitment could also be quarterback recruit—and LSU commit—Feleipe Franks.

The two are high school teammates, and Franks is considered one of the top quarterback recruits in the country.

While Franks has seemed firm in his commitment to the Tigers, Gavin sees some interesting developments between his quarterback and the Gators (which you can read more about here.)

“I think he’s feeling Florida,” admits Gavin.
“He’s feeling them a lot. He’s always talking about them; he’s wearing his gear…I don’t know, I think [Florida has] got a shot. Me and him grew up together. We talking about going places all the time. Me and him are just about in the same boat really.”

Whether the two come to Gainesville together is yet to be seen. For that matter, whether Keith Gavin is a Gator in the coming years is yet to be seen. One things for certain though; Keith Gavin is liking what he’s seeing in his old friends, the Florida Gators.

Kassidy Hill
Born into a large family of sports fanatics and wordsmiths alike, sports journalism came natural to Kassidy. It’s more than a passion; it’s simply a part of who she is. Hailing from Alabama in the midst of typical Iron Bowl family, she learned very quickly just how deep ties in the SEC could run. She came to Gainesville after college to pursue a degree as television sports reporter but quickly realized she missed writing. She’s excited to now marry the two aspects for Gator fans. She loves Jesus, her daddy and football; wants to be Billy Donovan’s best friend and firmly believes that offensive lineman are the best people on earth. Follow her on Twitter @KassidyGHill