This year’s Friday Night Lights event showcased a lot of underclassmen and several of the top 2015 running backs in the country.
One of those running backs was 2015 Tampa (Fla.) Sickles running back Ray Ray McCloud, who performed well at the event.
“I did really well out there,” McCloud said. “There was a lot of prospects on one field so it was real hard for everyone to get their reps, but I got my reps and did pretty well overall.”
The 5-foot-9, 166-pound McCloud performed well enough that he was taken to Will Muschamp’s office afterwards, where he received some good news from Florida’s head man.
“When I went up there, coach Muschamp said that Florida was offering me a scholarship,” McCloud said. “It’s very exciting to get the offer from them and from coach Muschamp. Coach Muschamp said they really like me on defense as an athlete, but I could do a lot of damage with the ball in my hands and they want to see what I can do with the ball in my hands first.”
When McCloud was on the field participating at Friday Night Lights, he received specific coaching from two of Florida’s staff.
“I did individuals with coach (Brian) White and coach T-Rob,” McCloud said. “Coach White was teaching me my cut, how to turn my foot when I cut on a misdirection.”
For McCloud, he grew up in Tampa but also says he grew up rooting for the Florida Gators as a kid.
“I always liked Florida, it’s the hometown team and the state team,” McCloud said. “I like the atmosphere and it’s a football city. They win a lot of games there.”
The 2015 running back plans to visit Florida this fall for multiple games as he continues to build a relationship with the Gator coaching staff.