Gator Country

Florida’s coaches are out on the road and visiting prospects from all across the country during the first week of the contact period.

On Tuesday, Gators head coach Will Muschamp and linebackers coach D.J. Durkin visited 2014 Ponte Vedra (Fla.) High linebacker Dillon Bates.

“Both of them came by to see me at school,” Bates said. “It was a good talk. We talked for about 15 minutes or so, and they just told me they like me and are going to recruit me.”

The 6-foot-3, 218-pound Bates doesn’t have an offer from Florida yet, but Muschamp assured the high school junior that the Gators are interested in him.

“He told me that he is really excited to be recruiting me,” Bates said. “And that I am on top of their recruiting board for 2014, and that he wants me to come to Florida for a bowl practice in a few weeks if I can.”

After the conversation with the coaches, Bates believes an offer could be coming for him soon.

“I think they’re leaning towards offering me,” Bates said. “But I’m sure at this point. We will see once I go back up there in a few weeks or sooner hopefully.”

When Bates does make it back down, it will be his first trip to Gainesville since he visited the Gators during their last regular season home game against Jacksonville State.

Even though Bates doesn’t have an offer from Florida, he does have interest in the Gators and wants the offer to come.

“I’m pretty interested in Florida,” Bates said. “I’d like to be able to pick a school with them in the mix.”

About the author

Andrew Spivey

Andrew always knew he wanted to be involved with sports in some capacity. He began by coaching high school football for six years before deciding to pursue a career in journalism. While coaching, he was a part of two state semifinal teams in the state of Alabama. Given his past coaching experience, he figured covering recruiting would be a perfect fit. He began his career as an intern for Rivals.com, covering University of Florida football recruiting. After interning with Rivals for six months, he joined the Gator Country family as a recruiting analyst. Andrew enjoys spending his free time on the golf course and watching his beloved Atlanta Braves. Follow him on Twitter at @AndrewSpiveyGC.

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