The Florida Gators had prospects from several different state taking official visits this weekend including a big one from the state of Texas.
Defensive back Marcus Banks (6-0, 170, Houston, TX. Dekaney) was on campus for the first time this weekend and he enjoyed his first trip in Gainesville.
“A great visit, I had a good time,” Banks said of his visit to Florida this weekend. “The food was good, probably the best food out of my visits. Just a great atmosphere, the coaches were real laid back, didn’t pressure me. It was a great visit overall.”
One of the highlights for Banks was getting to sit down and talk ball with his position coach this weekend.
“The highlight was me talking to Coach [Charlton] Warren in his office,” he said of the highlight of the visit. “He’s a real technical guy, a real players coach. He and Coach Dan Mullen, I can tell that he really cares for his players.”
Warren explained to Banks just how much of a need he is to Florida and why the Gators need defensive backs this year.
“He said the secondary is real narrow right now,” Banks said of the message from Florida about defensive backs. “He said he needs defensive backs to come in and that’s why they’re signing a lot in this class. He said I can fit into their program because they run a lot of press man.
Head coach Dan Mullen also had a message for Banks this weekend about why Florida is a great choice for him.
“Just that you get the best of both worlds with academics and football,” he said on what Florida’s message was to him this weekend. “That they can develop me as a man both on and off the field.”
Banks had another Texas native hosting him this weekend as the Gators tried to make him feel comfortable on his visit.
“Donovan Stiner, he’s from Houston as well,” Banks said on which player hosted him this weekend. “He just said that you have to come in and work and that everything else is going to take care of itself. It’s a good thing to hear because you have someone to relate too.”
Next up for Banks is his signing day but first he wants to narrow things down on schools.
“Yeah,” Banks said on if he’s planning to sign early. “I’m going to have a talk with my family when I get back and narrow down the pros and cons of all the schools. This is my last visit.”
When Banks gets home and starts to narrow things down he knows what he’s looking for out of a school.
“The coaches, the scheme and academics,” he said on what he’s looking for out of a school. “Where I mostly feel comfortable at.”
One school that will make the cut is Texas A&M and Banks likes several things about the Aggies program.
“Coach Mo has been recruiting really hard and he’s a great coach, Coach [Jimbo] Fisher as well is a great coach,” Banks said on why he likes Texas A&M. “They have a good scheme and I have some friends that are committed there as well so that can be a little plus just to have some friends coming in and playing.”
Texas A&M being in the instate school won’t be a deciding factor for Banks because distance from home isn’t a factor for the once LSU commit.
“I’m not stuck on staying in state at all,” he said on if he being instate helps A&M. “I’ll get out of state that doesn’t really have an up on another school.”