After officially visiting Florida in June, four-star defensive lineman Jamari Lyons returned to campus this weekend for an unofficial visit.
Whereas most recruiting trips are rather hectic with facilities tours, meetings with coaches and academic presentations, this one had a different feel to it.
It wasn’t football-centric. Instead, UF hosted a barbecue and what they called the “Gator Olympics” for the prospects. They got to drill the coaches with water balloons, spin around a baseball bat and throw a frisbee, among other things.
That approach left a favorable impression on Lyons.
“It was pretty fun,” he said. “We were doing a little water balloon fight. They were throwing water balloons, smashing each other, that was pretty fun. I sucked at all the events.
“That was different. That was something that I’ve never experienced really with the recruiting, but that just shows how much they love their recruits, how much they show affection towards their recruits, how it’s not all about football. Let’s have fun, be a family, get together and have a barbecue.”
As it pertains to football, Lyons reiterated that the Gators have been his No. 1 choice since his official visit. He also took an official visit to Indiana in June and plans to visit Kentucky in September. Those three schools comprise his top-3, and he plans to make a public commitment on Oct. 6.
Lyons is a dominant high school player. In 2020, he made 79 tackles, 18 tackles-for-loss and 10 sacks from his tackle position at Viera High School. He also forced four fumbles and intercepted a pass. At 6-foot-4 and 295 pounds, he could be a player who bounces between tackle and end to create advantageous matchups at the next level.
UF’s close proximity to his home in Melbourne and his relationship with defensive line coach David Turner are what has the Gators in the driver’s seat.
“[Turner] really wants me here,” Lyons said. “He pretty much talks to me about how he can use me in his defensive scheme, how he can put me in this position and that position and that I’m a versatile player, pretty much. He pretty much expresses on how he really wants me here and that I can be a great impact player on his defense.”
Another factor driving him toward UF is Gervon Dexter. He and Dexter are similar players and have formed a solid relationship.
“He really talks to me mostly about how everything the coaches say to him, how Coach Turner and Coach [Dan] Mullen talk to him and telling me everything that they say out of their mouth is true,” Lyons said. “Everything’s going to happen, that he’s going to see the field, that he’s going to be a great player coming up in future times. He’s going to be this and that, and everything they’ve spoken to him is true.”
Lyons plans to return to UF on Sept. 18 for the Alabama game.