The Florida Gators hosted several official visitors this past weekend including one in-state prospect committed to another SEC program.
Alabama defensive back commit Jameer Grimsley (6-3, 185, Tampa, FL. Tampa Catholic) was on campus and called hanging out with the players the highlight of the weekend.
“I liked it, it was a good experience,” Grimsley said of his visit to Florida. “I got to hang out with the players, experience the school, the University of Florida, how things run up here, and hang out with more of the coaches.”
While on campus, Grimsley found out that the Gators had hired defensive backs coach Will Harris and he expects to meet the assistant coach next week.
“They just hired a new defensive backs coach, Will Harris, just hired him so I have to meet with him,” he said on the hiring of Harris. “We will see how things go from there. Coach [Austin] Armstrong said something about coming by this Friday. Hopefully, it’s earlier than that but we will see.”
Billy Napier and the rest of the staff gave some insight into who Harris is as Grimsley was trying to learn more about the new position coach.
“I know he played for Pete Carroll, he was coaching in the NFL so he must know something,” Grimsley said of what he knows about Harris. “I don’t know too much about him, that’s why I’m looking forward to meeting him.”
Napier spent a lot of time with Grimsley during the weekend and explained to him just why he’s needed in Gainesville.
“He said I was a priority,” he said on the message from Napier. “They need guys to come to Florida to get them where they used to be. Winning the SEC East, winning the SEC and competing for national championships, that’s what he’s trying to bring back.”
Former coach Corey Raymond was the main guy recruiting Grimsley for a while but he says Napier has also been involved with him a lot as well.
“Although Coach Raymond was recruiting me, they had first offered me as a receiver, so it wasn’t him that was recruiting me the whole time,” Grimsley said. “Coach Napier was the one that really wanted, he was the one that offers kids, they can’t offer anyone without verifying it with him.”
Grimsley has heard the noise surrounding the Gators’ program and that’s a concern for the Alabama commit when it comes to the stability of the coaching staff in Gainesville.
“The only guarantee with Alabama is that [Nick] Saban isn’t going anywhere,” he said on if you have to look back at assistant coaches leaving. “He’s always going to bring dudes that can coach, also Saban coaches the DB’s, the corners. That’s the difference with Florida, they don’t give time for coaches to build programs. Coaches get fired for winning 10 games, so you have to win fast. That’s the only question about Florida is the stability in the coaching job.”
The Alabama commit is now done with official visits and he says the Gators are in the mix for him but he has to sit down and make a final decision.
“They’re, considering I took this visit,” Grimsley said on Florida still being in the mix. “It’s just a decision I have to make, do I want to be a part of a rebuild situation where Florida could eventually become good if we get the right dudes or go somewhere that’s already established, a safer option I feel like. It’s something I have to figure out for myself.”