The Florida Gators need to add some experienced depth to the roster in this class and this past weekend, they hosted a JUCO defensive lineman on an official visit.
JUCO defensive lineman Brien Taylor (6-5, 270, Houston, TX. Blinn College) was on campus and enjoyed being around the coaching staff.
“They seem real family-oriented, that’s what I like,” Taylor said on his official visit to Florida. “It isn’t just about football; they’re going to make sure you’re prepared for life as a man. They’re the number one public school.”
Taylor was a little upset when defensive line coach Sean Spencer was let go but he says the rest of the staff made him feel like a priority and that helped keep the Gators in the mix.
“I wasn’t too happy about Coach [Sean] Spencer leaving but everybody made sure to pick up where he left off,” he said. “I wouldn’t say it deterred me because the staff made sure to do a good job of saying that we’re good and only going up from here. They made sure to tell me I’m still a priority.”
Outside linebackers coach Mike Peterson has been talking to Taylor a lot lately and he broke down film with Taylor this weekend.
“He did a real good,” Taylor said of Mike Peterson recruiting him. “He’s a real good dude, he wants to make sure I know that I can come in and work. He said we will take it one step at a time. I’m an every-down player.”
While on campus, Taylor was hosted by a fellow defensive lineman who let the JUCO defensive lineman know that he was needed at Florida.
“Caleb Banks, he said I can come in and handle business,” Taylor said on his player host. “He says it’s all up to me on how hard I work and that this is the place to be to turn things around.”
Next up for Taylor will be a commitment as the JUCO lineman plans to announce his decision in the coming days between four SEC schools.
“I’m most definitely committing tomorrow or Tuesday,” he said. “I’m just going to pop up committed on Twitter and Instagram. It’s for sure Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Auburn, it will be out of them. I know where I’m going.”
Taylor says he has his mind made up already and he based it on a lot of things including life off the football field.
“What I based it on was the program and the coaches,” Taylor said. “Really everything, the town, I want to be happy where I’m at outside of football.”