On Tuesday, several out of state prospects made it to Gainesville to watch the Florida Gators go through spring practice under head coach Jon Sumrall.
Defensive back Caleb Cooper (6-0, 207, Charlotte, NC. Providence Day) was on campus and got to see everything Florida has to offer.
“It was outstanding, I got to see the campus and everything,” Cooper said of his visit to Florida on Tuesday. “It was a good experience overall, I was able to see how the coaches coach, up close and personal. I really got a firsthand look at what Florida has to offer.”
Cooper had the chance to watch spring practice and he paid close attention to how the coaches handled their position groups.
“It was really good,” he said on practice. “Like I said, just seeing firsthand how hands on the coaches are, the intensity was there. Practice was full of energy and the coaches have that as well.”
Tuesday was the first time for Cooper to visit Gainesville and meet the coaching staff and he left impressed by the staff.
“I think very highly of Coach [Chris] Collins, Coach Sumrall, and Coach [Brad] White,” he said on meeting the staff for the first time. “I really think that they whole culture of Florida football is really moving in the right direction. Being able to speak with Coach Sumrall one on one today, I do believe that he’s the right guy for this team and he’s going to put Florida back on the map.”
Safeties coach Chris Collins explained to Cooper on Tuesday just why the Gators like his game and why they want him.
“His pitch to me is that I can play multiple positions on the back end of the secondary,” Cooper said on Collins message to him. “I can be the type of guy that’s a little bit bigger and can slide into the box but then at the same time I’m good enough in coverage that you can slide me out in space, or I could be that hybrid in between and play that nickel overhang.”
Sumrall also reinforced the message that Collins had for Cooper and explained to him that the Gators want him to play in the Swamp.
“His pitch was along those same lines, they both watched my tape and they both brought up the aspect of me being able to play multiple positions,” he said on the message from Sumrall. “He said it himself that I’m a physical player and at the end of the day football players got to play football.”
Heading into the visit Cooper had a top six that included Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Virginia Tech and he says the Gators are on the top of that list.
“Florida was already at the top of the list in general,” Cooper said on where Florida stands for him. “They definitely solidified why they’re on that list.”