Tuesday was the first spring practice since spring break for the Florida Gators and that meant more recruits coming to campus for visits and to watch practice.
Defensive lineman De’Voun Kendrick (6-4, 275, Tampa, FL. Carrollwood Day) was on campus on Tuesday and had the chance to see what practice under Jon Sumrall looks like.
“It was great,” Kendrick said of his visit to Florida on Tuesday. “I see a lot of new things, seen a lot of things, and love the way the coaching is. The intensity of practice was good, the energy was definitely high, and I loved it, especially when the coaches got into the mix in the drills. That’s my type of coaches that I love to be around.”
While on the visit, defensive line coach Gerald Chatman offered Kendrick a scholarship and explained why.
“He was saying I have really good size and good measurements and he loved my film,” he said on what Chatman told him when offering him. “He said he feels I have even more room to grow, and I can develop more because I’m young, so the sky is the limit for me.”
This is a big offer personally for Kendrick as he grew up rooting for the Gators and it’s something he has always thought about.
“It means the world to me,” Kendrick said on what the offer means to him. “Growing up I’ve always been a fan of Florida and I’ve always thought of me being a Florida Gator. It’s like a dream come into reality.”
After picking up the offer, Kendrick was able to see Chatman in action coaching his position and he likes how his position group is run.
“I really love the way he coaches the defensive line,” he said on Chatman’s coaching style. “He really teaches that position and he’s not just going through the motions, and he wants you to be aggressive. Just take it rep by rep.”
After practice, Kendrick had the chance to meet with head coach Jon Sumrall who explained to him why the Gators want him in Gainesville.
“My first time ever meeting him, it was a crazy experience and I just look forward to building a bigger and better relationship,” Kendrick said of his impressions of his meeting with Sumrall. “He really liked my violent hands and how I come off the ball and my energy.”
Now that Kendrick has an offer from the Gators, he says Florida is one of his top schools in his recruitment.
“Definitely is one of my top opportunities,” he said on where Florida stands for him. “Teams like Louisville, Georgia Tech, and Texas A&M are recruiting me hard.”