The state of Georgia has been a big recruiting ground for the Florida Gators and Billy Napier’s ties to the state should keep that going in future years.
This weekend, the Gators hosted one of the top players in Georgia when linebacker Raul Aguirre (6-2, 220, Fayetteville, GA. Whitewater) visited Gainesville and the Gators certainly impressed him.
“Before coming here, I didn’t have Florida in my top five and after this I moved them to if not top 3 then top 4,” Aguirre said of his visit to Florida. “It was a great visit all-around, just the atmosphere, just being around [Jay] Bateman and [Jamar] Chaney, all the jokes we have. I loved everything about it.”
One of the highlights for Aguirre this weekend was getting the chance to ask the players questions and find out what’s real with the coaching staff.
“Being with Ventrell Miller the whole weekend was the highlight,” he said on the highlight of his visit. “Wherever you go on an official visit, you’re going to have good people and people being nice to you. It’s really the players you’ve got to get to know and ask if this is real. I guess me seeing that and they saying that it’s serious. I’m happy about that and Florida is a school that I’m definitely looking at and I will get back down here in July.”
Linebackers coach Jay Bateman also impressed Aguirre in the film and compared him to NFL linebacker while watching film.
“That was another highlight being with Bateman in his room going over my film and his film,” Aguirre said. “Ventrell and Bateman relate to me and says I’m super similar to Bobby Wagner because of our feet. For me to hear that and go through film was big to me. Bateman was showing me the correct way to blitz.”
Following the visit, Aguirre says several things stood out about the visit to Florida and he thinks more prospects should give the Gators a look.
“This was my first official visit, just being around here and let’s be real Florida is always going to school that’s big, big-time name,” Aguirre said on what made this visit so impressive. “They just need that recruiting and talent to get that turned around. If I end up coming here, you know I’m going to bring some people with me. I think all recruits should take a chance on Florida.”
Next up for Aguirre will be two more official visits and then a return trip to Gainesville before he hopes to make a decision.
“Alabama and Ohio State, I haven’t set anything else up,” he said on other official visits. “I’ll most likely make it [decide] late July and if not then August.”