Many top instate prospects were in Gainesville on Saturday for the Florida Gators junior day.
Defensive back Terrion Arnold (6-2, 187, Tallahassee, FL. John Paul II Catholic) was one of those guys in town and enjoyed his time with the coaches.
“The visit was great, great environment,” Arnold said of his visit to Florida on Saturday. “I was up there with Ahmari [Harvey], we had a photo shoot and we spent most of the day with Coach [Ron] English breaking down the safety positions and the different ways they play the safeties.”
Safeties coach Ron English explained to Arnold on Saturday just how bad the Gators need safeties in the 2021 class.
“He said there’s opportunity there and they’re very open at safety,” he said on the message from English. “He said we would be like his first guys at the position and he could turn us into big time stars. He said we could fit perfectly into their program and that I could be a big time defensive back in the Swamp.
There’s already a connection between Arnold and English but Saturday’s visit between the two of them really helped their relationship.
“My defensive coordinator played under him,” Arnold said of his relationship with English. “He likes Coach English and they both coach the same way. This was my first time spending time with Coach English and we clicked right away. He has been around the game and has a lot of knowledge of the game.”
Head coach Dan Mullen also spent a lot of time with Arnold on Saturday and explained how close the program is to becoming elite.
“He was just very cordial and he said if you want to be a Gator then you’re going to come be a Gator, he wasn’t trying to talk us into anything,” he said on his talks with Mullen. “He was explaining how small the margin of error is and how they’re on the verge of winning a national championship. It was great.”
Arnold has visited Florida several times in the past but he says Saturday’s visit really got his attention.
“This visit turned a lot of heads, I’m still neutral in my recruitment and I don’t have any leaders right now,” Arnold said of his interest in Florida. “I really like Coach Mullen, Coach English and Coach [Keiwan] Ratliff.”
Next up for Arnold is visits to two rivals of the Gators but a return trip to Gainesville is in the works.
“LSU on April 4th, Miami during the spring break and I’ll be back at Florida,” he said on other visits. “I don’t really have any set date for a decision right now.”