Many of the Florida Gators visitors this weekend where current commits to the class but that didn’t take away the excitement on campus for official visits.
Defensive end Zach Carter (6-4, 250, Tampa, FL. Hillsborough) was one of those commits on campus and his visit exceeded his expectations.
“It was a great visit and actually went better than I expected,” Carter said of how his visit went “Mainly the big part of the visit was spending time with the guys in my class that are committed and recruiting guys that were uncommitted. We hung out with players too and that was really fun. I give the visit a ten out of ten.”
The Gators coaching staff laid out the red carpet for the official visitors this weekend but one thing, in particular, caught Carter’s attention.
“They played all of our highlights or like clips of them in the meeting room,” Carter said of the highlight of the weekend. “ It was a big deal with all the coaches, some of the players, and our parents. They had music on each highlight and introduced us like it was a boxing match or something. It was pretty cool.”
While on the visit Carter was hosted by freshman defensive end Jordan Smith who gave a welcoming feeling towards the defensive end.
“It was pretty cool being around him and he pretty much gave me some advice about things,” he said of Smith being his host. “I need to know about coming next year. I know him from visiting in the past so we had met before but this weekend he made me feel like I was already part of the family. All of the players treated me like family already.”
Carter has been solid to Florida since he committed over the summer so this weekend was more about learning the defense and defensive line coach Chris Rumph’s way of coaching.
“They know I am solid so the recruiting part is really over,” Carter said. “Now the message is more about me being prepared for everything that is to come. I learned everything that will be coming next year. During my one-on-one meeting with Coach Rumph, he put up the film and went over some stuff. I know they have a strong-side end and a RUSH but Coach Rumph said I would be playing end.”
Head coach Jim McElwain also had the chance to meet with Carter this weekend and he expressed gratitude towards the defensive end.
“He said he appreciates everything I do recruiting wise for them,” Carter said of his talks with McElwain. “He noticed that when we sat down for dinner this weekend I usually sat with guys that were uncommitted because I like to talk to those guys.”
This weekend was a chance for Carter and the rest of the Gators commits to bond and get to know each other more.
“It was good being around all those guys and being able to spend time with them,” he said of hanging out with the other commits. “We all get along pretty good and we have the chemistry going in. So it’s a good thing.”
Carter and the other five commits spent a large amount of the weekend recruiting the four uncommitted targets and the defensive end likes the Gators chances with those guys.
“I think we are going to get all four of the guys that visited,” Carter said laughing. “I am predicting Nick Smith, TJ Slaton, Elijah [Conliffe], and I think we are getting CJ Henderson. So I think we are getting all four of them. I feel like they are just waiting. I actually think we get like 10 guys total on signing day, so it should be a good day.”
Despite having only taken one official visit, the defensive end says that the recruiting process is over for him.
“I am shutting it down,” said Carter, “I feel like I found the right fit for me. I know it would be fun to visit some other places but it’s not a big deal to me like that.