The Florida Gators hosted eight official visitors this weekend including two running backs committed elsewhere.
Colorado running back commit Ashaad Clayton (6-0, 200, New Orleans, LA. Warren Easton) was one of those guys on campus and enjoyed a lot of things in Gainesville.
“The love, the tradition and the guys on the team are amazing,” Clayton said on what stood out about the visit. “Cool dudes to hang around, a lot of stuff stuck out to me, the strength and conditioning coach is hard. Everyone around here gets on you about working and they try to get the best out of you.”
Running backs coach Greg Knox has been the main recruiter for Clayton and he and the other coaches shared a message with Clayton this weekend about working hard in Gainesville.
“Basically the same thing, every coach just wants the best out of you,” he said on the message from the coaches this weekend. “You’re going to come here and you’re going to work hard and they’re going to develop you for the next level.”
The Gators have also explained to Clayton just how he would fit into Florida’s offense if he chooses the Gators.
“What they like about it is, it’s the same offense I ran in high school,” Clayton said on how Florida sees him fitting into the offense. “They feel like I fit into the program perfectly, what I like about it is that if I did decide to come here I would have much adjusting to do. I’m already used to it and I could perfect it on this stage.”
While on campus, Clayton was hosted by one of his former teammates in high school who talked to him about what life is like in Gainesville.
“Chester [Kimbrough], my home boy,” he said on who hosted him this weekend. “He said he liked it, he was telling me how they practice and the conditioning. He said it’s hard but at the end of the day the best comes out on the field.”
Heading into the weekend Florida hadn’t offered Clayton but the running back says that changed on Sunday morning.
“They’re in the picture, I just had a meeting with Coach [Dan] Mullen and he told my mom that I do have a scholarship to Florida,” Clayton said. “They’re in the picture and they make me feel wanted.
Next up for Clayton will be a trip to the school he’s committed to and that will be followed up shortly by a final decision.
“I’m going to Colorado for an unofficial visit,” he said on where he will visit next weekend. “I’m just weighing everything out honestly. The coaching staff over there are great, Mel Tucker is a great dude, I think I’ll make my final decision on February 5th.”