The Florida Gators welcomed visitors to campus for the first time in over a month as the dead period was lifted earlier this week.
Receiver Mario Craver (5-9, 152, Pinson, AL. Clay-Chalkville) was on campus and had the chance to see everything Florida has to offer including watching spring practice.
“It was good, it was nice actually,” Craver said of his visit to Florida on Saturday. “This was my second time down there but my first time as a recruit. I got to see the facility, meet with Coach [Billy] Napier, watch them practice, and get a little photo shoot in. I was able to hang with some of the players that I know.”
Craver watched the Gators’ offense closely during the practice, but it was the coaching staff’s energy that stood out to the receiver.
“It was nice, I loved it,” he said of Florida’s practice. “I liked the intensity they had during practice and how Coach Napier coaches them up. I liked the energy he has at practice and how the teams react.”
The receiver also noticed that the offense the Gators run is something that he could fit into because of the different formations they run.
“I think his offense is unique,” Craver said of Florida’s offense. “I think how they get one-on-ones and man coverage, their play-action mixed with the running backs they have is unique. I could strive in their offense.”
Florida hasn’t hired a replacement for Keary Colbert yet, so the Gators do not have a receivers coach at this time, but Craver says that won’t play much into his decision.
“To be honest, I don’t really care about them not having a receiver coach right now,” he said of Florida not having a receiver coach yet. “As long as the new receiver coach is on the same page with Coach Napier then I believe that he will be on track with me. Coach Napier talked to me about it.”
Napier sat down with Craver on Saturday and explained to him why he’s needed in Gainesville and how he can help the Gators’ offense.
“He was like that he wants to get me the ball in space because I’m one of the most explosive guys in the country,” Craver said of Napier’s message to him. “He wants me in space and in one-on-one situations so I can get the ball and do what I do. He said that they need more explosive guys that can stretch the field.”
With Colbert gone, analyst David Doecker has been working with the receivers and he also talked with Craver on Saturday.
“Him and Coach Deck [analyst David Doecker],” he said on the coaches he talked to. “He talked to me about the receiver situation and how he’s going to be on the same page as Coach Napier and that Coach Napier is going to bring in someone good.”
After this visit, Craver says the Gators helped their chances with him as several other SEC schools are in the mix for the Alabama native.
“This visit most definitely helped them,” Craver said on where Florida stands with him. “They’re definitely one of my top schools for right now. LSU, Alabama, Auburn, Penn State, and Miami are all recruiting me hard.”