While the 2022 prospects received most of the headlines for Friday Night Lights, the Florida Gators’ coaching staff also hosted several 2023 prospects on campus.
2023 defensive back Shariff Denson (5-11, 170, Jacksonville, FL. Bartram Trail) was on campus and enjoyed the competition in the Swamp.
“It was good, I liked the atmosphere,” Denson said of his visit to Florida for Friday Night Lights. “I liked the competitive spirit everyone had and brought to the Swamp.”
This was the first time for Denson to meet the Gators’ new defensive backs coaches and he liked what he was able to see out of those guys.
“They’re definitely like-able guys,” he said on his impressions of Jules Montinar and Wesley McGriff. “They’re definitely guys that are going to develop guys to be great for sure.”
Montinar and McGriff also had a message for Denson about how to improve his game and continue to be a good defensive back.
“Stay with my technique and always to play with technique,” Denson said on the message from the coaching staff. “They say you if you don’t play with technique then you’re just out there playing ball and if you’re going against a great athlete, they will get you every time because you’re backing up and they’re going forward.”
Montinar has been the main guy recruiting Denson so far and he has explained to him what’s important for them as the defensive back heads into the recruiting process.
“Jules is more of the recruiter for me,” he said on the recruiting pitch to him. “I haven’t really talked to Coach McGriff too much, but he liked what he saw. Coach Jules just wants to build a relationship so that we have a strong relationship in the future when it’s time to commit.”
Denson has some ties to the Gators as one of his close friends is in Gainesville, plus Denson likes other things about Florida.
“The closeness to home for sure,” Denson said on what he likes about Florida. “Just the DBU feel and Vez [Trevez Johnson] is here, we went to Bartram [High School] together. He’s like a big brother to me.”
The Gators’ arch rival is also recruiting Denson hard as the defensive back plans to check out some games this fall.
“FSU at this point,” he said on the other schools recruiting him hard. “I hope to get back up here [Florida] for a game to see what they have.”