Running backs coach Brian White spent the majority of his week recruiting in the northeast and on Thursday he was in the state of New Jersey.
He went to visit cornerback Kareem Ali Jr. (5-10, Sicklerville, NJ Timber Creek) and watch him run track.
“Florida came by to see me on Thursday it was Coach [Brian] White,” Ali said. “He came by and was at the school and he stayed to watch me practice track. I didn’t get to really talk to him but he talked to my coaches a lot. I got a little feedback from my head coach and he said that Florida is really interested in me.”
White’s visit to New Jersey is something that isn’t lost on Ali and the cornerback says that the visit helped him gain more interest in Florida.
“I always talk to them on the phone and they tell me they are interested in me but for them to come all the way up to New Jersey really shows me how interested they are,” Ali said. “I have a lot of interest in Florida and them coming all the way up here to see me made my interest in Florida go up even more. It meant a lot for them to come up here.”
Ali has developed a good relationship with Brian White but also a great relationship with cornerback Travaris Robinson who has a connection to Ali.
“I usually call Coach White because he’s my area recruiter but he usually connects me with Coach T-Rob since he’s the DB coach,” Ali said. “Coach T-Rob is a really good dude and we have a good relationship. Coach T-Rob is actually really good friends with my personal trainer Aaron Beasley. Coach T-Rob plays a big factor in my recruitment.”
When Ali does talk to Robinson on the phone the cornerbacks coach compares Ali to a freshman All-American at Florida now.
“Coach T-Rob tells me that I remind him of Vernon Hargreaves by the way I’m built,” Ali said. “Everybody knows who Vernon Hargreaves is in the country. He’s actually one of my favorite corners so to be compared with him means a lot. Coach T-Rob said that I’m fast and play with the same aggression that Vernon does.”
With the visit to New Jersey to see Ali and the great luck Florida has with defensive backs the Gators find theirselves in great position for Ali in his recruitment.
“Florida is in my top 2 right now with Maryland,” Ali said. “Florida and Maryland right now are standing out. I’m going to North Carolina soon but right now it’s just Florida and Maryland up there for me.”
Next up for Ali and his father will be a trip to Gainesville where he has a few things he’s looking to get out of the trip.
“I plan to visit Florida soon,” Ali said. “My dad and I were just talking about it and we are going to get there soon. Most likely it will be in June but maybe sooner. I want to see if Florida is the fit for me. Some schools don’t fit me so I need to see if Florida fits me and if I’m comfortable there.”