When the schedule was released back in the summer, recruits around the country and the Florida Gators coaching staff circled October 11th as being a big weekend for recruiting as the Gators will host LSU in the Swamp on Saturday night.
So far it looks like that will be true, as dozens of recruits are expected in Gainesville next weekend including Florida linebacker commit Jerome Baker (6-1, 206, Cleveland, OH Benedictine) who will be in Gainesville for the first since he committed last summer.
“I’m taking my official visit to Florida this weekend with my mom,” Baker said. “I’m just going down there to have fun and just see everything around the program. I’m just looking to enjoy my visit and sit down and talk to the coaches too. Overall it’s going to be a good time.”
Despite Baker not visiting Florida since last summer the Gators head coach Will Muschamp and defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin communicate their message to Baker over the phone.
“I talk to Florida a couple times a week,” Baker said. “I talk to Coach Muschamp and to Coach Durkin. It’s really the same message from them that they like me a lot and they are excited to have me playing for them. They think my size and athletic ability will help me play early.”
Baker may not have seen Florida in person this year but he watches them at home and he likes what he has seen so far from his future team.
“The defense is improving and they are definitely a good defense,” Baker said. “They are fast and athletic defense. Every time I watch them play the defense is making plays and helping the team win.”
Two weeks Baker did however visit Ohio State but he says that it was just to have a good time and he insists he will still take other visits.
“I’m solid to Florida,” Baker said. “I’m going to take as many official visits as I can because I’m just having fun but I’m still solid to Florida and excited about getting down there. I do plan to take an official to Ohio State and Tennessee.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Baker gave me the impression that he was solid to Florida but with Ohio State still having an official left with him the Gators will still have to sweat this one out for a while. Baker says he’s going to try to get back down to Gainesville for an unofficial later in the year or the first of next year and that’s something the Florida coaching staff will try to make happen.