The Florida Gators football camps this summer have produced a lot of offers for prospects so far this month as players work out in front of the coaching staff.
2018 offensive lineman William Barnes (6-3,275, Apopka, FL High) worked out for the Gators a few weeks ago and he was watched closely by head coach Jim McElwain and offensive line coach Mike Summers.
“Coach McElwain and Coach Summers were both watching me very close during the camp,” Barnes said. “It feels really good to know that those coaches were looking at me during the camp. It gave me a little boast to do better during the camp.”
After the camp was over Barnes departed Gainesville, but called Summers on the phone and he received good news from the Gators assistant coach.
“I found out about the offer when I called Coach Summers the night after I left camp,” he said of the Florida offer. “He told me that he liked the way I performed out there and they liked my height and weight. He said that he saw a lot of great things from me and just wanted to offer me.”
Barnes wasn’t expecting to get the offer from the Gators but he’s excited to finally get the instate offer.
“The offer means a lot to me,” Barnes said. “It shows that I’m improving in my work and that I have to keep on grinding to get better. I grew up watching Florida a lot. I used to like Tim Tebow a lot.”
The 2018 lineman also got the chance to talk to McElwain and the Gators head coach explained what Barnes did well during the camp.
“I got to talk face-to-face with Coach McElwain after the camp was over with,” Barnes said of McElwain. “He was telling me about how he thought I did good in my one-on-one performance during camp. He was telling me that I need to work on my hands a little bit but all in all he said I did a good job.”
Florida has a built in connection with Barnes as the offensive lineman has a friend who is currently playing for the Gators.
“Me and Martez Ivey are really good friends, we keep in touch with each other,” he said of the former Apopka lineman. “He tells me that Florida is a great school and that it has been a great school for him. He says that he loves it up there. He tells me that they’re great coaches up there and he loves being around them.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Barnes is one of the top linemen in the state for 2018 and the Gators will continue to recruit him hard. Clemson and North Carolina are both after him as well but Florida is in good shape early on.