Billy Napier says the Florida Gators plan to be active in the transfer portal this spring and on Thursday they hosted one of their top targets.
Maryland defensive tackle transfer Darrell Jackson was on campus and enjoyed being around Napier and the staff.
“It was nice, I like Coach [Billy] Napier,” Jackson said. “I feel like I can be around this coaching staff. It was a great visit. I got to see the new facilities, really tour Gainesville, and tour the academic hall.”
Jackson admits that he doesn’t care about all of the small things in recruiting as he knows what it’s needed at his next school.
“I’m here because I’m trying to be wanted, I want to go somewhere that I’m needed at,” he said on what he’s looking for in a visit. “I’m here for the business side of it, I have already been on the high school side of it.”
Defensive line coach Sean Spencer and the staff have explained to Jackson that he’s needed in Gainesville.
“They’re stressing that to me since I jumped in the portal,” Jackson said on the message from the staff. “They said they need some guys and I got to see that for myself tonight [Thursday], they need depth in the group.”
Several schools are recruiting Jackson hard as everyone needs more depth on the defensive line in college football.
“Miami, Florida State, Tennessee, Missouri,” he said on schools talking to him. “Mainly everybody, I’m trying to feel my options out. I’ll know on May 15 where I’m going.”
Next up for Jackson will be several official visits before he makes his decision on May 15th.
“I’m doing one to Miami, Tennessee and I haven’t set one to Florida State yet,” Jackson said on official visits. “I’m going to do one to Florida too.”
Heading into those visits, everyone will be playing catch up to the Gators as Florida set the bar high.
“Florida is definitely the leader,” he said. “I love it here, not too big and not too small. It’s perfect, I’m just here to get to work.”