More than a dozen prospects came to Gainesville this weekend to watch Florida’s first full contact practice including linebacker Tevon Coney (6-2, 215, Palm Beach Gardens, FL Community) who enjoyed the hitting at practice.
“I liked my visit to Florida; I was here Friday and Saturday,” Coney said. “My highlight of the trip was getting to see the practice today (Saturday) and getting to see all of the hitting and the intensity and energy the players had. Florida has great coaches out there coaching their players up and helping them get better. The coaches hype up the players a lot during practice.”
Coney, who is one of the top linebackers in the state of Florida for 2015, liked the drills and coaching style of Florida defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin.
“Florida runs a lot of great linebacker drills to get you better,” Coney said. “Coach Durkin runs some drills to get your hips more fluid and help you make better reads. Coach Durkin is always fired up out there but he’s a great guy on the field he helps you get better on the field and off the field he’s always talking about life and checking on you.”
When practice was over Coney met head coach Will Muschamp in his office. Muschamp made it a point to remind Coney that he is wanted in Gainesville.
“Coach Muschamp was telling me that I’m the type of person he needs at Florida,” Coney said. “He said I’m a great person and a great football player and if I want to come to Florida I have a home and an opportunity to become a great football player at Florida.”
Just a few months Coney received his Florida offer, which he called a dream come true. The visit to Gainesville met or exceeded his expectations.
“This visit was exactly what I expected I knew that Florida was going to be great,” Coney said. “I know that Florida has great tradition and they are great school and that’s what they showed me this weekend. Overall it was great and Florida was great.”
During his time in Gainesville Coney had the chance to meet up with a longtime friend and South Florida native Brandon Powell who told Coney what life was like at Florida.
“I got to hang out with Brandon Powell a lot this weekend,” Coney said. “He was telling me about the school and about how great of a school it is and how the coaches really take care of you here.”
Despite the dream offer from the Gators Coney is no rush to make any kind of decision and says he has no favorites in his recruitment.
“Everyone is pretty much even right now,” Coney said. “I don’t have any other visits planned right now but I plan to get back up to Florida soon.”