Running back/cornerback Jalen Julius (5-11, 173, Orlando, FL West Orange) was a relatively unknown prospect in the recruiting world two months ago when he held just a few offers.
Fast forward to now and Julius is one of the hottest prospects in the country after bursting onto the scene at the Nike SPARQ event in early March and just last weekend he received some good news news from head coach Will Muschamp of the Florida Gators.
“Coach Muschamp offered me a scholarship on Saturday after my visit,” Julius said. “He told me I was a special player and that he wants me at cornerback but he said some of the offensive coaches wants me at running back too. Coach Muschamp is real down to earth and keeps it real with you.”
Julius took an unofficial visit to Florida last Saturday to see the Gators go through their first day of fully padded practice and he got the royal treatment with a packed day of events.
“The visit on Saturday was very cool and the practice was good,” Julius said. “I got to go to the cornerback meeting room with Coach [Travaris Robinson] and then I got to the team meeting room where Coach Muschamp talked to the team. After that I went to practice and when that was over I got to tour the campus. Right before I left I went into Coach Muschamp’s office and that’s when he offered me.”
With Florida wanting Julius to be a defensive back at the next level, the Orlando prospect spent much of his time Saturday watching Robinson and his defensive backs go through practice.
“Coach T-Rob is a funny guy but he’s serious when he needs to be,” Julius said. “He’s a really good coach that knows how to interact with his guys and he can fire his players up. His coaching style fits what I want from a coach.”
Despite Florida wanting the two-way player to play defensive back in college there are still some colleges who see Julius as a running back at the next level.
“I play both cornerback and running back in high school so it really doesn’t matter where I play in college,” Julius said. “Some schools are telling me that they see me at running back but other schools say they see me at corner.”
With the Gators coming through last weekend with a big offer for him the home state school now finds itself in Julius’ top list of destinations.
“Florida, Auburn and Temple are my top 3,” he said. “I plan to get down to Miami soon and I plan to get back up to Florida sometime soon. I’m not in any kind of rush though to make a decision. Right now I plan to make a decision in October.”