Florida hosted one of the top 2016 quarterbacks in K.J. Costello (6-4, 218, Ranch Santa Margarita, CA High) on Friday for unofficial visit.
Costello arrived at IMG on Saturday for the 7-on-7 national championship sporting a Gator visor and talked to Gator Country about the week-long tour he has been on.
“I was at Florida yesterday, actually,” Costello said. “We actually went on a little recruiting trip to see seven schools. We first stopped at USC then went to SEC schools. I wanted to go outside of the state of California and experience the football atmosphere down in the south. The SEC is always a powerhouse conference and something I would love to be a part of.”
When Costello was on Florida’s campus Friday he had the opportunity to learn what the Gators were looking for out of a quarterback in Kurt Roper’s offense.
“I sat down with Coach Roper yesterday and got to talk with him,” Costello said. “He came by my school a few times this spring to evaluate me and I really felt comfortable with him. Yesterday I got to sit and watch film with him and really get to know him on a personal level. I feel like he wants a pass-first guy that can run some.”
Besides wanting a pass-first quarterback, Roper also told Costello about how the Florida offense would look under him.
“Obviously with [Tim] Tebow he was a run first guy but Roper wants to utilize the speed at receiver in his offense,” Costello said. “He wants to use the quick game some as well as go down the field a lot. Roper said that he wants a pass-first guy and that I fit that description well.”
Costello went to both Florida and Florida State the last two days and he says both trips were good but something stood out to him at Florida.
“Florida definitely stood out to me during the trip though,” he said. “FSU was my first offer and that meant a lot to me but Florida was different. It was my first time to meet the new coaches at Florida so that was cool. Coach Roper stood out to me a lot.”
One person that Costello does know well from Florida is running backs coach Brian White and his personality is something the quarterback likes.
“Coach White is my main recruiter from Florida but Roper has come by this spring,” Costello said. “With Coach Roper being new he doesn’t know the tradition there that Coach White does. I got the chance to talk with Coach White yesterday and he’s a real down to earth guy and good person.”
The Gators have Sheriron Jones committed for the Class of 2015 who also hails from California. Could the Gators get another in 2016?
“Florida is a school I could see myself playing at,” Costello said. “Before I went on this trip I wanted to make a decision before my senior season because I’m a guy that doesn’t want to decommit and I don’t like to see other kids do it. So I’m going to wait till I’m 100% sure but the process is speeding up for me.”
INSIDER TAKE: Florida hasn’t extended an offer to Costello yet but Alabama and Florida State recently did and Roper plans to evaluate his film some more before deciding on whether or not to offer him. USC, in my opinion, is the leader here because his family went there but the SEC is something that is on his mind.