Running backs coach Brian White has racked up the frequent flyer miles the past few weeks by traveling all across the country recruiting top talent for the Gators.
Last week, though, he didn’t have travel far to visit one of the Gators top offensive line targets Tyree St. Louis (6-5, 300, Bradenton, FL IMG Academy) and watch him go through spring practice.
“Coach [Brian] White came by last Thursday to visit me and my teammates at IMG,” St. Louis said. “It went well and I had a great first day in pads that. After practice I got a chance to call him on the phone and he was telling me something’s that I could work on and do better.”
St. Louis says that the Florida coaching staff has told him he’s a top priority and he’s a wanted man like some of his former Tampa teammates.
“Coach White tells me that Florida still really wants me and that they are going to continue to recruit me hard,” St. Louis said. “Coach says that they are going to try and get some of the Tampa guys like Deon Cain and Ray-Ray McCloud and that they want me to join the Tampa crew in Gainesville.”
The communication between St. Louis and Florida is at an all-time high and he talks to two of the Gators’ coaches weekly about how he would fit into the Gators offense.
“I usually talk to both Coach White and Coach [Mike] Summers on the phone once a week or so,” St. Louis said. “They both tell me that I fit perfectly into their scheme and that I’m the kind of offensive lineman that they want and that I have the perfect size and athletic ability to play there. Coach Summers said I can be a good tackle at Florida.”
With over 27 offers, St. Louis has his pick of the litter of colleges that he can decide to attend and he says that every school is doing a great job of staying in touch with him.
“I would say that all of the schools are recruiting me the hardest,” St. Louis said. “Basically every school that has offered me has been IMG to watch me practice and show me love. I keep in regular contact with everyone to keep all of my options open.”
St. Louis has gone back and forth about when he wants to make a decision but has narrowed down a month (January) when he wants to make the decision. With a while until his final decision date, St. Louis doesn’t have a full list of schools that he wants to check out again but there is one in state school that will receive a trip from the big offensive lineman.
“I definitely plan to visit Florida again but I’m just not sure when I will visit,” he said.