The Swamp had a whose who of prospects on campus on Saturday for the Florida Gators Orange and Blue game and that included several defensive backs.
Alabama defensive back commit Brendan Gant (6-2, 187, Lakeland, FL. Kathleen) was in attendance and he could tell a difference with Dan Mullen’s staff.
“It was a good atmosphere and a lot of people here just for a spring game,” Gant said of Saturday’s visit. “That says a lot, everybody was ready to come see the change and the culture. It was different, you could tell.”
The coaching staff spoke at length with Gant about what they’re trying to accomplish at Florida.
“They just want me to come out and they want to get the program back where it was when [Tim] Tebow and all of those boys were here,” Gant said on the message from the staff.
Two coaches have been the main recruiters for Gant so far and they have a simple message for the Alabama commit.
“Coach [Ron] English and Coach [Larry] Scott,” he said on the coaches recruiting him from Florida. “They just want me to come like some of those guys from my county that have come here. They want me to keep the tradition going.”
Gant paid close attention to the defensive backs on Saturday and he saw a different energy from the defense in general.
“It’s more fast and they’re flying around more,” Gant said on his thoughts on the defense. “They’re having more fun. They have good technique and higher coaches. I watched Chauncey Gardner and Marco Wilson.”
Despite his commitment to Alabama, Gant has kept visiting Florida and he says there are two reasons for that.
“It’s close to home and I’ve always been a Florida fan,” he said on why he visited Florida on Saturday. “I always keep them as an option.”
The Gators are one of a few schools that are staying hard after Gant and he continues to take visits.
“I’m standing firm but I’m exploring my options,” Gant said on his commitment status with Alabama. “It’s a couple schools [still in the mix], Florida, Florida State, Ohio State, Miami, Georgia and anybody else that comes hard.”
When Gant decides to make a final decision he knows what he’s looking for out of that school.
“I’m just looking to see education wise and two what I would be able to live there,” he said on what he’s looking for out of those schools. “I’m looking at academics.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Gant plans to be at Alabama next weekend and then possibly Florida State this spring. Gant says now he doesn’t plan to sign early after taking a few visits.”