Billy Napier was busy on Monday as he visited two prospects who are now set to visit Gainesville this weekend as he tries to complete the 2022 class.
Tight end Hayden Hansen (6-5, 250, Weatherford, TX. High) received a visit from Napier on Monday as the two are familiar with each other as the tight end was once committed to Louisiana and Napier.
“It was awesome, it was basically me and Coach Napier reconnecting from UL,” Hansen said of his in-home visit with Florida on Tuesday. “We just picked up right where we left off, I got to match the voice of Coach [William] Peagler to his face.”
Napier and Hansen reconnected shortly after Napier arrived in Gainesville and the head coach made sure the tight end knew that nothing had changed between the two of them.
“I started hearing from them on Christmas day,” he said on when Florida reached out to him. “They’ve basically been saying that nothing has changed, that it’s still his [Napier] system and he still believes in me.”
Tight ends coach William Peagler and Napier explained to Hansen on Monday just how he fits into the offense and how he would be used in Gainesville.
“As a traditional tight end, my biggest strength is run blocking,” Hansen said on how Florida plans to use him. “I feel like he will see what I can do this summer if I do end up going to Florida, just about how I can set the edge in blocking and how I can go up the field and move the chains too.”
This was the first time for Hansen and Peagler to meet and it was a good first impression for the tight end.
“It was good, I feel like we’re two like-minded people that will get along for sure,” he said on meeting Peagler. “If Florida is where I end up, I have full confidence in him. He’s a good guy.”
Hansen is very familiar with Napier and the tight end says what he was able to do in Lafayette was impressive and he believes he will bring that same approach to Gainesville.
“My family and I, we trust him,” Hansen said on what he likes about Napier. “Honestly seeing ULL before he got there and seeing what he did there in four years is insane. He brought that college and town up from a mid-tier team to a top group of five team. What he did to that place was amazing, me and my family just trust his plans. We believe in his culture and plans.”
Next up for Hansen will be a trip to Gainesville and after the visit to Florida, the tight end will see what’s next for him.
“I’m visiting this weekend,” he said on when he plans to visit Florida and who else is recruiting him. “Florida, Washington State, and ULL. If Florida doesn’t offer me during my official visit, then I will probable visit Washington State or ULL after that.”
3 Star U!!!! Sad! You can’t compete with UGA, Alabama, LSU, A&M, etc. with inferior talent, didn’t Mullen prove that!!! It’s not the Xs and Os, it’s the Jimmys and Joes!!!!! Stars Matter!!!!
I trust in the number of stars Napier gives to a prospect more than the number of stars given by pollsters. I predict that the percentage of attrition will be lower under Napier because of his dedication to the work and judgment he engages in when conducting his analysis of a prospect.