Two weeks ago, the Florida Gators had prospects from all over the south on campus for the Gator Great cookout under Dan Mullen.
Offensive lineman Xavier Hill (6-3, 325, Olive Branch, MS. High) was one of those guys on campus and he got to see several things while on campus.
“I like the campus around here and I got to tour some of the facilities and see the field,” Hill said on what he liked during his visit to Florida. “I had a meeting with Coach [John] Hevesy and we were just talking about the culture and stuff around here and all of the competition that I have to do in order to come in and play early.”
Hill liked the laid back atmosphere that the cookout provided for him and the rest of the recruits as they were able to get to know the coaches on a more personable level during the cookout.
“It wasn’t constant pressure, they weren’t trying to show off,” he said on the atmosphere during the cookout. “I got to talk to some of the players, we played basketball together. It was fun.”
Offensive line coach John Hevesy explained to Hill why he wanted him in Gainesville and how he quick the lineman could get on the field if he was to choose Florida for college.
“Coach Hevesy is a straight shot guy, he’s not going to lie to you,” Hill said on his conversation with Hevesy. “He told me straight up if that if he didn’t want me here, he wouldn’t be recruiting me and I wouldn’t be down here on a visit. He said the opportunities to play here would be my second year, he said that competition wise it’s still open.”
This was the first trip to Gainesville for Hill but he says he likes several things about the Gators and Florida improved its chances with him after the visit.
“Florida definitely took a few steps,” Hill said on if the Florida visit helped the Gators chances. “They’re a championship caliber team, I feel like if I get here that I know what I can bring to the table and I can help the championship drive even more.”
Hill was going to make an early decision but the lineman says that he has now postponed those plans for the time being.
“I was going to commit on May 24th but I know I’m not ready,” he said on his recruitment. “I need to weigh my options during the summer and probably commit during the season.”
Next up for Hill will be two official visits as the lineman has already taken one to another SEC school already.
“I got one set up to Missouri and Tennessee, those are the only two I have set up,” Hill said of official visits. “I already took one to LSU.”