Hunter feels at home with the Florida Gators coaching staff

Head coach Dan Mullen and his staff have done a good job of getting prospects to visit campus including some prospects who have been on campus multiple times already.

One of those guys who has been on campus multiple times is defensive end Derick Hunter (6-4, 281, Fort Myers, FL. Dunbar) who returned to Gainesville for two days this weekend.

“The visit was lovely, I loved the visit, it’s home,” Hunter said of the visit to Florida on Saturday. “I got to interact with the players more and talk to some of the top recruits, I was just trying to build a bond with everybody.”

Hunter got to watch Friday and Saturday’s visit and he was impressed by the energy the staff and team had.

“Practice was intense, everybody went 100 percent,” he said of spring practice. “Today [Saturday] was little bit more junk talk but I wanted to see those boys get turnt, I liked that. I loved the new energy around the staff and I love that Coach Mullen makes everybody feel like they’re at home.”

One of the things that Hunter wanted to see this weekend was defensive line coach Sal Sunseri’s coaching style and the defensive end left impressed by Sunseri.

“His coaching style is beautiful, it’s different compared to the last staff,” Hunter said of Sunseri’s coaching style. “The players are trying to get used to his coaching style and the new playbook but they’re just going out there working hard.”

Sunseri and Hunter had another chance this weekend to watch film together and the defensive line coach continues to share knowledge with the prospect.

“He basically keeps telling me that I can play every technique but mainly I’m going to be a defensive end,” he said of Sunseri’s message to him. “I told him that I really don’t care where I play but we were going over film with each other and he was teaching me some things. We’re building a good relationship with each other.”

Head coach Dan Mullen also spoke at length with Hunter and wanted the defensive end to talk to other recruits while on campus.

“Basically just keep doing what I’m doing,” he said on Mullen’s message to him. “Just trying to keep bringing in the top guys and he wants me to share a little bit of mind with those guys. He wants me to break down what I know about the Swamp to those guys.”

After spending two days on campus, Hunter is building relationship with several players and they’re making him comfortable.

“I feel like I can fit with them,” Hunter said. “All those boys already make me feel like I’m already on the team. The whole weekend they all felt like my brothers.”

Hunter returned to Gainesville this weekend after visiting for junior day and he says Florida has improved their chances with him each time.

“Oh yeah, Florida has always been on me since I was a freshman,” Hunter said on if this weekend helped Florida’s chances. “Florida has the Swamp.”

Last week, rumors spread that Hunter had committed to Georgia but the defensive end continues to say nobody leads in his recruitment.

“Just rumors, everyone in my city just waiting on me to pop,” he said on the rumors that he committed to Georgia. “I’m like the biggest guy in my city so everyone is just waiting.”

 

INSIDERS TAKE: Hunter said he isn’t sure of when he will make a final decision but he does plan to return to Florida for the spring game and is very high on the Gators. Hunter and Sunseri have built a solid relationship with each other.

Andrew Spivey
Andrew always knew he wanted to be involved with sports in some capacity. He began by coaching high school football for six years before deciding to pursue a career in journalism. While coaching, he was a part of two state semifinal teams in the state of Alabama. Given his past coaching experience, he figured covering recruiting would be a perfect fit. He began his career as an intern for Rivals.com, covering University of Florida football recruiting. After interning with Rivals for six months, he joined the Gator Country family as a recruiting analyst. Andrew enjoys spending his free time on the golf course and watching his beloved Atlanta Braves. Follow him on Twitter at @AndrewSpiveyGC.