There were a lot of big name prospects in town for the Florida Gators junior day on Saturday and that included several from the state of Florida.
Defensive end Derick Hunter (6-4, 281, Fort Myers, FL. Dunbar) was one of those guys in town and he got the chance to watch some film of his favorite NFL player.
“The trip was good,” Hunter said. “It was really good. I got to watch film on my favorite player Khalil Mack and talk to the whole staff. I’m just leaving today [Sunday].”
Defensive line coach Sal Sunseri was impressed by Hunter on Saturday in a lot of ways but the defensive ends film study is what stood out to the veteran defensive line coach.
“That went good, I just got off the phone with him a few minutes ago again,” he said on Sal Sunseri. “He told me he was so impressed with how I study film so young and then he asked me how I’m so experienced at studying film and I told him that this is all I do on a everyday basis. I study everybody at the position because I feel like if you want to be the best you have to study the best.”
Sunseri’s background in the NFL is something that really stood out to Hunter on Saturday and the guys that he has coached in the NFL.
“It means a lot,” Hunter said on Sunseri coaching Mack. “Because you never expect to get coached by that somebody that has coached your favorite player. I mean it was exciting and my blew my whole mind.”
Head coach Dan Mullen made sure to let Hunter know that the Gators want him in Gainesville on Saturday but he also does it on a daily basis.
“I was taking my pictures and he ran and jumped in the pictures with me,” he said of Coach Mullen. “He told me that I’m a top priority and everyday he tells me that I’m the man and that Florida is the school for me.”
Mullen’s personality is something that a lot of prospects are talking about but Hunter explained exactly what he likes about Mullen.
“Coach Mullen’s honesty can go a long ways because a lot of people don’t do that,” Hunter said of Mullen.
Not only did Mullen’s personality impress Hunter but the entire coaching staff impressed the defensive end who has visited Florida in the past under the previous staff.
“It was better than the old staff honestly,” Hunter said on how this new staff is different from the last one. “Way better than the old staff. They were more active during junior day and made everyone feel welcomed and wanted.”
Heading into the visit Florida was a school in the mix for Hunter but the defensive end says the Gators helped themselves even more.
“It helped them most definitely,” he said when asked if this visit helped Florida’s chances with him. “Everybody, even the players made me feel at home. You know Trey Dean thought I was all Florida State but I had to tell him that I wasn’t.”
Hunter isn’t sure of any other upcoming visits but he does know that he wants to visit Florida again.
“I’m definitely going to come back down,” he said. “I loved it down here and I know that Coach Mullen can do some amazing things.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Florida definitely improved its chances this weekend with Hunter but the defensive end says he doesn’t plan to decide until the All-American game in January. Getting Hunter back on campus more this spring will be key for the Gators to keep up the momentum, as Georgia is a team in the thick of it with Hunter.