The Florida Gators coaching staff has been fairly quiet with offering players since signing day last week but that changed on Tuesday.
2020 defensive back Joseph Johnson (6-2, 180, Chester, VA. Life Christian Academy) picked up an offer from Florida and defensive backs coach Torrian Gray on Tuesday.
“Coach Gray offered me,” Johnson said on which coach from Florida offered him on Tuesday. “Basically he said he loved my game and everything about me. That he liked my film and then he asked me more personal questions about my family and other sports I play.”
The offer was a big one to Johnson and it meant even more to him coming from Coach Gray.
“It means everything to me especially coming from Coach Gray,” he said on what the offer means to him. “This just means I have to keep working harder.”
When Gray spoke with Johnson on Tuesday, the defensive backs coach explained how the Gators could use him on defense in Gainesville.
“He said I can be used in a lot of different ways on defense,” Johnson said on how Gray said on how he sees Johnson fitting into the defense. “He said I could play from safety to corner to nickel.”
Johnson has high praise for Gray and knows a lot about the veteran defensive backs coach who once coached at Virginia Tech.
“I know that his legacy is crazy,” he said on what he likes and knows about Gray. “All the people he’s put in the league and his knowledge of the game is crazy too.”
The Gators are one of a handful of offers for Johnson but he says his interest in the Gators is high now that he has the offer from Florida.
“My interest level is really high,” he said on his interest in Florida. “I like the academics especially and the overall atmosphere of the fan base is amazing too.”
Now that the Gators have offered Johnson, the defensive back is trying to schedule a visit to Gainesville.
“I definitely plan on visiting them,” Johnson said. “I don’t have any dates to visit them yet.”
Florida has plenty of competition for the Virginia defensive back as several other top programs after Johnson.
“Florida, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, Duke, Kansas, Penn State and Temple,” he said on schools recruiting him hard. “I definitely want to make an early commitment if I can.”