One of the biggest needs remaining for the Florida Gators in the 2023 class is offensive linemen and they had one of their top targets on campus last weekend.
Offensive lineman Caden Jones (6-7, 305, New Orleans, LA. De La Salle) was on campus and worked out for the staff during Friday Night Lights.
“It was good, I had a great time,” Jones said of his visit to Florida last weekend. “We toured the new facility because the last time we were down it wasn’t done yet. It was great, compared to the old one they have, it’s top-notch.”
Jones enjoyed getting to work with offensive line coaches Rob Sale and Darnell Stapleton and he believes having two guys on staff at the position is big.
“It was good to work with two offensive line coaches,” he said on working with Sale and Stapleton. “Because it was about 10 of us there and instead of having just one offensive line coach trying to help all 10 players, they had two offensive line coaches, and then we got the same amount of attention.”
After camp was over, Jones and Stapleton explained to Jones what they like about his game and why they want him to join the Gators.
“Keeping using my arms and my length,” Jones said on the message from the staff. “They said that they liked that I’m so tall and can bend and the athleticism I have. They said they don’t have a lot of guys like that with my height. I will play both tackle spots, moving around.”
This was the second time for Jones to visit Gainesville and he walked away saying the Gators are high in his recruitment.
“They’re most definitely top five,” he said on where Florida stands in his recruitment. “The energy and the feeling I get down there from the coaching staff and players. I like the coaching staff.”
Next up for Jones will be official visits as the New Orleans native says a few other schools are recruiting him hard and are likely to get officials from him.
“Florida State, Houston, and Texas A&M,” Jones said on other schools recruiting him hard. “I have an official visit planned to Florida; it will be in December, but I don’t know which weekend yet.”