The Florida Gators had all of their assistant coaches out on the road recruiting during the bye week on Thursday and Friday as they watched several high school games.
Defensive backs coach Wesley McGriff watched defensive lineman Eddie Kelly (6-4, 265, Winter Garden, FL. West Orange) on Friday and offered him on Saturday.
“Coach Crime [Wesley McGriff] did,” Kelly said on the coach from Florida who offered him. “He said that they loved the way I play and that I’m a leader on the field. He said he watched my film and he loved my film.”
Kelly wasn’t expecting to hear that news from McGriff this past weekend, but he was excited to pick up an offer from the Gators.
“It means a lot, it’s a big offer,” he said on what the offer means to him. “I’ve got to stay humble and evaluate all of my opportunities. It kind of shocked me when he told me, but I was happy because this is a big SEC offer.”
McGriff explained to Kelly just why the Gators like his game and how he will fit into the Gators’ defense if he picks Florida.
“He likes that I’m big, I’m 6-5, 250 and can run,” Kelly said on what McGriff told him. “He likes that I can rush the quarterback but drop back into coverage at the same time. He said I’m a rare talent because I can do all of that as a true defensive end but also being able to drop into coverage.”
Kelly has watched the Gators play several games this year and he likes several things about Florida’s program.
“Florida has been doing great this year, they’ve had some good games,” he said on what he has seen from Florida this year. “I love the coaching staff, they push their players a lot and there defense comes out every game.”
Receiver commit Jayden Gibson is a teammate of Kelly’s and is already recruiting the defensive lineman to join him in Gainesville.
“Jayden has been texting me about Florida,” Kelly said of his teammate wanting him to join the class. “That’s been my boy since we were little. I just have to weigh my options.”
Several other SEC schools are also recruiting Kelly hard as the defensive line now plans to visit Gainesville soon.
“USF, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Washington State,” he said on schools recruiting him hard. “I’m thinking about taking a visit up to Florida for a game.”