With the very real possibility that both Dante Fowler and Jonathan Bullard could leave for the NFL after the 2014 season, the Florida staff is putting a premium on signing defensive linemen for the 2015 recruiting class. Junior college defensive end Marquavius Lewis (6-4, 270, Hutchinson, KS Community College) got a Florida offer last week from a coach who shares much in common.
“Coach (Brad) Lawing from Florida offered me on Friday,” Lewis said. “He was telling me that he has coached 35 years and he recognizes talent and that he’s from South Carolina like me and that he can relate to me since I’m from South Carolina too.”
Lewis has never visited Gainesville before but he knows a few things about the Gators since he grew up watching Florida on TV during his youth.
“I grew up watching Florida on TV all the time,” Lewis said. “I feel like if the opportunity for me to play for Florida comes about than it would be a great opportunity for me because they are a good school and they usually have a good football team too.”
One of the things that Lewis knows about the Florida football team is the fact that Will Muschamp and the Gators have been successful and producing top defensive line prospects.
“Florida puts out good defensive linemen every year to the NFL,” Lewis said. “I know that Coach Lawing also coached (Javadeon) Clowney so that’s pretty big and that shows that he knows what he’s talking about as a coach.”
With the offers pouring in recently for Lewis he has decided to take a wait see approach to his recruitment rather than name any kind of leaders early on.
“Recently Alabama and a few other SEC schools offered me,” Lewis said. “I’m up to a dozen offers right now but none of them stand out over the others. I’m open to everyone right now in my recruitment until I take visits.”