Last weekend, the Florida Gators host two official visitors on campus for the spring game as these were the first two official visits for the 2020 class.
Tight end Jonathan Odom (6-5, 250, Tampa, FL. Jesuit) was one of those guys on campus and he says the Gators did a good job of hosting this past weekend.
“It was great, I had a great time with my family and they answered all the questions I needed answered,” Odom said of his official visit to Florida this past weekend. “I had a great time at the spring game, they had everything lined up perfectly.”
Odom and his family watched the Gators offense closely as they wanted to see just how Dan Mullen uses the tight ends in his offense.
“It was exactly what I wanted to see and they only had two scholarship tight ends really playing,” he said on his thoughts on the tight end play. “They still used them a lot and it was a very good sight to see and they answered all my questions about that and some of those questions answered themselves. It was great.”
While watching the offense, Odom feels like he fits what Mullen and the coaching staff wants out of a tight end in Gainesville.
“I’m hoping to be that guy that can really stay on field,” Odom said on how he thinks he fits in now that he has seen the tight ends for himself. “Be that versatile guy in both the passing game and run game and do anything they need me to do. I’m not looking to be that guy that can just go run block, I’m looking to be a guy that can contribute in both aspects of the game.”
Tight ends coach Larry Scott met with Odom and his family this past weekend and explained just why the Gators want the tight end.
“That he sees me being that versatile guy,” he said on Scott’s message to him. “He said they went through all of the tapes of tight ends and determined that I was the most well rounded one that they watched out of my class and that they’re really hoping that they can get me.”
Head coach Dan Mullen also spoke with Odom and his family at length and had a message for him and explained that he’s wanted in Gainesville.
“He just told me not to hold the familiarity of Florida against them,” Odom said of Mullen’s message to him. “I can see that being a thing, I don’t think I’ve really done it but he didn’t want me to think oh it’s just another Gator game that I’ve been going to all my life. He had a great conversation with my family and answered all of our questions and talking about how big of a priority I am to them.”
Odom has now visited Gainesville twice and is becoming more familiar with the coaching staff.
“It’s a great feeling,” he said on his take on Florida now. “I might be back up there on the 18th for a little cookout they’re having. I had a great time and I have a great feeling about them now.”
Now that Odom has taken his official visit to Gainesville, the tight end will use his last three and hopes to have a decision in the coming months.
“I’m still shooting for around the beginning of my senior season this year,” Odom said on a decision. “I don’t know, I’m really starting to narrow things down but whenever me and my family have that click moment saying this is the one, I think that will be the time.”