On Thursday night, the Florida Gators hosted several of their top targets on campus for the spring game as they concluded the spring portion of their schedule.
Defensive back Jordan Pride (6-2, 175, Blountstown, FL. High) was on campus and he liked the energy in the Swamp for the spring game.
“It was great to be back,” Pride said of his visit to Florida on Thursday. “Watch the atmosphere, all these people came out on this Thursday night. It was great to know that these fans are supportive.”
Pride watched the Gators’ defense closely on Thursday and watched how the defensive backs played.
“It looked like they were playing pretty good,” he said on the defensive performance on Thursday. “It was a low scoring game; the defensive backs are young but they’re developing.”
While on campus, Pride had the chance to talk with two coaches who had a message for him about making sure he got healthy.
“I talked to Coach [Austin] Armstrong and Coach Billy [Napier],” Pride said of the coaches he talked to on Thursday. “They were glad to have me back here and they were just making sure that I take it slow with my knee and get back right.”
New defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong had made Pride a priority and on Thursday the defensive back got to see Armstrong in action.
“It’s getting better every time we talk,” he said on his talks with Armstrong. “I got to see how he coached and it was just good to see how he coaches and I can see that I want to be coached like that.”
Florida’s staff didn’t push for a decision from Pride as he just decommitted from Florida State on Wednesday.
“They just want to continue to build our relationship throughout this process,” Pride said on if the coaches pushed him to make a commitment. “Now that my recruitment is opened back up, they just want to continue to build the relationship.”
After leaving the Noles class, Pride says the Gators are one of the teams recruiting him hard as he looks for his next home.
“I will say they’re up there,” he said on where Florida stands for him. “I’m just exploring and trying to make sure I make the right choice. Florida, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Alabama are up there.”
Next up for Pride will be more visits including one to Texas A&M and then the safety wants to make a final decision.
“By the end of this month or next month,” Pride said on when he wants to decide.