The Florida Gators came into the class of 2016 with the intention to load up at the receiver position and so far the Gators have two good commits but they are still looking for more.
On Saturday one of the Gators top remaining targets receiver Cavin Ridley (6-1, 190, Coconut Creek, FL Monarch) visited Florida to watch the Gators practice.
“It went good, good time,” Ridley said. “I watched the practice and talked to all of the coaches. Practice was nice and it was high energy out there. It was very up-tempo and the defense was real loud. The offense looked good too.”
This was Ridley’s first chance to see the Gators offensive scheme and also his first time to see receivers coach Kerry Dixon in action.
“I liked how they were using the receivers during practice, they were getting a lot of reps,” Ridley said. “Coach Dixon was getting on his players and coaching them up. He had a lot of enthusiasm and he brings some excitement to the field.”
Head coach Jim McElwain has been stressing the need for playmakers to Ridley, and on Saturday he reminded the receiver of that again.
“Coach McElwain was telling me that he wants me to be apart of the program,” Ridley said. “He was saying that they are in need of receivers and playmakers at Florida and that I can play. I think I could play early if I work hard.”
Ridley and receivers coach Kerry Dixon have been in contact a good bit as of late but Saturday was his first chance to sit down and talk ball with the Florida coach.
“He was like he was glad that I was up there and he liked my size,” Ridley said of Dixon. “He wanted to show me how the Gators fly around out at practice and he coached up the receivers. He said he wants me bad at Florida.”
The Monarch receiver says he grew up liking Florida a lot but so far that hasn’t given the Gators the edge, but Saturday helped their cause some.
“I feel pretty good about Florida because I really feel like I can play early there,” Ridley said. “Everyone is still even because I have to go through my recruitment and take other visits. I don’t have any planned right now but I’m definitely going to get back up to Florida this spring.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Alabama and Florida State are two teams that have started Ridley hard so the Gators have a lot of competition here but the more times Ridley visits then the better odds Florida has at landing him.