The Florida Gators are in desperate need of offensive linemen in the Class of 2023 and last week they hosted several of their top targets.
Offensive lineman Lucas Simmons (6-7, 300, Clearwater, FL. Clearwater Academy International) was on campus and the Swedish native was welcomed to campus with the staff tweeting “#HejaGators.”
“It was cool, it meant a lot,” Simmons said on the Gators’ staff showing him love on Twitter. “It was really cool to see that. It’s really cool to see how some schools want to stand out and separate themselves. Even though it’s a small thing for them, it meant a lot to me.”
While on campus, Simmons spent a lot of time around the Gators’ offensive line coaching duo as they continue to build a relationship.
“Coach [Rob] Sale and Coach [Darnell] Stapleton,” he said on the coaches from Florida he’s talking to. “It’s a good relationship, I get to know them more and more, they came in late, but I still feel good about them.”
Simmons admits that he wants to see what the staff is truly about instead of just getting the red-carpet treatment and the lineman feels that the Gators are being honest in their conversations with him.
“I like it, they seem genuine,” Simmons said on his interest in Florida. “Most of the schools that I go to seem genuine but what stands out about Florida is the small things they do like Thursday, we talked a lot about football but also sitting down in the office getting to know each other more and more.”
After this visit, Simmons says the Gators helped themselves in his recruitment as he likes that the Gators are trying to get to know him on and off the field.
“It changed a lot for me,” he said on if this visit helped Florida. “I’m really glad I visited, they made me feel important and wanted and it was genuine. “They really want me here as a person and the kind of football player I am.”