On Friday, the Florida Gators picked up two in-state commits with one of them being a flip from the Gators archrival.
Offensive lineman Jake Slaughter (6-4, 300, Ocala, FL. Trinity Catholic) flipped to Florida from Florida State because of several factors including being a Gator since birth.
“With everything going on in the world, Florida is just right up the road and I grew up a Gator,” Slaughter said on why he flipped to Florida. “I had to do what was right for me and where I felt at home at. Florida is right for my family and they will be able to come to all the games and it was just the right decision for me.”
Slaughter picked up the offer from Florida earlier this spring and he says shortly after that he knew he wanted to make the move to Gainesville.
“I’ve known for a little while,” he said on when he knew he wanted to flip. “I loved everything about Florida State and what they were doing but it just wasn’t right for me.”
Last week, the lineman called head coach Dan Mullen and the coaching staff to inform them of the news he was flipping to Florida and it was received with excitement.
“They were pumped,” Slaughter said on the reaction of the coaches. “I talked to Coach Mullen, Coach [Christian] Robinson who’s my area recruiter, he was pumped to have a hometown boy coming and Coach [John] Hevesy wanted me and he was excited.”
Offensive line coach John Hevesy has explained to Slaughter just how he will be used in the Gators offense once he gets to campus.
“Interior guy,” he said on where Hevesy wants him to play. “Coach Hevesy likes his center to be the real experience guy and make all of the line calls, he wants me to play guard early and then when I get older and figure out the offense then if it’s right, I’ll move over to center.”
Slaughter has followed the Gators program closely and he believes in the direction that Mullen has Florida going.
“Upward trend, it just keeps getting better,” Slaughter said on his thoughts on the program. “They just have that “IT” factor about them, tough physical football with great coaches. It’s hard to complain.”