On Monday, the Florida Gators hosted several prospects from South Florida including two guys that were once committed to the Gators.
Defensive back Tyrique Stevenson (6-0, 190, Homestead, FL. South Dade) was one of those former commits that was on campus and he noticed a difference from Dan Mullen’s staff compared to the previous one.
“It went pretty good, I was told a lot of things,” Stevenson said. “I got to see a lot too. I like the new coaching staff and I like the energy they give off. I like they hype they always bring. It was a big difference from last year to this year. From me being a recruit to how the players react, it was a big difference.”
Since Stevenson decomitted from Florida earlier this year, the Gators have had several coaches recruiting the defensive back hard.
“Coach [Charlton] Warren, Coach [Dan] Mullen and a few other coaches,” he said on the main guys recruiting him. “All of those guys are talking to me a lot and showing me that they want me.”
While on campus on Monday, Stevenson had the chance to speak with defensive backs coach Charlton Warren about where the Gators see him playing at.
“Come be a part of a program that is on the rise again,” Stevenson said of Warren’s message to him. “Come be a Florida Gator. He sees me as a true safety in their defense. I’m a team guy so wherever they need me at, I’ll be there.”
Head coach Dan Mullen also brought Stevenson into his office to speak with him about why the Gators are a good fit for the defensive back.
“The same thing that he wants me to come be a part of the program,” he said of Mullen’s message to him. “He said Florida is going to help me later on in life. He said there is not to many people that can say they’re a Florida Gator and that it means a lot. He told me to come help the program be dominant and do my thing.”
This was the first trip to Gainesville since Stevenson decomitted from Florida and the defensive back says the Gators help themselves with the visit.
“Yeah it kind did,” Stevenson said on if this visit got Florida back on his mind more. “It helped me learn more about them and Florida is still my dream school so it should me a lot. It showed me that these coaches are about business and I felt right.”
Stevenson admits he would like to have a decision done by the time his season starts but also says he isn’t any kind of rush.
“I really don’t know,” he said on when he wants to make another decision. “I should be able to come back again to Florida this spring for another visit and then I’m going to set up my official.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Heading into the visit Florida had slipped some with Stevenson but Monday’s visit really helped the Gators with the defensive back. Miami is still a team that the Gators will have to battle with down the stretch.