While recruiting has pretty much come to a stand still, the Florida Gators coaches are still talking to recruits on a daily basis and it’s paying off for the Gators.
Defensive tackle Victory Vaka (6-3, 325, Westlake Village, CA. High) says he hears from the coaches a lot and he named a top five last week that included the Florida Gators.
“The constant communication between me and all the coaches,” Vaka said on why Florida made his top five. “They want me to come in and make an immediate impact for them too. I like the coaches, the SEC and the great defensive line they have year in and year out.”
Head coach Dan Mullen is one of the Gators coaches who is talking to Vaka on a daily basis.
“Coach Mullen and Coach [David] Turner, they talk to me almost every day,” he said on how hard Florida is recruiting him. “They’re recruiting me hard.”
Defensive line coach David Turner has been explaining to Vaka just how the Gators want to use him on defense.
“He says I could be an effective run stopper and a good pass rusher for him,” Vaka said on the message from Turner. “He wants me as a true defensive tackle or they could put me over the center too.”
Mullen also has explained to Vaka why he’s a perfect fit for what the Gators want to do on defense.
“He loves the big, long athletic and quick defensive tackles,” he said on what Mullen tells him. “He believes I can come in and be a part of their defenses that are well known for success.”
Several things stand out to Vaka about the Gators but Florida’s success with defensive linemen stands out the most to him.
“Just seeing the defensive line dominate this past year with a plethora number of sacks just catches my eye,” Vaka said on what he likes about Florida. “Also Coach Turner winning the best defensive line coach of the year in all of college football.”
Vaka was scheduled to visit Florida for the spring game but those plans have now been cancelled but the defensive lineman says he will reschedule that visit.
“I have no idea, this virus messed everything up,” he said on when he will visit Florida. “Everything is up in the air right now, I know my top five schools will be the ones getting official visits and I’ll be deciding on early signing day.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Vaka’s top five consisted of Florida, Florida State, Texas A&M, Oregon and Michigan.