Last week, several prospects from the state of Alabama were on campus to watch the Florida Gators practice and to meet the coaching staff.
Offensive lineman Mal Waldrep (6-5, 290, Phenix City, AL. Central) was on campus last Thursday and the visit caught his attention.
“To be honest, it was a real eye-opener,” Waldrep said. “I didn’t know how much Florida had to really offer and they really impressed me with their hospitality and facilities and the way they practice. I really enjoyed it.”
While on campus, Waldrep had the chance to meet new offensive line coach Jonathan DeCoster and watch him coach the position at practice.
“I really enjoyed getting to see the offensive line work with Coach [Jonathan] DeCoster and Coach [Rob] Sale,” he said of Florida’s practice. “I really liked how they work, and they all push each other, and they definitely have a big unit bond. It really shows that in meetings, they’re all helping each other.”
DeCoster and Rob Sale explained to Waldrep just how he would fit into the offensive line if he picked Florida.
“They said probably guard or center,” Waldrep said on where Florida wants him. “They told me that I’m the perfect guy that they’re looking for right now.”
Head coach Billy Napier also met with Waldrep and explained to him just why the Gators need him in Gainesville.
“He said he was very thankful that I was able to make it down,” he said on the message from Napier. “He also said that I’m their guy and they really like me and I’m someone that they would take no matter what or no matter how many spots have been filled. He was really welcoming, and I enjoyed his post practice speech.”
Now that Waldrep has visited Gainesville, he says that the Gators have moved up in his recruitment.
“It’s definitely moved up,” Waldrep said on his interest in Florida now. “I’ll probably take an official visit there now. Me being able to see all of the resources they have and the environment is just a different feel and that really caught my eye.”
The Gators have a lot of competition for Waldrep as several SEC schools are in the mix as the Alabama native is in the process of setting up official visits.
“Auburn, Alabama, Clemson, UCF, and Tennessee are the schools that have been in contact with me a lot,” he said on other schools recruiting him hard. “I have set an official visit to Clemson, that’s the first weekend of June. I’ve talked about getting one set up to Auburn and Tennessee.”