One of the biggest needs remaining on the defensive side of the ball is an elite pass rusher and one of the nation’s best was on campus this weekend in Gainesville.
Defensive end Jamonta Waller (6-1, 239, Picayune, MS. Memorial) was on campus and liked the people around campus.
“It was great,” Waller said of his official visit to Florida. “All of the coaches, the people here, everybody has great facilities and stuff but just the people to be around, everybody smiling. Great vibes and I had a great official visit.”
Three coaches, in particular, are working hard on Waller, and they had a simple message for him about where he stands on the recruiting board.
“Coach Mike P [Peterson], Coach [Austin] Armstrong, and Coach [Billy] Napier,” he said on the coaches he talks to mainly. “It was great man, they made sure to let it be known that I’m a top priority.”
Defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong and outside linebackers coach Mike Peterson broke down just how Waller would be used on defense and how they can move him around.
“That was great, of course, I want to know how they’re going to use me,” Waller said on watching film with the staff. “By seeing all of that it was pretty good. Just getting to the passer, getting off the edge, it’s a great fit. They do so much, on third down they can change it up at any time. I think I fit great.”
Peterson also had a message for Waller about what he needs to do if he were to pick the Gators for college.
“Just come ready to work,” he said on the message from Peterson. “If this is where I want to be then just come ready to work. Hit the ground running and get Florida back to where it used to be.”
One of Waller’s best friends is Florida running back commit Kahnen Daniels and he’s working hard to get Waller in the class.
“It’s great, he stays on me,” he said on his friendship with UF commit Kahnen Daniels. “He tells me to come home, he’s real and he’s going to make sure he’s going to push me.”
Saturday night was a big one for Florida as four guys committed to the Gators and Waller enjoyed seeing those guys get their moment.
“It was cool to see all of the guys,” Waller said on seeing everyone committing. “When we’re kids, that’s the main thing we want to do is grow up and be something. Just to see those guys do their thing, it was pretty cool. I’m not too far behind.”
Georgia was supposed to get an official visit from Waller next week, but the Mississippi native says he’s done with official visits and knows when he will announce.
“I’m done after this,” he said on what’s next for him. “August 26th is when I will commit, Florida is up there, it’s kind of hard of say to because I’m still doing a lot of thinking through., I like the defense and the bigger picture is the NFL so to be able to show the scouts what I can do. Florida is a great fit for that.”
After this visit, Waller says he has a top three list of schools heading into that August decision date.
“Auburn, Penn State, and Florida are the top three,” Waller said on his top three.