The Florida Gators desperately in of need linebackers in the Class of 2015 and one of the Gators’ top targets is Auburn linebacker commit Richard McBryde (6-2, 210, Troy, AL Henderson) who has talked to new defensive coordinator Geoff Collins.
“Coach Collins has just been telling me that he’s still trying to get me,” McBryde said. “He tried to get me at Mississippi State but he knew I wasn’t going to go there. When he got to Florida he called me and said that he was going to get me now that he was at Florida. I plan on coming down for a visit.”
Collins recruited McBryde as an inside linebacker at Mississippi State but the Auburn commit isn’t sure now that Collins is at Florida.
“Coach Collins hasn’t really talked to me about his defensive scheme at Florida or nothing yet,” McBryde said. “He told me that we would sit down and talk during my official visit. I do know that he thinks that I can play inside linebacker once I put some weight on.”
McBryde will not only get to talk to Collins but he will also get to meet new linebackers coach Randy Shannon when he visits Florida.
“I don’t really know too much about Coach Shannon for real,” McBryde said. “He never really recruited me to Arkansas but I’m interested in getting to know him and talk to him.”
Auburn may be fading a little for McBryde as Will Muschamp is the new defensive coordinator at Auburn and the two parties haven’t spoken yet and Muschamp never recruited McBryde to Florida.
“Coach Muschamp told me to call him but when I called him he didn’t answer the phone,” McBryde said. “I guess he was busy or something but I haven’t spoken to him yet.”
McBryde has been committed to Auburn since July but things are starting to open a little as the linebacker has three official visits planned.
“I’m pretty solid to Auburn right now,” McBryde said. “I plan to take an official to Florida the last week of January. I also plan to take an official to Auburn and LSU in January too.”
When McBryde does visit Florida the one thing that the Gators will show him is the depth chart and the need for linebackers in this class.
“The depth chart is very appealing at Florida,” McBryde said. “It’s something that has caught my attention and something that I want to check. I need to make sure I make the best decision for me.”
INSIDERS TAKE: McBryde definitely seems like he’s upset that Will Muschamp hasn’t called him yet and that’s something that could hurt Auburn. McBryde is also very close to defensive coordinator Geoff Collins and that’s something that will play into Florida’s favor here.