Florida’s coaches are out on the road and visiting prospects from all across the country during the first week of the contact period.
On Tuesday, Gators head coach Will Muschamp and linebackers coach D.J. Durkin visited 2014 Ponte Vedra (Fla.) High linebacker Dillon Bates.
“Both of them came by to see me at school,” Bates said. “It was a good talk. We talked for about 15 minutes or so, and they just told me they like me and are going to recruit me.”
The 6-foot-3, 218-pound Bates doesn’t have an offer from Florida yet, but Muschamp assured the high school junior that the Gators are interested in him.
“He told me that he is really excited to be recruiting me,” Bates said. “And that I am on top of their recruiting board for 2014, and that he wants me to come to Florida for a bowl practice in a few weeks if I can.”
After the conversation with the coaches, Bates believes an offer could be coming for him soon.
“I think they’re leaning towards offering me,” Bates said. “But I’m sure at this point. We will see once I go back up there in a few weeks or sooner hopefully.”
When Bates does make it back down, it will be his first trip to Gainesville since he visited the Gators during their last regular season home game against Jacksonville State.
Even though Bates doesn’t have an offer from Florida, he does have interest in the Gators and wants the offer to come.
“I’m pretty interested in Florida,” Bates said. “I’d like to be able to pick a school with them in the mix.”