Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain and two other assistant coaches went in-home with Oregon State defensive end commit Keivonnis Davis (6-4, 225, Miami, FL Central) on Thursday evening in hopes of getting an official visit from Davis.
During the visit McElwain also made sure to let Davis know that he did indeed have an offer from Florida and Davis was impressed by the in-home visit.
“Coach McElwain, coach Terrell Williams and Coach [Randy] Shannon all came by the house for an in-home visit,” Davis said. “It went great man. Everyone is excited about the visit. They actually offered me last week but we talked about the offer during my in-home visit.”
Defensive line coach Terrell Williams has been talking to Davis for a few weeks now and Davis has been impressed by Williams resumé.
“Coach Williams said he wants me at defensive end so I can rush the passer,” Davis said. “I’ve met him twice now and he’s a great guy. He was telling me about how he just came from Oakland and how he’s coached in the league and who he has coached so far. It’s interesting for sure. That is a great opportunity.”
Davis also finally got the chance to meet McElwain on Thursday evening and the first meeting went extremely well.
“Coach McElwain is a great guy and a very energized coach,” Davis said. “He sounds like he’s going to bring the program back right by starting something new up there. I think he can take them to another level honestly.”
With Davis being from South Florida he says he knows a good bit about linebackers coach Randy Shannon and Davis says there is just a bond there because of the familiarity between the two.
“Coach Shannon is, he’s real cool because he’s from the same area I’m from,” Davis said. “He knows these South Florida kids well and he relates to us. We have a great connection and bond together.”
Florida was successful on Thursday night as Davis says he will be in Gainesville this weekend for a visit.
“I’m going up to Florida tomorrow [Friday] for my official visit,” Davis said. “I’m just going by myself. I wish I could take one of my brothers with me but with my finances and the cost of the plane ticket I just can’t so I’m going by myself.”
Davis says that he knows about football and this weekend’s visit is getting a feel for everything outside of football at Florida.
“My main focus is just getting to meet the people,” he said. “I just want to see how things would be if I went there like academics, the people around the team. Just things of that nature you know. I’m not really looking for the glamour but just the people I want to meet.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Florida made a big impression on Davis during the in-home visit and I can really see Florida flipping him with a good visit this weekend.
Spending his own money on a last-minute visit to meet the team and other recruits and spend more time with coaches… His wording makes it sound like he is coming to verify a change in his decision.
According to Rivals and Gator Bait, Davis (2-Star from Miami Central HS) committed to Oregon State before he even took a visit. Before committing to Oregon State he was being hotly courted by Miami International, Cincinnati and that pesky one, Syracuse. Wow!!