Official visits are fun and prospects take pride in visiting top schools but along with the fun comes little to no rest.
Lewisville (Tx.) Hebron safety Jamal Adams was in Gainesville on Saturday for his official visit to Florida. To say Adams was wore out on Monday following his visit is an understatement according to his father.
“On Friday night we got home from Jamal’s game at 12:30 and we had to be at the airport for a 3 A.M. flight to Gainesville,” George Adams said. “We spent all day Saturday and Sunday with the coaches and we got home at noon on Monday and Jamal had to go to school to practice so he’s worn out.”
Despite the lack of rest, Adams’ father says that the 6’0″, 199-pound Adams had a good visit to Gainesville.
“It was outstanding man,” George Adams said. “Coach (Will) Muschamp and his staff laid out the red carpet from the time we got there until the time we left there. Jamal had Marcell Harris as his host but Mack Brown and Vernon Hargreaves were with him a lot too.”
This was the second visit to Gainesville for Adams and his father George but this time was different because it was game day and Adams’ mother was in town.
“He pretty much seen everything he wanted to see the first time and this time he got to see everybody on campus and at the game,” Adams said. “My wife was wowed because there were people everywhere. It was good for Jamal to see everyone and he gets along really well with the players, he’s like me he gets along well with anyone, especially people who like to win like him. Overall he was very impressed by The Swamp on Saturday.”
The Gators signed three safeties in the 2013 class but Muschamp has made it clear that Adams is a wanted man by comparing him to a former Gator first round draft pick.
“We already knew the defense was outstanding but they played well on Saturday,” Adams said. “Coach Muschamp said that Jamal reminds him of Matt (Elam) and they think Jamal can do some of the same things he did like rush the passer but also play in coverage. Jamal really likes that and he loves the way Florida plays defense.”
Adams was thinking of making an early decision but now the Hebron safety says he wants to take all five officials, something coach Muschamp agreed with.
“Three more officials to Ohio State, Ole Miss and to Texas,” Adams said. “He told coach that he wanted to take all five of them and he will announce in November. Coach Muschamp agreed and said it was a once in a lifetime thing and that he wanted Jamal to take them all. Ole Miss is next up when they play Texas A&M.”
During Adams official visit to Florida he was joined by three other official visitors in Deandre Goolsby, Lorenzo Carter and Clifton Garrett and according to Adams father, the four got along great.
“They all clicked and they all talked to each other, I think they are talking on Facebook now,” Adams said. “Jamal knows Clifton and Lorenzo from The Opening and from Chicago. I could tell they were all having a good time together.”