The Florida Gators will have a lot of depth to fill at defensive back after this season. They are looking to have a big 2017 class at the position to fill the holes that will be left.
Cornerback Shawn Davis (5-11, 190, Miami Southridge) is one of the top targets on the Gators’ recruiting board. Davis has offers from 27 different schools around the country, but Florida is at the top of his list.
“I really like the facilities, I like everything about the school,” Davis said of the University of Florida.
Davis has built strong relationships with South Florida native, and co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach, Randy Shannon and defensive backs coach Torrian Gray. “He’s [Torrian Gray] telling me like don’t be afraid to come in and work hard,” Davis said. “Being a freshman, he wants us to like come in and work hard and start as a freshman and get some playing time.”
He is impressed with Florida’s coaching staff and their abilities to produce the top defensive backs in the country, and top NFL prospects. “The DB’s are very aggressive, they hit hard,” Davis said of the Gators’ style of play. “They know how to cover.”
Davis said the coaches wanted him to commit this weekend. “I thought about it, I really thought about it,” he said on committing to the Gators. He is saving his commitment for an August date that has not been set yet. He said it is between Florida, Miami, and Florida State, but he already has his school picked. “Like one-hundred percent sure,” said Davis.
He will be taking all of his official visits this summer after he makes his commitment in August. Davis said he will be taking visits to Tennessee, Alabama, Syracuse, and Auburn. He will not be taking an official visit to Florida, because he is so close and can come to Gainesville anytime.
Davis already has his school picked out. He said, “The style of play, the relationship with the coaches, things they’re telling me, and like the school in like itself, like the academics and stuff,” are the most important qualities of the program he will choose to continue his career at.
INSIDERS TAKE: Although Davis is not taking an official visit to Florida, he should still visit multiple times and ultimately the Gators are the favorite to lands his commitment sometime in August.