The Florida Gators were set to show off their team to the fans and recruits on Saturday but the rain caused that to be postponed and defensive tackle Kendrick Norton (6-2, 292, Jacksonville, FL Trinity Christian) was just as disappointed as the fans were that the game wasn’t played.
“It was disappointing that the game got rained out,” he said. “I was hoping to see the game but it was ok. I liked the atmosphere that they had going but they’ve always had a good atmosphere around the team.”
Norton committed to Florida State in February but backed off that commitment in the spring and he says that Florida and Will Muschamp are after him with a short but meaningful message.
“I talk to Florida almost everyday either on the phone or through Twitter or messaging,” Norton said. “I usually talk to Coach Muschamp or Coach [Brad] Lawing. Coach Muschamp always tells me that he needs me to be a Gator and that he can help me become a better player.”
Defensive line prospects all talk about how good of a coach Brad Lawing is and that’s the same thing for Norton who believes in the defensive line coach.
“I like Coach Lawing a lot and he’s a good coach,” Norton said. “I feel like Coach Lawing can use me extremely well and he can help prepare me for the next level with his coaching.”
On Sunday Norton made news on Twitter when he released his unofficial top five and he says those are the schools he’s focused on.
“Florida, LSU, Miami, Auburn and UCLA are the five schools that I’m going to take officials visits to,” Norton said. “I have set up any dates for those officials but I plan to start doing that.”
Norton had said he plans to announce at the Under Armour game in January but he says that he may move up his decision as he plans to visit Florida for another game either this weekend or next weekend.
INSIDERS TAKE: Florida is clearly the front runner here and I think you could see Norton making an early decision after he takes his official visits. Norton likes Lawing and likes that Florida has promised him he could play defensive tackle as that’s the position he prefers to play.
Yes, let him be a defensive lineman. If he can’t play that position, he can always be switched to guard. He was pledged to FSU, but they wanted him as a guard, I guess he thinks he can play defense. You see guys switched from defensive line to offensive line all the time, rarely the other way around since it takes more athletic ability to play defense. Antonio Riles is an example of the switch on UF right now.
Agree and I think Norton is good enough at defensive tackle that you give him a shot and see what he can do there.