It was a bye week for the football team but the coaching staff was out all over the country trying to sure up this Florida Gators recruiting class this week.
On Friday night Gators head coach Jim McElwain and running backs coach Tim Skipper was in Jacksonville visiting top cornerback target and Ohio State commit Shaun Wade (6-1, 175, Jacksonville, FL. Trinity Christian) for his game.
The Gators were not able to speak to him but just showing up to the game left a huge impression on the cornerback.
“It shows that they want me, especially when the head coach comes out here,” Wade said of McElwain and Skipper visiting him. “He could’ve went anywhere in the country or spend time with his family but he choose to come watch me play. That’s big right there.”
Florida has been working very hard to flip Wade from Ohio State and the message is very simple and to the point.
“Coach Mac and Coach Skipper just tell me that they’re ready for me to play,” he said. “They were very excited to see me today [Friday]. They were very, very excited. “That’s really it. I just have to be comfortable with the school.”
The Gators aren’t the only team working to flip Wade. Alabama is also after him and the cornerback had good things to say about the Crimson Tide.
“They have good defensive backs there,” he said of what he likes about Alabama. “They’re going to be leaving after next year. So it’s opportunity to play there and they always have a good defense.”
Alabama has good defensive backs but Wade has been watching the Gators defensive backs very closely.
“I’ve been watching them, they’re DBU there,” Wade said of Florida. “[Jalen] Tabor and all of them boys they’re DBU there. They’re all playing great.”
Despite Alabama and Florida pushing hard to flip Wade, the cornerback says he’s still with Ohio State.
“I’m still one hundred percent with Ohio State,” he said of his commitment. “I’m just trying to make sure it’s the best for me. That’s all.”
If the Crimson Tide or Gators want to flip Wade, there’s one thing they both must do in order to land his signature in December.
“Being comfortable, my parents have to be comfortable,” Wade said of what it would take for a team to flip him. “That’s really it. I just have to be comfortable with the school.”
The Gators are likely to receive one or two visits from Wade but the dates aren’t set up yet. He does have three other visits are set up.
“I have three visits coming up, Virginia Tech, Ohio State and Alabama,” Wade said. “I’m going to Alabama for the Iron Bowl, Virginia Tech and Ohio State for the Nebraska game.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Wade doesn’t have an official visit set up to Florida yet, but I’ve been told that the Gators are trying to finalize a date now. I would expect Wade to visit the Gators in December, which would give Florida the final visit. The key to remember with Wade is that he isn’t going to give much away so you have to do your homework on him and that work tells me that Florida, Alabama and Ohio State are all right there.