While prospects were on campus over the weekend the news broke that Florida Gators offensive line coach Mike Summers was leaving for Louisville and that caught some by surprise.
One of those guys it caught by surprise was Michigan offensive line commit Kai-Leon Herbert (6-5, 284, Fort Lauderdale, FL. American Heritage) who was visiting Auburn when he found out.
“To be truthful, I wasn’t aware Summers took the position until someone told me,” Herbert said. “I called Coach Mac to ask him about it and he returned my call after that. We chopped it up, basically, he didn’t shy away from the fact of him leaving, he was saying Coach Summers wanted to be close to his family.”
When Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain spoke with Herbert he explained that the Gators still want the Michigan commit.
“He told me that that I’m their guy and that hasn’t changed,” he said. “I’m just looking to see who they bring in but Coach Mac told me that I’m going to be happy with the hire.”
The good news for Florida is that defensive coordinator Randy Shannon has always been the lead recruiter for Herbert.
“Coach Shannon has always been one of the main guys I’ve talked too, “Herbert said. “He basically just talks to me about everything really. He talks to me about how my family is doing and then just the normal stuff about needing offensive linemen.”
Several other Gators coaches have also been talking to Herbert a lot and they have sent one common message to the lineman
“Their main message has always been that they need linemen,” he said of Florida’s message. “I play a position of need at tackle and they feel like that I can play there at Florida at a high level.”
The Gators are scheduled to get the last visit from Herbert but before he arrives on campus in Gainesville, he will visit the hometown school.
“I went to Auburn this weekend and next I go to Miami,” Herbert said. “I’m going to visit Florida on the 27th and I’ve already visited Michigan.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Florida has a really good shot with Herbert here but the Michigan commit will absolutely be looking at who Florida hires. The fact Randy Shannon has been the main guy working Herbert helps Florida out here, though.