Billy Napier has made many changes since taking over as the head coach of Florida and recruits are starting to notice the dramatic differences between the old staff and the new.
Four-star athlete Robert Stafford took an unofficial visit to Gainesville on March 5 and he came away with a much different impression of Florida than expected, according to 247Sports. The biggest takeaway was that the Gators really want Stafford on the team. It’s not just Napier or the position coaches who want him. It’s the entire recruiting staff going after him, and Stafford says it feels good to be wanted.
“Some of the visits I went to, with the coaches it was just a couple of them,” Stafford said. “With this one, it was the whole staff. I know they really want me. All of them were texting me like excited for me to come this morning. It was real good.”
Most two-way players end up picking a position to focus on before heading to the pros, but Florida likes Stafford as both a defensive back and wide receiver. Tight ends coach William Peagler and defensive analyst Jamar Chaney have both been in contact with Stafford over the past few weeks to keep the relationship strong. He should be able to make an impact at Florida early on regardless of his position.
Stafford says he’s “looking for a family,” and Napier’s “genuine” approach to coaching and leadership stood out to him. He still has nearly 40 offers to sort through, but this visit seems to have helped Florida. The sunny Gainesville weather is also a plus since Stafford doesn’t like the cold.
247Sports ranks Stafford No. 16 among athletes in the class of 2023 and No. 184 overall in the class. He is ranked as the 36th best recruit in the state of Florida.
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