Five-star safety Caleb Downs visited the University of Florida on March 19 and got a chance to meet the new Gators coaching staff in person.
Defensive back coach Corey Raymond and defensive coordinator Patrick Toney were Downs’ two main points of contact, according to 247Sports. Napier spent a brief moment with him, as well, and Downs had nothing but good things to say about the group.
“Coach Raymond is known as one of the best coaches in the nation,” Downs said. “Talking to him is a good thing. And then coach Toney, they say he’s a guru and that he knows a lot about defense. He had a great defense at (Louisiana) and everybody knows his past.”
Downs spoke to current players about their recruiting process and why they decided to stay following the coaching change. Napier’s efforts to better the program were likely part of the discussion, and it isn’t lost on Downs that Florida’s new coach picked him as one of the few out-of-state recruits being targeted by Florida early on.
“(Napier) wants to win,” he said. “He wants to bring in the right players that it takes to win.”
The 6-foot, 185-pound safety fits that description well as the top-ranked player in the country at his position and No. 13 overall by the 247Sports composite. Kirby Smart has yoinked some of the best talents in Florida with little resistance in recent years, but Napier appears determined to change that.
With 33 offers on the table and some of the very best at the top of the list (Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, etc.), Downs has a lot to consider before he makes a commitment. He hopes to take official visits in June and make a decision before the season begins. Florida may get one of those officials in a few months after a successful visit.
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