Napier a big factor for this 2023 OL recruit leading up to official visit

2023 linebacker Sean Thompkins is in town for an official visit this weekend. He’ll be making his decision before the start of his senior year.

One of the names currently in Gainesville for an official visit with the Florida Gators is [autotag]Sean Thompkins[/autotag], an unranked recruit out of Covington, Georgia, that picked up an offer from the Orange and Blue on May 18.

Florida has picked things up since then and finds itself in the mix with Baylor, Kentucky and Tennessee down the home stretch of Thompkins’ recruitment. He wants to make a decision before his senior season begins so he can focus on football, according to 247Sports, and that puts a clock on things. Fortunately, Thompkins has taken enough of a liking to the most important man at UF when it comes to his recruitment, Billy Napier.

“I built a relationship with [Napier] early,” Thompkins said to 247Sports. “When I make my decision, I want to know who my head coach is going to be on a personal level and I’ve been able to do that with him.”

Thompkins has spent plenty of time on the phone with Napier and Co., but this visit will give him face time with the coaches he could wind up spending the next two to five years with. He’s looking for a home away from away of sorts, and Florida’s family-style approach to recruiting matches that well.

His official visits to Baylor (June 10) and Kentucky (June 13) went well, so Florida has some impressing to do. Tennessee will get him in July and then it’s time to think about where he wants to play. Maybe one of the major services will give him a rating by then, too.

[mm-video type=video id=01g5s0ptp85t9rjpm9fs playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g5s0ptp85t9rjpm9fs/01g5s0ptp85t9rjpm9fs-2de89d368109d2f40c8f40dae499be2b.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=85886,85877,85842,85806,85799]

[listicle id=85653]

[listicle id=85559]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

Florida adds one more name to weekend’s official visit list

Interior offensive lineman Sean Thompkins is one of the quieter recruits in the class of 2023, but he’ll be part of a big recruiting weekend at Florida this weekend.

With nine players already set to use one of their five official visits to the University of Florida over the weekend, [autotag]Billy Napier[/autotag]’s group isn’t pumping the breaks any time soon. The Gators made it an even 10 official visits this weekend with the addition of Newton (Covington, Georgia) interior offensive lineman [autotag]Sean Thompkins[/autotag] to the list of visitors, according to 247Sports.

Thompkins isn’t yet rated by 247Sports or any of the other major services, but he’s picked up offers from Florida, Baylor, Kentucky and Tennessee among others. He was in Waco, Texas, on June 10 to visit with the Bears and is coming off a trip to Lexington to see the Wildcats. Florida gets the last spot in the run, and the pace at which Thompkins is making official visits suggests he’s nearing a decision.

No date has been scheduled yet as the 6-foot-4-inch, 331-pound lineman continues to be one of the quieter recruits in the class.

This will be Thompkins’ first trip to the Swamp and Napier’s group has yet to disappoint, especially on an official visit. Offensive line coach [autotag]Rob Sale[/autotag] is the one who has been recruiting him the most, most recently visiting his high school during the spring evaluation period to see the rising senior in action at practice.

Hopefully, this visit will not only earn Florida some favor with the Peach State big man but also give a bit more insight into who he is as a person and player.

[mm-video type=video id=01g5kh24vww31svhm3sa playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g5kh24vww31svhm3sa/01g5kh24vww31svhm3sa-ca9886829ca8c7750cdea3712fb45b58.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=85686,85691,85674,85623,85610]

[listicle id=85653]

[listicle id=85559]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!