9/6/2018 football Edit

Behind the Scenes: Jaydon Hill picks Florida

Chad Simmons • Rivals.com

Recruiting Analyst

Chad Simmons is a Recruiting Analyst for Rivals.com. He was the expert on The Next Class on Fox Sports South from 2011-2015. He currently covers Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi.

This race got tight in recent weeks. South Carolina was the favorite at one time. The Gamecocks faded a bit and it came down to Florida and Tennessee before Jaydon Hill announced he is a Gator Thursday afternoon.

The Madison (Ala.) Bob Jones defensive back took multiple visits to Knoxville over the spring and summer but the final visit of the summer when to Florida late in July. It was his first visit to Gainesville and that played a big role in his commitment.

Hill tells the story.

THE BEGINNING

"As a child, I grew up a fan of Florida’s secondary. Me, my brother and my dad are fans of what Florida has done at defensive back for a while. I looked up to Vernon Hargreaves — he was actually my role model growing up. I have watched video of him, tried to learn from him and I have been a fan of his since he was at Florida. I have even gone back and watched Keanu Neal when he was there. I have been a fan of their secondary for a long time, so that is when my interest in Florida started."

THE TURN

"They offered me later than most. I was actually on a visit to South Carolina when I got the offer from Florida early in June. It was my visit to Florida in July that really changed things. I thought they were a little late at first, but I was so impressed when I got there. I knew coach Dan Mullen from when he was at Mississippi State, so I had that relationship already. Other recruits were telling me I was going to love it there and I did. The visit knocked the top of things for me. It was a great feel for me and my family. It felt natural for us. The feeling I had there was different."

THE FINALE

"I waited it out, I weighed all the schools out and weeks after my visit to Florida, I was feeling the same thing. Going into the visit, it was Tennessee, but it changed. The feeling I had at Florida was really the difference. I like the recruits I talked to, I have a strong relationship with the coaches and just the feeling I had there was different. This is a dream of any high school player, so I feel good to be committed to Florida. For me to get here, make my mind up and be committed to Florida is a great feeling."