Floyd talks up Florida visit

Philadelphia (Pa.) George Washington defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd took his first official visit and took in his first ever college game at Florida as the Gators hosted Tennessee in the Swamp this past weekend. The 6-foot-3, 310-pounder talked about the visit and his upcoming plans.

"Florida was great, I can't say anything bad about it," said Floyd, ranked as the No. 1 defensive tackle in the country. "I had a great time. I had been down there before for Friday Night Lights and took a tour, but it was nothing like this. I got to meet a bunch of players, see what gameday is like and just experience the whole thing."

Floyd was hosted by defensive tackle Jaye Howard and others.

"There were actually about four different people who hosted me," he said. "But it was good to talk to some defensive linemen and also talk to Urban Meyer and Dan McCarney and some of the coaches. I just wanted to get a feel for how the players liked things, how the coaches coached them and how the defensive tackles played. I was impressed."

And Floyd couldn't have picked a better atmosphere for his first game.

"It was crazy loud," he said. "At one point one of the Tennessee players fumbled the ball and the entire crowd, however many thousands there were, all screamed 'ball!' at once. I looked around and couldn't believe it. The whole crowd. They were so into it."

Floyd didn't get to spend much time with fellow recruits like Ronald Powell on his visit.

"They kind of kept us separate so we could each have our own experience," he said. "we got together at dinner and things like that but for the most part it was just the players and coaches which was cool."

Does this visit push Florida up to the top?

"I don't really have a top, but it sets the bar high," he said. "I know Florida will be one of my final five and that won't be the case I don't think for all of the schools I take official visits to. But I know Florida will be there."

Next up for Floyd is a trip out west to see Southern Cal this weekend when the Trojans host Washington State.

"My coach was trying to talk me out of it because of the time difference and that we have a game Friday night but I'm going to talk him into it," he said. "We don't have school on Monday so I will leave late Friday, get back late Sunday and be able to catch up on everything Monday."

Following Southern Cal, Floyd will visit Penn State (Oct. 16), South Carolina (Oct. 23) and North Carolina (Nov. 6). But there are others still in the mix.

"Ohio State, Michigan and Rutgers are all still there," he said. "I've already been to Rutgers and if after my five officials I still feel I haven't decided then I'll take an unofficial to OSU and Michigan. They are all still in there as well."

Floyd plans on taking all of his official visits before making a decision.