Gnat looking forward to visits
Jacksonville (Fla.) Wolfson defensive end Rodney Gnat has gotten scholarship offers to two Big Ten schools and plans to make official visits to those campuses the next two weekends.
The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder, touted by many as one of the top sleepers at the Tallahassee NIKE camp in May, will visit Minnesota this weekend (Dec. 2), followed by a trip to Purdue on Dec. 9.
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He was expecting coaches
"Minnesota was one of the few schools to offer me a scholarship and that recruited me from the beginning," Gnat said. "Their defense is kind of an up-tempo defense. They play real fast like the defense at my school."
One of the first times Gnat took note of the Golden Gophers program was during the 2003 season when he watched Minnesota defeat Wisconsin 37-34 on a last second field goal in the Metrodome on television.
"The kicker took Paul Bunyon's axe and was swinging it and I thought, hmm, Minnesota."
Wide receivers coach Luke Tressel is Gnat's Minnesota recruiter.
Purdue's early interest in Gnat has contributed to the Boilermakers receiving an official visit.
"They also have been on me since I started getting recruited," Gnat said. "They also have one of the top criminal justice programs in the country."
After getting his degree, Gnat would like to pursue a career as a hostage negotiator.
Defensive coordinator Brock Spack is Gnat's Purdue recruiter.
South Florida and Florida A&M also are potential visits for Gnat. His brother plays baseball at FAMU.
Gnat is the nation's No. 31 weakside defensive end prospect. He has been invited to play in the Florida North-South All-Star game on Dec. 23 in The Villages, Fla.