FLORIDA GATORS RECRUITING: UCHE IS FAVORING THE GATORS

The Florida Gators recruiting board is loaded with prospects from South Florida and several of those prospects made it to the Swamp on Saturday night for the Gators game against Florida State.One of those prospects was defensive end/linebacker Josh Uche (6-1, 217, Miami, FL Columbus), who got to see his first Florida Gators game in person on Saturday night.“Very impressive and I was really proud of the way they were sticking together despite the offense struggling a little bit,” Uche said of Florida’s defense. “They were able to put the team on their back in the first half. There is only so much the defense can do before points start getting put on the board.”

Not only was Uche impressed by the defense, but the atmosphere in the Swamp also impressed him on Saturday night.“I really like the atmosphere here,” Uche said. “The energy was crazy, I got to see why the defense steps up in big time games in the Swamp because that crowd gives you a lot of energy.”The former Miami Hurricanes commit watched the game closely on Saturday and he says there are a few things the Gators could do to get better on offense.“I just think they need some depth at receiver and some receivers that are willing to make plays,” he said of what Florida needs. “I think they depend too much on [Antonio] Callaway and [Demarcus] Robinson, so once Robinson is taken away everyone just looks at Callaway to make plays. The quarterback needs to step up too.”

Uche, however, is a defensive player and on Saturday night Florida linebackers coach Randy Shannon talked to Uche about how he would fit into the Gators defense.“They want me at linebacker, but they think I can put my hand in the dirt on third down,” he said. “They think I can go rush the passer so I guess they like me as a hybrid guy. I really like the feel of playing linebacker but just to be able to rush the passer is really interesting.”The hybrid defensive player has had his recruitment heat up lately and he says that has four visits set up for the next few months.“I haven’t taken any official visits yet but I have some set,” Uche said. “I have some set for Alabama, Florida, Miami and North Carolina but that could change. Miami is in January and I’m not sure yet on Alabama and Florida.”While Uche has four visits set up he says that one school is slight favor in his mind right now.“I mean all teams are in it but I do like Florida,” Uche said. “I like what they’re doing on defense in impact games and the way their defense has taken over the whole Florida team. I am favoring Florida. The opportunity to play early at Florida is something else.”The Columbus linebacker knows that football will come to end one day and he says that will help him pick a college in February.

“I just want to see what the academics look like because that’s my main focus and concern,” he said. “I just want to see what my future would be like after football is over at that school.”