Jim McElwain’s 2016 recruiting class just got a big boost, landing a JUCO offensive lineman who hasn’t even visited the UF campus yet.
Brandon Autry (Coffeeville Community College) has committed to Florida. He also held offers from Arizona State and South Carolina.
Yesterday, Autry told Florida coaches that UF was one of two schools he would visit this summer, and thus commit to. His commitment today came off as a kind of change of heart, but he was adamant in saying “I felt it was the right time to commit.”
So, why Florida? “I love it. I think it’s going to be the right place for me. I feel like I can go in and play right away. That’s the number one thing on my mind.”
He made no secret that he chose Florida because he wants to play immediately, and Florida’s need on the offensive line is no secret, either. The Gators currently have only six scholarship players available on the line, though they will gain a few more when Trip Thurman returns in the fall and when Martez Ivey, Brandon Sandifer and Tyler Jordan arrive. But even with those guys, Florida would have ten scholarship linemen- not enough. You can never have too many quality linemen, and Florida got another in Autry.
He’s big (6’4 and 320) and has good footwork, which is a great combination for linemen to have. Whether or not he can crack the starting lineup remains to be seen, but I’d be shocked if he doesn’t at least get a look.
