SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS -- UF is currently waiting on the highly-anticipated decision from cornerback Chris Steele, who is announcing at the All-American Bowl, but is already well represented with a pair of signees playing in the game as well.
One of those future Gators is four-star prospect and versatile defender, Mohamoud Diabate, who has been one of the more competitive kids in attendance. He has been effecting when turning the corner in one-on-ones, but also wastes no time making his way back to the front of the line for another repetition.
A product of Auburn (Ala.) High, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Diabate checks in as the nation's 12th-ranked weak-side defensive end on Rivals.
"The week has been going great," Diabate told GatorsTerritory. "I feel like I've been competing great. It's been and overall it's been a great week."
There is obviously the competitive side of this week's festivities, but Diabate says he is relishing the whole experience of being in San Antonio while also dedicating time to the playbook in order to make a splash on Saturday.
"Just kind of having fun, but at the same time, you have to know your plays," Diabate said. "It's a little difficult seeing that, but it gets easy if you just sit down and study."
Diabate says there won't be a whole lot of confusion once he relocates Gainesville. Mullen's staff envisions him wreaking havoc in the offensive backfield, and based off UF's success in 2018, Diabate certainly isn't complaining about his future role under Todd Grantham.
"Kind of like a stand-up d-end like what Jachai Polite plays," Diabate said. "That's where I feel more comfortable.
"It was a great season," Diabate added. "It was really impressive how they turned the season around from a four-win team to a 10-win team. They of course didn't have all the talent they wanted, but they schemed up their opponents well.
"That's really impressive because that shows we can get great players like Tyron (Hopper) and other people, and we can be a great team."
In fact, Hopper, a four-star prospect himself, and Diabate are rooming together throughout their time in the Lone Star State.
"It's pretty good," Diabate said of his relationship with Hopper. "We're roommates here and he's a good guy. I can definitely see us being good friends in the future. He's a great player, so I look forward to our relationship growing."
When it was all said and done, Diabate says teaming up with the Gators was simply a no-brainer decision. Florida checks off a number of boxes, including in the classroom, and Diabate decided that no additional visits were necessary.
"They know what they are doing," Diabate said. "I always wanted to play for a staff that had a track record of excellence, a track record of developing players, and developing good players for the NFL. When I saw that in that staff, I talked to them and spent time with them.
"I looked at the education I could get at Florida; I looked at the nutrition and the weight room. It just seemed like an obvious choice for me."
Diabate plans to major in mechanical engineering with a minor in business.
Stay tuned to GatorsTerritory.
