Getting to Know: Jabari Zuniga
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It's hard for Gator fans not to get excited when watching Jabari Zuniga's highlight reel.
When the new coaching staff was assembled, one of the first talents defensive coordinator Geoff Collins pursued was Zuniga, a 6-foot-3, 260-pound three-star product out of Marietta (Ga.) Sprayberry High School. After jumping into varsity football as a junior following his time playing basketball all of his life, Zuniga discovered his knack for the sport. But largely because he started playing football so late in his high school career, Zuniga was not offered by many the nation's elite programs and flew a bit under the radar.
Following his Jan. 16 visit to Gainesville, Zuniga flipped his commitment from North Carolina State to Florida 10 days later during an in-home visit with Jim McElwain. Zuniga, a strongside defensive end, graduated from high school on May 22 and is set to arrive on campus next Tuesday.
Inside the Gators caught up with Zuniga for the latest segment of our "Getting to Know" series for the incoming 2015 freshmen signees.
What led to your decision to attend the University of Florida?
Zuniga: When I was walking around campus, that was one of the only campuses I could see myself going to.
What are you most excited about when you arrive next week?
Zuniga: I guess I'm most excited about the tunnel for the first time. Because when I was on my official visit, hairs were raising on my arms when I was just walking out. So running out with the teammates and 100,000 fans screaming, I wonder what that's going to be like.
What is your relationship like with the coaching staff?
Zuniga: I have a really good relationship with Coach Collins. He's just a funny guy. I've met Rumph, but I haven't really got to sit down and talk to him. So I just really want to get to meet him.
What was your first reaction when you heard that Rumph was hired to replace previous defensive line coach Terrell Williams, who originally recruited you before leaving to the Miami Dolphins?
Zuniga: I was happy, because he was a part of some good players. Jackson Jeffcoat, a good defensive tackle that went into the draft this year. He was at Alabama when they had one of the best defenses in the nation. So I was really happy about that.
What was your favorite part of your recruitment process?
Zuniga: The food. Florida definitely served the best food. It was a bunch of seafood.
What was your least favorite part of your recruitment process?
Zuniga: The phone calls and the visits. I missed a lot of class time because of the visits.
How do the coaches envision your role on the team moving forward?
Zuniga: They want me to defensive end, kind of what Jonathan Bullard's playing right now. To be honest, I wasn't a heavily recruited guy, so I'm going to come in and work my tail off and then show them what I can do. Hopefully I can get some early playing time, but if I can't I'll be fine with it.
What aspects of your game are you aiming to polish this summer and fall?
Zuniga: I want to get faster definitely and I want to get quicker. And I want to lose some body fat and gain some muscle, but I know I'm going to get that because of the fast tempo Coach Mac has been preaching all of the time.
What would you say is your greatest strength as a football player?
Zuniga: Probably my strength to be honest with you, because I'm kind of a strong guy.
If it weren't for Florida, where would you have signed?
Zuniga: I would have signed N.C. State.
Have you decided on a college major yet?
Zuniga: No, I'm undecided. I was going to major in health sciences, but I changed my mind on that.
If you could play any team at home in the Swamp who would it be?
Zuniga: LSU, because that was my favorite team. I know I was kind of quick to answer that, but I've kind of got a chip on my shoulder for them because they didn't even look at me, and I sent all of my film out to them. I got a letter from basically every SEC school and I got some SEC offers, but they didn't even offer me. And that was my favorite school growing up.
Which NFL team is your favorite?
Zuniga: I like the Saints. I really like them because my dad's family is from there, and growing that's all he talked about. Really, that's the only team he talked about. So I guess he kind of rubbed off on me.
If you were to eventually become a first-round NFL draft choice, what is the first thing you would buy?
Zuniga: I'd probably by my mom something nice, like a house or something.
If you could play with any former college athlete, who would it be and why?
Zuniga: Probably Ray Lewis, because he had a lot of passion for the game. Growing up, I played a lot of basketball, but I still liked watching him because of how much passion he showed for the game.
Who is your favorite athlete outside of football?
Zuniga: Probably LeBron James.
What's your favorite genre of music to listen to? Any artists in particular you like?
Zuniga: Hip-Hop. I have a couple of artists. I like Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole and Kevin Gates.
What is your favorite TV show?
Zuniga: I don't really have one.
What is your favorite movie?
Zuniga: "Ali."
Which celebrity would you most want to trade places with for one day?
Zuniga: Probably Floyd Mayweather, just to see what that money life is about.
If you could go out with any female celebrity on a dream date, who would it be?
Zuniga: Probably Rihanna.
Name one thing you can't live without.
Zuniga: I could basically live without anything. I'm not really a materialistic type of person.
What is on your bucket list? Name three things you want to do before dying.
Zuniga: Just live a successful life and make it to the NFL.
