Getting to Know: Richerd Desir-Jones
[rl]
Advertisement
Click Here to view this Link.
With Florida's numbers low along the offensive line currently, three-star offensive guard Richerd Desir-Jones has a golden opportunity to arrive at UF and play immediately if he proves himself worthy.
A 6-foot-4, 290-pound standout out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, the same school where 2015 Gators running back signee Jordan Scarlett played, Desir-Jones was the second offensive commitment of the Jim McElwain era. After he had initially committed to FIU, Desir-Jones eventually switched over to the Gators and made his commitment to UF known on Jan. 31 following his official visit to Gainesville. Desir-Jones graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas on May 17 and is set to enroll at UF starting the Summer B semester in late June.
Inside the Gators caught up with Desir-Jones 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?
Desir-Jones: As a little kid, I've always wanted to attend the University of Florida. I love the school. When I went on my visit, I felt like it was home. The coaches just felt genuine. The place and atmosphere was amazing. I just loved it. My family loved it too, and it wasn't too far from home. My family could be able to come to every game and see me play. We just really love the coaches - Coach Mac, Coach Summers, Coach Skip, Coach Shannon, all the coaches. It felt like a family atmosphere and a program that was going to take care of each other.
What was your favorite part of your recruitment process?
Desir-Jones: I would probably have to say just getting to know coaches. Coming from foster care, I never really had like people just there. I went from having people who couldn't care less to now I have all of these people who every week are like calling me on the phone, blowing me up, trying to talk and stuff like that. It was a fun process, but when it came down to it I knew where I wanted to go.
What was your least favorite part of your recruitment process?
Desir-Jones: My least favorite part, having to break it down to the coaches that I didn't want to go to their school. Having them call me and ask me why. Just telling them it's not for me. The University of Florida is where I want to be.
How do the coaches envision your role on the team moving forward?
Desir-Jones: Coach definitely wants me to be a leader and work as hard as I can and give my team the best opportunity to win, just like any player. I'm just coming in as a freshman, trying to work as hard as I can and be the best leader I can on and off the field.
What aspects of your game are you aiming to polish this summer and fall?
Desir-Jones: Just being able to get fast off the ball, hand placement and stuff like that. Just like detailed stuff with the technique. Overall, I want to become a better athlete and student-athlete, because I know I'm nowhere near where I want to be. With the help of Coach Summers and the rest of the coaching staff, just being able to sit there and absorb everything they have to teach me, I know I'll become a great student-athlete. That's really my goal right now.
What would you say is your greatest strength as a football player?
Desir-Jones: I'm a pretty good puller, I'm pretty good at setting my blocks. Honestly, I just try to play the game as best as I can.
What has your relationship been like with St. Thomas Aquinas teammate and Gators signee Jordan Scarlett throughout this process?
Desir-Jones: We've always been really cool. We just both decided that we wanted to go there. It was a decision that we both made, and I think it was a great decision because me and him are really close and really cool. We look up to each other like brothers.
Is he somebody you've thought about dorming with this year?
Desir-Jones: Yeah, he's my hall roommate.
If it weren't for Florida, where would you have signed?
Desir-Jones: Nowhere else, because I'm going to Florida. That's the school I was waiting for the whole year.
Have you decided on a college major yet?
Desir-Jones: Psychology. I just like helping people. I'd probably want to be a guidance counselor or work with law enforcement.
If you could play any team at home in the Swamp who would it be?
Desir-Jones: Probably Florida State, Ohio State and Alabama.
Do you have any superstitions or rituals in your personal life for before a game?
Desir-Jones: I like to watch movies like "Rocky" and "The Blind Side" a day before a game. I love to watch Ray Lewis before a game and watch offensive linemen tape and highlights. I love watching Lewis and I love watching Michael Oher. I love to watch Mike and Maurkice Pouncey's film, too.
Which NFL team is your favorite?
Desir-Jones: In all honesty, anybody who's willing to pay me. Right now, the situation I'm going into, I have no favorites.
If you were to eventually become a first-round NFL draft choice, what is the first thing you would buy?
Desir-Jones: I'd probably save up a little bit and definitely buy a house. I'd just really have to sit down there and go over it with my financial advisors and just try to be smart with my money, because a lot of the time athletes end up bankrupt. They end up broke, and I definitely would not want to end up like that. I'd have to sit with my financial advisors and figure out what's my next step when I'd sign that contract.
If you could play with any former college athlete, who would it be and why?
Desir-Jones: I'd love to play with Maurkice and Mike Pouncey. Those are my two favorite linemen. I look up to them. I want to bring my game to that level.
Who is your favorite athlete outside of football?
Desir-Jones: Usain Bolt. He's a beast. He works really hard. I've watched a lot of documentaries about him. If not Bolt, I'd have to say Ronaldinho from Barcelona.
What's your favorite genre of music to listen to?
Desir-Jones: I like classical and jazz. Sometimes I listen to a little bit of country. Classical, I like to listen to Mozart, Bach. If I'm listening to jazz, I'm into like B.B. King and stuff like that. I like a little bit of R&B, so I listen to John Legend. I'm a music connoisseur, because I used to sing. I like to listen to it all. Whether it comes to rock 'n' roll, country, EDM, jazz, classical music, I love it all because I love music, period. If it sounds good, let me hear it.
What's your background when it comes to singing?
Desir-Jones: I used to be part of a choir when I was in middle school and then my first two years of high school. I've always loved music, so I'd always used to sing around the house and stuff like that. I slowed down my junior and senior year. I didn't take any classes, because I just wanted to focus on football.
What is your favorite TV show?
Desir-Jones: "Game of Thrones." I started last year and I was upset because I had to wait a whole year for the new season to come out. I love that show. It's my No. 1 show.
What is your favorite movie?
Desir-Jones: Top two favorite movies, I like "The Blind Side" and "Rocky."
Do you have a favorite meal?
Desir-Jones: I love cheeseburgers and fries.
Which celebrity would you most want to trade places with for one day?
Desir-Jones: Nobody really, because I love myself. I like being me. I'm good.
If you had your choice of anyone on the planet, who would you go out with for one dream date?
Desir-Jones: Jhene Aiko.
Name one thing you can't live without.
Desir-Jones: Peanut butter. I've loved it since I was a little kid. I'd always keep a jar of peanut butter in my house because if you don't have anything else to eat you have peanut butter, and it tastes good.
What is on your bucket list? Name three things you want to do before dying.
Desir-Jones: Be able to just help my immediate family out, anytime they need something - my mom and dad, my sisters. I want to be able to help masses of people out. God put me in this position to just be able to help a lot of people out. My dad always talks to me about my purpose and says your main purpose in life is to help others.
Video courtesy of NBC6