Bainbridge (Ga.) four-star running back Dameon Pierce saw his senior season come to a close when his team lost to Starr's Mill in the second round of the Georgia playoffs.
Now that he can fully focus on his future, he has one main question that he needs to have answered:
Will Florida retain running backs coach Ja'Juan Seider?
If so, it appears that the four-star back will remain firmly committed to the Gators.
If not, then anything can happen.
According to the 5-foot-11, 210-pound record setting back, after meeting with Florida athletics director Scott Stricklin, he feels good that Seider may remain.
In his meeting with the media after Florida's 36-7 victory over Alabama-Birmingham, Pierce talked about meeting with Stricklin, his thoughts on Seider, possible other visits, returning to Florida next weekend and more.
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WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT TONIGHT? “Same thing I like about every home game: intensity, great coaching. Tonight, we came out with a win and Coach [Randy] Shannon doing a great job leading those guys out there on the field tonight with the absence of Coach Jim [McElwain]. Like I said, every time I come here, it's a great experience, and I enjoy myself.”
WHAT DID FLORIDA RUNNING BACKS COACH JA'JUAN SEIDER HAVE TO SAY TO YOU? “Oh, that's my boy. He was just catching up on my life, just checking up on me and how I'm doing. Seeing me off before I go home.”
HOW KEY IS SEIDER IN YOUR COMMITMENT? “If Coach Seider were to have been one of the coaches to leave with Coach Mac, I probably would have decommitted honestly because me and Coach Seider have a great relationship between each other. And he understands what I want as a football player and he's what I want as a coach. As far as leadership goes, just a great guy overall and I wouldn't trade him for nothing.”
HAVE YOU TWO TALKED ABOUT HIS FUTURE AT FLORIDA? “Yea, hopefully, he said, with the way things are going with the athletic director, things look solid. You're never sure, but it's a day-to-day thing. He's still here now, so I'm still here.”
DO YOU BELIEVE HE WILL BE RETAINED? “Yea, I'm pretty sure cause I talked to Scott Stricklin. He's a great guy and I think he understands the importance of Coach Seider being here for me.”
WHERE DO YOU STAND? ARE YOU LOOKING AT OTHER SCHOOLS? TAKING OTHER VISITS? “I mean, it's the recruiting process. So why not, why not check out schools? I don't know if I can name them right now. It's a thinking process. As far as officials go, same thing. I got to think about it but I know for a fact, Florida is one of my officials. Florida might be my first official to be honest. Like I said, just going to check out schools, just have fun with it.
WHAT WOULD IT MEAN TO YOU IF CHIP KELLY WERE HIRED? “Man, look. If Chip Kelly come here, I'm going to hit some cartwheels cause I grew up an Oregon fan, I grew up a Chip Kelly fan. Chip Kelly come here, that's icing on the cake.
WHAT HAPPENS IF SEIDER ISN'T RETAINED BY THE NEW COACH? “That would have a huge impact on my decision with Florida and I might have to decommit. Depending on circumstances.”
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