Signees Reporting Update III
With Summer B set to begin next Monday, over the next couple of days the remaining 19 signees from the Class of 2013 will begin arriving in Gainesville to start their Gator careers. Over the next couple of days Inside the Gators will be catching up with all the signees to get an update on what life has been like since Signing Day, their current measurements, expected jersey number, roommate and more.
TUESDAY UPDATE: ONE SIGNEE IS STILL A CREDIT SHORT
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SAFETY NICK WASHINGTON
When are you reporting to UF?
"I'm reporting on Tuesday."
Do you know who your roommate is going to be?
"Ahmad Fulwood. It started when we were 7 or 8 and we started playing against each other. We've always hung out. We kind of always knew we were going to go to the same place together. I just committed earlier than he did."
What are your first-year expectations?
"Just be the best player I can be and help the team do whatever to get the job done and win a national championship at the end of the day."
Have they told you what position you're most likely to play?
"They said that I'm going to have a big plate and that I'll be learning safety, corner and nickel. I like to stick my nose in and make tackles. I really don't have a preference."
You had a strong senior season in baseball. How much of an impact are you expecting to make in that sport as a freshman?
"I hope to come in and make a big impact with the rest of the commits that we have. (My senior year) was alright. It started out kind of slow but toward the end of the year it really picked up. I finished the year tied for home runs in the state. I batted .349 and had 32 stolen bases."
Tell me about the moment when you decided you wanted to be a Gator.
"South Carolina was probably my first offer and Florida came like after the spring game. I kind of have always been a Gator fan. My parents have been Gators and if your parents are something, you kind of follow in their footsteps. Even when I took visits to other places, I kind of knew I wanted to be a Gator. When I was at junior day on Feb. 18, I kept telling Travaris Robinson I was going to commit but I didn't tell my parents. I went into coach Will Muschamp's office and coach Kevin O'Sullivan was there. They were like, 'So when are you going to be a Gator?' And I was like, 'Right now.' That was it."
You're going to be playing against your brother, South Carolina defensive end Devin Washington, once a year now. What will that be like?
"I'm looking forward to it. He's on defense, so I don't have to worry about it too much. I'm worried about the offensive players though because he's going to be a monster."
Do you know what number you'll be wearing yet?
"No. 22. They asked me what number I wanted to wear and I asked what numbers were available. They had single digits and double digits. The first one he named off was 22, and I was thinking about all the Gator greats that wore 22. He didn't even finish. He said 22, and I said, 'I'm going to wear that.'"
QUARTERBACK MAX STAVER
When are you reporting to UF?
"I have to be there Tuesday at 8 in the morning for orientation."
Johnny Townsend said he was your roommate. Have you talked to him about it much yet?
"We've been talking about it here and there as far as what to get and all that. I'm excited. He's a cool dude, so I'm looking forward to getting to know him and hanging out with him."
What are your first-year expectations?
"It's going to be different. It's going to be a big adjustment. I'm going to miss a lot of people here in Nashville and my family, but it's something you've got to do. It's a part of life. I'm going to be sad, but at the same time, it's time to move on. I think it will be a lot of fun. I really do. Practice is going to be a grind and a whole new adjustment. But after a little bit, I'll adjust and get a feel for it and go from there."
Have they provided you any idea what your role coming in will be?
"No, they just said you've got to come in here and compete, work your butt off. Try and move your way up the depth chart. That's what they said."
What was the final sell for you in picking Florida?
"I went to camp and I did well and they said give it two weeks and we'll make our decision of who we're going to offer. It took them the full two weeks and they knew I was right the whole time after that camp. Muschamp told me. He said, 'Are you ready to be a Gator?' And I said, 'Yes sir.' I knew right after camp that I wanted to be a Gator."
Do you know what number you're going to be wearing?
"No. 12. No significance, it was just the one I liked the most that they had available. No. 5 has been my number my entire life, but I'm going to be No. 12 now."
WIDE RECEIVER MARQUI HAWKINS
When are you reporting to Florida?
"We're leaving tonight (Monday) and I plan on getting there between 8 and 10 Tuesday morning."
Do you know who your roommate is going to be yet?
"No sir."
What have you been up to since National Signing Day?
"I've been running every morning. Working on some routes and things."
Where are you at in terms of size right now?
"I'm 207 right now. 6-2."
When did you realize that Florida was the place for you?
"When I first saw the depth chart with the receivers and the guys they didn't have coming back. I considered myself coming in here and playing early and doing work."
What are your expectations for your first year?
"I know it's going to be hard coming in. I'm not expecting the same things as high school. But my expectation is to come in and play. I wouldn't say start, but play. I just need to get down the playbook."
Do you know what number you're going to be wearing?
"My number is going to be 2. That was my high school number, so I figured I'd just keep wearing that number."
WIDE RECEIVER AHMAD FULWOOD
When are you arriving in Gainesville?
"The 25th (June)."
Have you been assigned a roommate? If not, whom would you like to room with?
"Nick Washington. We're ecstatic. We hang out pretty much everyday while we're here in Jacksonville. So, now that we get to live with each other…that's pretty much what we wanted to do, have our bachelor pad (laughing)."
What have you been up to since Signing Day?
"I've pretty much been working out with my school. Right now I've been finishing with them, staying around and working with them until they had spring practices. When they had spring I pretty much just worked out and ran."
Have you gained or lost any weight since the end of your football season?
"Yeah, I've gained about eight to ten pounds."
At what moment did you realize you wanted to be a Gator?
"Probably the day I committed when I went to the spring game. They had huge fan support even though they didn't have the greatest season before. There were a lot of fans out there cheering them on and stuff. So I mean, once I got there and got to see the field and stadium from the ground level, I knew that's where I wanted to be at."
What are your first year expectations?
"Just to make an impact. Doesn't matter if it's on the big field or on the practice field, just come in and help the team and make an impact."
What jersey number would you like?
"Number 5, just because it's been my number my whole life. If don't get a chance to have it, it's OK, but I really want it."
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OCTAVIUS JACKSON
When are you arriving in Gainesville?
"I'm leaving on Tuesday (June 25th)."
Have you been assigned a roommate? If not, who would you like to room with?
"I don't have a roommate yet. I still don't know yet."
What have you been up to since Signing Day?
"I've just been working out at my high school, running, trying to stay in shape."
Have you gained or lost any weight since the end of your senior season?
"No, not really. I'm at 300."
At what moment did you realize you wanted to be a Gator?
"As soon as I got the offer. I love the tradition."
What are your first year expectations?
"To be playing. It's a different level, but if I work as hard as possible I think I'll be ok."
What jersey number would you like?
"50. If they didn't have 50 that would be a tough decision. I don't really know which number I'd wear."
LINEBACKER JARRAD DAVIS
When are you arriving in Gainesville?
"I should be moving in tomorrow (Tuesday, June 25th)."
Have you been assigned a roommate? If not, who would you like to room with?
"I haven't been assigned a roommate. I looked on the website this past week and it said I'm in a single room. I don't have a roommate. I have to share a bathroom with someone else in the next room down from be, but I'm not sure who that's gonna be, so I'll find out tomorrow."
What has been going on since Signing Day?
"I've been trying to work out almost three or four days a week, trying to stay in some kind of good shape, just so I go down there and not get totally shocked by the workout that Florida has for me. I've just been pretty much running and working out with the football team here, just doing the regular things I always do."
Have you gained or lost any weight since the end of your football season?
"I think I ended my high school season at 205, 200 pounds, somewhere in that area. Right now I am 225."
At what moment did you realize you wanted to be a Gator?
"I think during the playoffs of my high school football season I took a visit down there and I saw the campus and was at practice, and I was like, 'this is the place for me.' Just seeing the intensity of practice, seeing how the coaches coach, and especially after practice you see how they interact with the players, you know. I definitely knew that that was when I wanted to be a Florida Gator."
What are your first year expectations?
"I really want to get down there and be able to consume all the information that I can and hopefully be able to compete for a position. I know no one is guaranteed a position on the team, definitely not me, but I just want to earn a starting position or a position on the team. But no one is guaranteed a starting position, and I understand that and I'm willing to come and work and I'll be glad with anything, as far as sitting on the bench learning the first year, or possibly being to get thrown into the mix, that would be awesome."
What jersey number would you like?
"I wanted to wear the same number as high school, which is number 40, but you never know what's gonna happen. I believe I'll be able to wear 40 down there; I just have to see if it's available this summer."
Extra:
Davis played both inside and outside linebacker in high school. The Gator coaching staff is looking at him as an ILB at this point, and he is perfectly OK with that.
"I believe they said they wanted to use me as an inside linebacker," Davis said. "At first I really wanted to play outside, but I played both in high school. I ended up playing middle the majority of last year and I really liked middle because it gives me a chance to show how much range I have and really gives me chance to test myself. I really like middle linebacker because it's kind of like a field general and I feel like the it's the best spot for me."
Bryan Holt and Robert Lopez contributed to this report
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