December 14th, 2009 04:08pm
UF, Burton make <http://recruiting.blogs.gatorsports.com/10267/uf-burton-make-pitch-to-jorda n-hicks/> pitch to Jordan Hicks by Edward Aschoff <http://recruiting.blogs.gatorsports.com/author/aschoff/> If football at Florida doesn't work out for Venice quarterback Trey Burton, he should become the Gators' new recruiting coordinator. The oh-so athletic Burton has a knack for making plays on the football field, but he's been making recruiting plays for more than a year now, and he might have made his biggest pitch this weekend. Burton, along with 11 other prospects, made official visits to UF over the weekend. He clicked immediately with West Chester, Ohio, Lakota West linebacker Jordan Hicks. Rivals.com rates Hicks as the No. 1 linebacker in the country and the 12th-best prospect nationally. He's developed much more interest in the Gators in the last few months, but the loss of defensive coordinator Charlie Strong was thought to maybe have an impact. From what I've been told, Hicks, who only conducts weekly teleconferences to discuss recruiting, is dealing directly with Florida coach Urban Meyer. It's no surprise that Burton was in charge of hanging with Hicks, and Burton said the two had a good time. "He's a real cool guy," Burton said of Hicks. "I could see us being best friends if he came to Florida. He's really chill. He's a really good athlete and fun to be around." Burton didn't say Hicks committed to the Gators, but does think Florida has a really good shot at landing him. It helps that Hicks will be an early enrollee and make a decision very soon. Hicks has been on campus before and Burton said he didn't have to be much of a salesman. It's not hard recruiting for one of the top college football programs. "There's really no persuading (Hicks)," he said. "We just tell him the truth. It's the best college in the nation and there are just so many stats that you can pull out (about Florida's program) and most of them people don't even understand what they mean. It's unreal. What we can say compared to what other colleges can say? It's the best place in the nation and I think he had a good time." The thing Burton said really impressed him and the other recruits this weekend was the mood around the program even after the loss to Alabama. Burton and a couple of prospects attended Florida's practice Saturday and he said there was electricity in the air and that Meyer came up to him and said it was the "best practice they've ever had." Players were very excited to see the Gators come out with fire despite the situation they are in. "Everybody's ready to redeem themselves for losing in the SEC championship game," Burton said. "It's not what they wanted it to be in, but they're all still happy with going to the Sugar Bowl. It's the biggest bowl after the national championship." Oliver Barry CRS,GRI Real Estate Broker Bob Parks Realty 1517 Hunt Club Blvd Gallatin TN 37066 Phone: 615-826-4040 Fax: 615-822-2027 Mobile: 615-972-4239 -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us
