Kendrick Norton is back on the market following his decommitment from Florida State earlier this week, and Florida appears to be early front-runner for the versatile lineman.
Norton is an offensive guard and defensive tackle for Jacksonville Trinity Christian but prefers the latter position.
That played a part in his decision to back off his pledge to the ’Noles, who wanted him as a guard.
“(Defensive tackle) is where I’m going to play in college,” he said. “So I just want to take my time and get a feel for the recruiting process.”
Norton has wasted no time in looking elsewhere. He visited UF on Thursday and returned for Saturday’s camp session as a spectator.
“It feels like home,” Norton said afterward. “I just like the environment and the whole atmosphere at Florida. They have one of the best fan bases in college football. Everywhere you go, you see a Florida T-shirt.”
On Saturday, the 6-foot-2, 292-pounder spent most of his time watching Gators defensive line coach Brad Lawing put campers through drills.
“I learned a lot of stuff that I can incorporate into my game,” Norton said. “I like him a lot. Just the way he works with his players. He has a great history of putting top-caliber guys in the league.”
Norton said the UF coaches like him at defensive tackle and have a need at the position.
“They told me there’s a chance to play early,” he said. “They’re not guaranteeing me a starting job or a spot in the rotation. They just told me the opportunity is there and it’s what I make of it.”
Florida is currently the only school that Norton knows he will officially visit, and he plans to announce his commitment at the Under Armour All-America Game.
If the gators can get him along with the other guy already committed, maybe they can get the linebacker from trinity as well.
We need to get a couple of these DT/NT types in this class. Most of our DL on the current roster are more of the DT/DE type except Cummings and Orr who will both be gone after this year. Behind them is Bostwick and Brantley who seem to be developing slowly according to the coaches.
Yea, DT is a definite need for this recruiting cycle.
We also have Holley and Clark coming in this year, and Clark in particular looks like a NG. We can always use another good one, though.
Imagine this guy along with the two bookends we are pursuing — who claim to be a package deal. Probably will give us the best DL class of the year and will be the anchor for another 3 years of defensive dominance.
Get it done coach!! And bring in some O-linemen too!! And keep your job!!
Exactly TJ! Not just this year, but could be the best 2 years for DL classes. Could you imagine getting Byron Cowart, Cece Jefferson, Kendrick Norton, a couple more Big D linemen in this class and then adding them to what we got last year in Gerald Willis 3, Khairi Clark, and Thomas Holley? Now that’s a QB’s nightmare!
Forgot about Clark. I think Holley is more of a 4 man DT or SDE though. Still would be nice to get this guy though and as TJ mentioned we really need stud Olinemen in this class.
Forget about Clark? Dude is a monster!