OL Payton Kirkland Enjoys ‘Surreal’ Official Visit With Florida Gators

Picture: Payton Kirkland; Credit score: Zach Goodall

It’s kind of completely different for gamers once they take their official visits to applications, together with to the Florida Gators as Dr. Phillips HS (Orlando, Fla.) offensive lineman Payton Kirkland realized following his three-day affair with this system, in a position to absorb all that Florida has to supply earlier than making his ultimate resolution on the place to go on July 23.

Kirkland and fellow 2023 recruiting class, classmate LB Malik Bryant will probably be asserting their dedication on the identical day. The occasion will give everybody in attendance an thought of what went into their selections whereas celebrating their commitments on the identical time.

Previous to that, although, are official visits with varied applications. He is already made an official go to with Oklahoma, with Michigan State and Miami nonetheless on the horizon. A brand new college that hasn’t been talked about a lot, although, Texas A&M is probably getting into the combo as Kirkland continues his recruitment ahead.

“The offensive line coach has an incredible relationship with my offensive line coach at my college as a result of they have been right here at Florida collectively,” Kirkland mentioned on Sunday, shortly following his go to to Florida when requested concerning the Aggies probably getting into the fray.

Kirkland is referring to, after all, Texas A&M offensive line coach Steve Addazio, who coached at Florida from 2005-10 in varied roles, together with OL coach and TE coach. His present OL coach at Dr. Phillips, Adam Sitter, was a high quality management coach at Florida alongside Addazio at the moment.

Nonetheless, this go to was all about Florida, in the end, and it gave Kirkland a possibility to indicate his Mother, Veronica, the college in-depth. The expertise was completely different, capable of see the coaches of their pure habitat as a part of the “surreal” expertise, Kirkland shared.

“It is simply seeing coaches of their pure habitats moderately than them being at college in your face and watching apply and with the ability to sit down and have a troublesome dialog,” Kirkland mentioned. “This course of is a troublesome course of and difficult conversations should be had. And that is one thing that loads of youngsters slip up on is having these powerful conversations.”

At 6-foot-6, 345 kilos, Kirkland tasks as a sort out on the subsequent degree, particularly a left sort out. Florida, nonetheless, sees him as extra than simply that, realizing that he has the power to play all 5 positions alongside the offensive line. One factor’s for sure, Kirkland mentioned, the Gators have a plan for him.

“They see me coming in and being an affect, really as a left sort out,” he mentioned. “They see me, no matter grade, they really feel like I am a really gifted participant, and I’ve made myself useful of with the ability to play all 5 positions on the offensive line. So, if there is a senior forward of me at left sort out, they will put me at guard, subsequent 12 months they will bump me as much as sort out.”

Kirkland is not essentially undervalued, nonetheless, coming in because the No. 23 offensive sort out within the nation, in response to On3 consensus and the No. 279 total participant within the nation. That is not too dangerous, however the logic is sound, making himself as useful as doable will solely add to what groups can see him being and doing inside their program.

Florida having a plan for Kirkland is “superb,” he added. It is one thing that has caught out to him as he continues ahead with the method.

“Quite a lot of guys, they’ve uncommittable gives, this, that and the third. , no matter what the rating says, instructing and movie would not lie. So, it is loads of guys who’re extremely ranked that do not have the instructing and so they haven’t got the assets that I do,” Kirkland defined.

“So, you already know, I really feel I’ve a step forward of all people in my class when it comes all the way down to a psychological side, the bodily side and basic points.”

That’s a part of the rationale why Kirkland has ye to be denied a spot. He has the traits that translate to the following half degree, one thing that not each recruit might need, no matter their present “rating.”

Particularly, in relation to Florida, the workers being real has been one of many issues which have stood out. Regardless of when he involves this system, having already visited a number of instances on unofficial visits over the previous few months, they’re constant, nothing that head coach Billy Napier has completed every part that he mentioned he’ll do since he arrived on campus.

“It is the truth that every part stays the identical. The message stays the identical, the folks keep the identical, and the attitudes keep the identical. The coaches, they’re fairly open with the gamers, they’re fairly open with the recruits as properly, you already know, nothing adjustments right here.”

There’s nonetheless a lot to do between now and July 23. Kirkland will return house in spite of everything of his visits this month and sit down along with his Mother to determine what is perhaps greatest for him shifting ahead. Florida is squarely within the combine, however make no mistake, no crew that is at the moment on his radar has been eradicated, nor will probably be at this second.

“I already know what it’s in Florida, you already know, it is only a matter of determining the place I wish to go.”

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