Please Read: Welcome to the new-look Inside the Gators
- No. 2 ranked tackle wants to see Florida
- Ranking Florida’s chances with the June official visitors on defense
- Ranking Florida’s chances with the June official visitors on offense
In mid-June Florida joined Texas A&M in becoming the second SEC program to extend an offer to New Rochelle (N.Y) Iona Preparatory School four-star offensive tackle Rowan Byrne.
The 6-foot-6, 290-pounder has already been on unofficial visits to multiple programs, and says that Florida is another he will see.
QUICK Q&A
Did you have a favorite college team (or player) growing up?
“Yeah, when I was growing JJ Watt and Quentin Nelson were my favorite players, so I grew up a Notre Dame and Wisconsin fan.”
Out of your early offers is there one or two that really caught your attention? A ‘wow’ moment?
“Yeah of my early offers, Notre Dame and Michigan stand out as a ‘wow’ for sure.”
How did the Florida offer come about? Who did you communicate with and what did they have to say to you?
“The Florida offer came about because I’d been in contact with coach [Cheston] Blackshear. He and the rest of the offensive line coaches reviewed my film and got to know me and thought that now was the time to offer me. They felt I am polished as a ‘25 lineman and I have the ability to play all five spots on the line.”
What are your early impressions of Florida?
“I think Florida is great, fantastic culture and history, it’s a program that’s trending upwards and it would be great when I get there. I’ll have to visit to see more, but I think it’s a great program.”
Have you visited any college campuses yet? If so, where and what were a couple of your favorite visits?
“Yeah I’ve visited a bunch of schools, honestly my favorites were the visits I took the past week. Michigan, Notre Dame, and Wisconsin were all really great.”
Do you have any plans to see any schools over the summer?
“I might see one other school this summer besides the ones I’ve seen, that being Florida. I will definitely take a trip to Florida at some point.”
It’s still early, but do you have any leaders or are there a couple of programs that you know will be there until the very end for whatever reason?
“Yeah those programs would be Michigan Notre Dame and Wisconsin I know those will be there until the end. Whether I end up at those schools or not, I will be focused on those schools heavily.”
What’s going to be important to you when you make your choice?
“The most important things in my decision are going to be where I fit in the most. Where are my best relationships with the coaches? Where will I be my best self, along with where can I fit it being myself? Those will all matter when making a decision for my future school.”
Byrne is the No. 224 ranked prospect in the Class of 2025 according to the On3 Consensus.
It sounds like he really likes Notre Dame.