With Florida being content with Anthony Richardson as its only quarterback for the 2020 class, that allows the Gators staff to begin zeroing in on recruiting the position for the next cycle.
One prospect the staff has set its sights on is four-star Katy (Tx.) Tompkins quarterback Jalen Milroe, who recently released a top eight. Instead of continually chopping down lists for a suspense factor, though, the country’s third-ranked dual-threat hopes to make a decision sooner rather than later.
He said he plans to make a commitment before the season. “So I’m still focusing on building a relationship with those eight schools,” he said.
Milroe’s top eight consists of Alabama, Florida State, Houston, Nebraska, Oregon, Texas A&M, and Texas, in addition to Florida.
He told Inside the Gators the relationship he is building with Gators quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson is keeping him very interested in Florida, despite not having stepped foot on campus.
“We actually talked yesterday [Wednesday],” he revealed. “He just asked me how things are going, but we talk on the phone often, like once a week or so just about my timeline and what he’s feeling. Definitely keeping that relationship going.”
Since releasing his list two of his top eight programs have received commitments from two of the top signal callers in the nation when Drake Maye pledged to Alabama and Haynes King committed to Texas A&M.
While that may lower his value to those two schools, based on frequent talks with Coach Johnson, the top 100 prospect feels prioritized at Florida.
“[Johnson] tells me he’s looking at me heavily. He’s just trying to get me down there and introduce me to Coach Mullen.”
Now, a new set of obstacles present themselves for schools vying for the 6–foot-1 1/2, 194-pounder’s signature; First being that the Texas native is very high on the in-state Longhorns.
“Texas is a school I would go to,” Milroe said. “We’ve been building a relationship all spring. I’m talking to Coach [Tim] Beck a lot and I like him, the coaching style, and how successful they are. I also like [current QB] Sam Ehlinger. So I see myself at Texas.”
The second uphill battle is the Dead Period. For those unfamiliar with the term, the Dead Period prohibits coaches from having any in-person contact with recruits or their parents. This, according to Milroe, is what has kept him from visiting Gainesville.
“I’ve been trying to come visit,” he exclaimed. “It’s just the Dead Period messed things up. The time I’m able to visit is when I’m in the middle of my football season.”
The issue Milroe is most concerned about in picking a college, though, is not an arbitrary timeline or getting around a Dead Period. The rising junior is looking for a home away from home.
“Coach Johnson is important [because I] need to have that relationship with the staff. I’m not focused on in-state or out-of-state. I just want to find home. A place where I can communicate about life and football. Me and Coach Johnson talk about other things besides football.”
Milroe is the No. 74 ranked prospect in the nation in the Class of 2021 according to the 247 Sports Composite.