All it should take is a glance at where Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Northridge four-star offensive tackle Wilkin Formby hails from to make a pretty good guess as to where he will end up. So, it's not a stretch to think that his being born and bred in the same city as the Alabama Crimson Tide could lead other programs to figure – 'why waste our time?'
Formby, however, said that if they do, they shouldn't feel that way.
"I am from Tuscaloosa, and Alabama is a great program," said Formby. "But throughout this process I have researched a lot of schools, including Alabama, to find the best fit for me. I am very thankful and blessed for all of my offers and I want to give them the respect of truly evaluating if they are the best choice for me."
That research included spending the weekend checking out the Florida Gators.
"I had never been so I was excited to check it out," Formby said of UF. "It is a great program with good history and a good fan base. Meeting all of the staff and coaches was the highlight. I got to spend a lot of time with Coach [Billy] Napier, coach [Rob] Sale, and [Darnell] Stapleton, just to name a few. We got to see their new athletic facility, which looks so nice. I loved hearing about their vision and plan for the Gators. We talked a lot about their short-term and long-term goals."
The 6-foot-7, 295-pounder also got to watch the Gators practice.
"I got to see how the flow of practice was and their coaching styles," explained Formby. "It was very organized and structured well. Great energy from the staff and players."
He has now been to Oklahoma and Florida this spring and said he still hopes to make it to Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Ole Miss, and Tennessee.
Even with that being the case, when asked if he was putting together an early leaderboard, he replied, "Not yet."
Formby is the No. 141 ranked prospect in the nation according to the On3 Consensus.
The Inside Scoop: If we're being honest, for the most part kids who are from Alabama, and are coveted by the in-state schools, don't leave a great deal of the time. Where Florida ultimately stands will be dependent upon getting him back on campus. He doesn't seem like the type to be overly 'wowed' by a visit – which could play in the Gators' favor if he is thinking about more than just thw 'wow' factor, but what a school can do for him going forward.