‘Real still resonates' - Florida Gators HC Jon Sumrall is dominating in recruiting because he's got one element most don't possess
The Florida Gators made a home-run hire with head coach Jon Sumrall, and it’s resonating the most in one level.
Recruiting has been a massive success for the Florida Gators thanks to head coach Jon Sumrall . He’s landed 14 recruits in less than six months on the job, and the energy surrounding the program has been the talk of recruits. It’s just different under Sumrall.
It isn’t just recruits talking about the Gators in this kind of light, analysts are seeing it too. Last week, On3 Sports’ J.D. PicKell compared the Gators to Rainforest Cafe .
Great example of this. The food isn't anything to write hell about. It's not bad, but it's not the reason why you go to Rainforest Cafe. You go to Rainforest Cafe because you got animatronic Amazon creatures all over that place, with the monkeys. I think there's like alligators, and there's like fake waterfalls that there's a lot going on in Rainforest Cafe where, okay, this vibe is sick. That's Florida.
On3 Sports’ J.D. PicKell
Jon Sumrall’s persona continues to shine
The one thing that stands out about Sumrall is something that not every coach has: he’s genuine. Pickell highlighted that, and he’s spot on.
“Real in modern college football still resonates. Now, does NIL matter? Of course. Does creating a plan, having development, matter? Of course, but I think in the day and age where there is so much being thrown at these kids at that level of NIL, and we’re going to have you do this, that and the other, and you’re going to make this much money, I think real still wins out in a really big way.”
On3 Sports’ J.D. PicKell
Being authentic is so important to connect with today’s college kids. There are coaches taking shots at each other constantly, and others who will say anything to get someone to commit. Sumrall certainly isn’t perfect, nor will anyone claim he is. What Sumrall has shown is that his word means something. It’s a big reason why he was able to retain so many talented players from last year’s team.
“If you don’t believe me, look at who Florida retained when John Sumrall showed up: Dallas Wilson, Jadan Baugh, Jayden Woods jumped into the transfer portal, took a visit somewhere else and came back to Florida. I cannot stress this enough, all three of those guys I would bet my life savings on that they were tampered with from before Billy Napier got fired when other coaches saw the writing on the wall. You don’t think they were calling Jadan Baugh ‘Hey, your coach is going to get fired when he does come play for us.’ So, to have that that build up of those guys getting tampered with, to have John Sumrall show up as a G5 head coach with zero experience in the SEC at a head coaching level and to retain those guys, that’s real. That’s buy in.”
On3 Sports’ J.D. PicKell
If this keeps up, the Gators aren’t just going to continue having great recruiting classes, but also compete for national championships. The mentality of Sumrall is changing things in Gainesville, and the entire world will see the results.
