Good Morning Gators: Nine players took business trip to ATL over spring break
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When spring break arrives, most college athletes go back home for the week or book a vacation to get away.
But when UF paused classes from March 5-12, nine football players decided to keep learning by taking a business trip.
Through the GatorMade program, they spent four days in Atlanta for a weekend of professional exposure, exploration and experience.
Joining them on the trip was Savannah Bailey, senior director of player relations and GatorMade, GatorMade coordinator Diane Lebon and Marcus Castro-Walker, director of player engagement and NIL.
“In GatorMade’s inaugural business weekend, we took a trip to Atlanta, Ga., where a lot of folks have headquarters. There’s plenty of Gator alum as well as just a general cultural imprint,” Bailey said in the video below.
“It’s something to commit to a young man and his growth on the field, but to have someone say I’m growing and investing in you as a person, what your personal and professional development looks like, means the world.”
On the first day, the players visited with the Atlanta Falcons organization and had dinner with Danny Wuerffel at King & Spalding. The second day included visits to the Atlanta Hawks, Chick-fil-A, Morgan Stanley and Tyler Perry Studios.
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Day three marked stops at the Atlanta Braves, Home Depot, Atlanta Streetwear Market and Lifestyle Photoshoot. The Gators wrapped up the trip on day four at the College Football Hall of Fame with former UF player Terry LeCount.
The nine players who traveled to Atlanta were Jack Anders, Kaleb Boateng, Justus Boone, Chief Borders, Hayden Clem, Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, Randy Russell, Michael Tarquin and Kamari Wilson.
“I feel like it’s very important for guys on the team to have the opportunity to expand on their professional career after football and have a much better idea of what they want to do when it’s over,” Tarquin said.
The GatorMade program, launched by Billy Napier in January, is a holistic player-focused and purpose-driven initiative that develops the football players during their time at UF and beyond.
In other Florida football news
- After getting the itch to coach, Mike Peterson’s first opportunity never came at Florida. Now he is back with six years of SEC experience and his own “coach’s creed.”
- Florida coach Billy Napier has made two additions to his army, including a new recruiting hire, giving the Gators more than 60 football staff members.
UF recruiting roundup
- On300 offensive tackle Tyree Adams is set to reconnect with Billy Napier’s staff next month after being offered by the Gators this week.
- Less than 24 hours removed from landing an offer, four-star offensive tackle Caden Jones wasted little time setting visit itinerary with UF.
- Texas A&M DL commit Anthony James received an offer from the Gators on Tuesday and plans to check out Gainesville this spring.
Gators sports roundup
- New Florida men’s basketball coach Todd Golden announced his second hire in as many days Wednesday, adding SEC coaching veteran Korey McCray to his staff.
- The seventh-ranked Florida softball team picked up its fourth win over a Top 25 opponent Wednesday night with a 10-3 victory over UCF.
Let’s keep talking
Want to keep the conversation going? Head over to our Florida message board, Swamp Talk. Gators Online is running a spring camp promo. Sign up here and join the discussion for just $10, which will cover the next four months.
Gators Twitter updates
- Florida co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Sean Spencer mic’d up (again) at practice:
- UF running back Nay’Quan Wright said Napier is a player’s coach. Example? “After practice, there’s this young generation thing you say, ‘no cap’, meaning you’re not lying,” Wright explained. “He had us break it down to ‘no cap.’ Just things like that, little joking moments and being relatable to his players.”
