Committing to play soccer for the Florida Gators may appear to be a no brainer for life-long Gators fan Tyree Patterson. The Eustis receiver, who was supplied a scholarship by UF on Friday, indicated that it’s not that easy.
“I’m not really used to this process,” Patterson mentioned. “I’m still trying to take the process slow and see how it goes.”
Patterson is the nephew of former Eustis and UCF standout Joe Burnett, who performed within the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Patterson has but to obtain a UCF supply.
The recruiting course of for the 6-foot-2, 182-pound Patterson has began slowly for a few causes. He didn’t even play soccer after deciding to focus on basketball after his seventh-grade 12 months. He’s additionally caught in tiny Eustis, a Lake County faculty that doesn’t obtain a lot recruiting visitors.
“Me and my dad sat down after my 10th-grade year’s basketball season and he said he thought I should focus more on what I want to do in college, what I love the most,” Patterson mentioned. “I chose football over basketball.”
It’s no shock Patterson is opening the eyes of recruiters. He’s had two massive seasons of soccer since returning to the sport. In 18 video games he has had 85 catches for 1,692 yards and 20 touchdowns and averages 5 catches for practically 100 yards and a landing per recreation.
“I had a pretty good year my first year playing football,” Patterson mentioned. “Then my junior year, that was like by breakout year, showing people I’m that person.”
The Gators’ supply is Patterson’s fourth Football Bowl Subdivision scholarship supply — with North Texas, UMass and Liberty — however by far the most important.
His important recruiter at UF has been receivers coach Keary “KC” Colbert and he additionally acquired a name from first-year head coach Billy Napier on Friday evening.
Colbert knowledgeable Patterson of the supply.
“It was on FaceTime when he told me and I was just smilin’ the whole time,” Patterson mentioned. “It was kinda shocking because that’s my first big, big offer … so yeah, I was a little shocked and happy at the same time.”
He was joyful to get a name from Napier as nicely.
“It was pretty good. He was just saying how they all love my game and they got a lot of things coming for me,” Patterson mentioned. “He was saying I remind him of one of many gamers [Calvin Ridley] he coached when he as at Alabama. He mentioned I used to be simply larger than him and he can’t wait to have me down there [in Gainesville].
“He said of all the receivers he coached, he had 16 go to the NFL. That’s what I’m trying to do.”
Eustis coach Frank Scott mentioned Patterson has all of the instruments needed,
“He’s only really played football for two years and it’s crazy how much he’s developed during that time,” Scott mentioned. “He’s got a lot of upside and he’s going to do big things.”
This article initially appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Chris Hays covers highschool soccer and faculty recruiting for the Orlando Sentinel. He might be reached at [email protected].
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Source: www.bostonherald.com