Athlete Tyrek Tisdale (5-11, 200, Orlando, FL Oak Ridge) has visited the Florida Gators on back-to-back weekends but this weekend was different because he got to watch head coach Jim McElwain and his team in action.

“It was a good time,” Tisdale said. “I got to see more stuff on campus this time and then I just sat down with coach Mac to talk a little bit. I also got to see practice. Practice was good and high energy. I got to see some of the new things on offense that they are doing.”

The thing that stood out to Tisdale the most was the connection the team and coaches have already built in just a short time together.

“They had good chemistry out at practice between everyone, “Tisdale said. “There was good chemistry between the new coaches and the players so it was good to see that. Everyone was just getting along out there nicely.

College football has turned to the spread offense that is all about speed, but Tisdale is enjoying McElwain’s simple, under center offense because of what it could do for his future.

“I loved the NFL based offense because it gets you ready for the next level,” Tisdale said. “They run a lot of NFL material and it is not college spread because you’re not going to run that in the NFL. That kind of offense really helps in the NFL and the scouts like that. I can see myself playing in that offense.”

After practice was over Tisdale got the chance to sit down with McElwain for close to thirty minutes where McElwain asked the Orlando athlete his opinion of the visit.

“Coach Mac was just asking how I felt about practice and I told him I liked it,” Tisdale said. “I told him that they already have a bond with the players after just a week of practice. I told him it seemed like he had already been there for five years. I told him that for a recruit it was good seeing that.”

McElwain offered Tisdale as an athlete and on Saturday he explained why, and the Orlando athlete was ok with it.

“He said that I can help the offense out,” Tisdale said “He said that I’ll fit well into that type of offense because it fits my style of play. He said that he doesn’t know which position exactly because he wants to watch me this spring and then figure it out. I don’t care where I play as long as I can help win a national championship.”

Tisdale has been hesitant to name a leader in the past but after Saturday’s visit he could no longer back away from naming one.

“Florida is my leader now,” Tisdale said. “I’m just going to surprise everyone with my decision. I’m just going to surprise the world with it one day but I’m going to take some trips with my teammates because they took trips with me. I want them to know that I support them.”

INSIDERS TAKE: Florida has done a great job of recruiting Tisdale and making him feel at home in Gainesville. The Gators coaching staff has shown him everything he needs to see but Tisdale wants to make sure he makes the right decision before announcing anything.