Good Morning Gators: Spotlight on Florida's new GatorMade program
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When it comes to college athletes marketing themselves and building their brand, name, image and likeness is just part of the equation at the University of Florida.
NIL is one of the components of UF’s new GatorMade program. Launched by coach Billy Napier in January, it’s a holistic player-focused and purpose-driven initiative that develops the football players during their time at UF and beyond.
Savannah Bailey serves as the senior director of player relations and GatorMade.
“In my role, I have the opportunity to do personal and professional development for our young men, really just to serve as an opportunity to challenge them,” Bailey said. “To challenge their experiences, their exposure, what they’re interested in exploring and provide as much opportunity as possible alongside what they decide to create.”
Over spring break, nine UF football players spent four days in Atlanta for a weekend of professional exposure, exploration and experience through the GatorMade program.
Joining Bailey on the trip was Marcus Castro-Walker, Florida’s director of player engagement and NIL.
“When it comes to the NIL space, it’s a new landscape. Not just college football, but college athletics as a whole,” Castro-Walker said. “A large part of what I do with the program is make sure these young men are understanding contracts they’re signing. They understand what they’re being asked, they understand language in the contracts and what space they’re into.
“As a GatorMade team, we believe that the real why is, ‘What is your 40?’ What does your life look like when you are 40? What type of person are you going to be? What type of leader are you going to be? And what they learn right now in this space with the GatorMade team gives them those tools to have a successful 40.”
The GatorMade program features former UF player Vernell Brown Jr., who was retained on staff and is now senior director of student-athlete development and alumni relations, and Diane Lebon, another staff holdover who serves as football business manager and GatorMade coordinator.
“I played here a long time ago, from 01-05. Was a captain, had a really successful career here. So, I’m one of those guys that’s really passionate about making sure guys take advantage of this opportunity here at the University of Florida,” Brown said.
“I like to think of myself as a source of counsel for the players,” said Lebon, who also made the trip to Atlanta. “I’m someone that they come to to open up. You’ll pass by my desk, you’ll see them sitting there and I’m just giving them advice.”
In other Florida football news
- Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin sees a potential major shakeup in college athletics, specifically with the Power Five conferences.
- There’s a new boss at Florida, and first-year coach Billy Napier’s plans to remake the football program are well underway.
UF recruiting roundup
- Gators Online’s Corey Bender dishes out the very latest in UF recruiting and what he’s hearing regarding some of the top targets.
- Where Florida’s running back board stands in the 2023 class, including updates on Cedric Baxter Jr., Richard Young and Treyaun Webb.
- Four-star RB Parker Jenkins, who says “UF is up there” in his recruitment, is working on his official visit itinerary with the Gators.
- Jamal Anderson, the nation’s No. 5 linebacker in the On3 rankings, plans to visit Florida ‘as soon as possible’ after being offered.
- Gators co-defensive coordinator Patrick Toney made a stop in Georgia on Tuesday to check on a 2023 safety target.
- Florida co-defensive coordinator Sean Spencer inquired about a pair of five-star teammates on Tuesday.
- Kelby Collins, a top-50 overall recruit in the On3 Consensus, includes the Gators in his final five teams.
Gators sports roundup
- Led by starting pitcher Tyler Nesbitt, a trio of Gator hurlers blanked Bethune-Cookman to deliver a 7-0 shutout win on Tuesday.
Let’s keep talking
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Gators Twitter updates
- Florida defensive tackle Gervon Dexter shares photos of his newborn son.
- Sacks on sacks on sacks for Brenton Cox Jr., who looks to break the school record in 2022.
- Florida’s coaches on the recruiting trail:
