Why Mark Faircloth turned down several offers to walk on at Florida
On Friday morning, the Gators reeled in a commitment from another 2024 prospect. This time, however, it was an addition by way of preferred walk-on.
Mark Faircloth, a 6-foot-5, 320-pound offensive lineman from Tallahassee (Fla.) Florida State University School, pulled himself off the market today. He joins a Gators recruiting class that already features 22 prospects and ranks third nationally.
With Faircloth, this is not your typical walk-on addition either, as several full-ride scholarships are on the table. Those suitors include Florida Atlantic, Middle Tennessee State and UAB.
It’s not often when a prospect turns down opportunities like that to pay his own way; however, after numerous visits to the Swamp, Faircloth couldn’t turn down the opportunity to go to battle with Billy Napier. Those relationships in Gainesville are strong as they get, especially the one with UF’s head coach.
All in all, choosing to walk on at Florida was a no-brainer for Faircloth.
“The staff at UF is really what put it over the top for me,” Faircloth told Gators Online. “I know coach Napier is a busy man and he still found the time to talk to me whenever as a PWO. The little things like always checking on your family makes it really personal.
“The future in the Swamp is different from anything I’ve seen, and I want to be a part of that.”
Faircloth’s effort will never be questioned in Gainesville
Faircloth, a first team all-state selection, is a workhorse who is nowhere near satisfied as a player.
Over the offseason, he dropped a significant amount of weight to improve his athleticism and is only getting better week by week. I am told the Gators believe he has the size and traits to develop into a solid player for them. Building out the walk-on program is extremely important to this staff.
Since becoming a head coach, Billy Napier has placed 40-plus players on scholarship, with Faircloth being one of those potential candidates down the line.
“The jump from my junior to senior season was massive. Junior year, I was 340 pounds and now I am down to 300 pounds and getting as strong and fast as I can,” said Faircloth.
“The fans down in Gainesville are definitely getting an eager and hard worker who wants to help this team.”
If all goes as planned, Faircloth will be returning to Gainesville on Saturday for the UF-Arkansas game.
Stay tuned to Gators Online.
