2018 Florida LB 'liked everything' about first trip on Rocky Top

Before last weekend, Fa’najae Gotay had never visited a college campus.

That’s changed dramatically in the last five days.

The North Fort Myers (Fla.) athlete was part of a big group of South Florida prospects to camp or tour at Florida, Alabama, Vanderbilt, Tennessee and South Carolina since Saturday.

Gotay had his first real taste of touring a college campus at Tennessee on Tuesday, checking out Neyland Stadium and seeing all the other bells and whistles the Vols have to offer in terms of facilities, academics and campus life.

“That was my first time I’ve ever really visited a college,” Gotay said.

“It was good. It was crazy. I ain’t really know what to do since I never visited anywhere before. I was kind of shy at first, but it turned out to be good. All the coaches was cool. They kept it light.”

During the visit, Gotay, who plays linebacker and tailback for North Fort Myers, had a conversation with head coach Butch Jones that ultimately led to some big news.

“The head coach came over and said he’d already watched my film and everything,” Gotay explained.

“So he said, ‘I like your film,” and he had me meet the linebackers coach (Tommy Thigpen). And then we talked and then (Jones) came back up and said, ‘Did you know you had an offer from Tennessee?’

And I said, ‘Well I do now.’”

The 6-foot, 205-pound junior also holds scholarships from Washington State, Pitt, Missouri, Maryland and Louisville, among others.

Gotay was highly-productive as an undersized linebacker for the Red Knights in 2016, leading the team in tackles with 160, including 39 stops for loss, five sacks and an interception. He also added 629 yards and eight touchdowns as a backup tailback.

“Coach (Thigpen) liked that I closed fast and that I’m not scared to hit,” Gotay said.“He said that’s what we need on the team. Folks that aren’t scared.”

Gotay is built similarly to Tennessee’s undersized South Florida thumper Shanon Reid, and the Vols' freshman linebacker is actually longtime friends of Gotay.

“We’re good friends. I used to always play football with him,” Gotay said. “We were on the same (peewee) team.”

Gotay had an opportunity to catch up with Reid on Tuesday, and the Vols rookie told him to “come back and visit again now that I got an offer. So I’ll definitely be back. Like after September on an official visit.”

Asked where Tennessee stands considering his relationship with Reid and his initial impressions on his first visit, Gotay said, “They definitely up in the top. I liked everything up there. They in the top.”