New Florida Gators head coach Jon Sumrall was hired with only a few days to spare before the start of the December Signing Period. That didn’t allow UF’s new head man much time to work on new targets outside of the commits he inherited from the previous staff. However, one name that things were able to move quickly with was Tuskegee (Ala.) Booker T. Washington safety Dylan Purter. The 4-star had been committed to LSU since March, but flipped his commitment from the Tigers to Florida. After taking over at Florida, Sumrall wasted little time reaching out to Purter. That got the wheels in motion for this flip.

“He hit me up the day he got hired,” Dylan Purter told Gators Online earlier this week. “I think he got hired on a Sunday, and he was calling me that night. He told me that he really wanted me at Tulane, and he still wants me at Florida. It’s a good spot for him, and he said he wants me to come with him. So I’m flipping.”

Dylan Purter has a strong connection with Sumrall

New Florida coach Jon Sumrall has only been the Gators’ head man for 5 days. He’s still working on filling out his inaugural coaching staff in Gainesville. Despite that, Dylan Purter is high on Sumrall and covets their relationship. Their longstanding ties were the catalyst behind this flip.

“Coach Sumrall is really a big reason for all of this,” he said. “I built a really good bond with him when he was at Tulane. Him and Coach Berez [Tulane nickels coach Brayden Berezowtz]. He coaches the spear over at Tulane, which is the nickel coach.”

From past visits to Tulane, the 6-foot, 165-pounder has gotten a close view of how Coach Sumrall runs his program and connects with his players. In Purter’s eye, Sumrall brings the best of both worlds as a coach, with development on the field and close ties to his players off the field.

“He’s very energetic and very passionate about what he does. He loves the game, but he connects with his players off the field too. That means a lot knowing that he’s someone that’s going to push you on the field, but is going to love you off the field.”

It also helps that Sumrall has a defensive background.

“For me, being a defensive guy, that means a lot. Defense wins championships, so having a coach that is a defensive guy is going to be good for me.”

Purter is familiar with Gainesville and has a teammate committed

The previous Florida staff offered Dylan Purter earlier this year when he visited camps for a junior day in Gainesville. That was his only visit he’s made to campus, but it was enough to give him some insight into how things run there.

“I went there earlier this year when the old staff was there. I love the academic program they have there. It’s good scenery in Florida. I love how it’s set up with their campus. Everything there is where you need it to be. I just love how everything there is there. Florida is one of the top spots with the location.”

Purter will also have a familiar face with him on campus when it’s time to get enrolled. His Booker T. Washington teammate, and 4-star wide receiver Marquez Daniel, has been committed to the Gators since June. The two are friends, and it helps to go through the college experience with someone he’s close to.

“I’m excited about that right there,” he said. “That’s my boy. It’s good having someone from where I’m from going through all this with me in college.”

The Rivals Industry, a weighted average of the three major recruiting services, ranks Dylan Purter as the nation’s No. 181 overall player. This addition gives Florida 19 verbal commitments.