Massey hopes to add spark to Florida offense

In need of more offensive weapons, especially at wide receiver, Florida landed an explosive one in late November, when versatile four-star JUCO talent Dre Massey committed to the Gators during his official visit to UF for the Florida State game.

Before Florida's early enrollees moved into their dorms and then began the spring semester on Tuesday, Inside the Gators caught up with Massey to discuss his road ahead.

ITG: First off, you shared a video on social media of your mother crying when you received your acceptance letter from UF and it went viral. How important has this decision to attend Florida been to your family?

Massey: It’s big, especially coming from junior college. I had to take that route so to be here and where I’m at now in my life it’s just a blessing. It meant a lot to my mom.

ITG: What did you learn from your time at Goodman (Mississippi) Holmes Community College?

Massey: It was a humbling experience and I learned a lot. I learned how to be patient and how to get my work done first. If you get you’re work done then you can play. I learned the game a lot more and slowed down to listen to my coaches more. It helped me to get a lot smarter and to grow up more playing in Mississippi.

ITG: What expectations do you have for yourself at Florida in your first year?

Massey: I hope to have a pretty solid first year at Florida and make my presence felt. I just want to come in and do what I do best and make big plays every game.

ITG: You're a versatile offensive weapon, but where do the coaches feel you will thrive most on the field?

Massey: Wide receiver and running back. I am really on the field playing everywhere in any way possible. They want to put the ball in my hands. That has how I have been used for most of my career so that isn’t anything new to me. The coaches are excited to get me in kick return, too.

ITG: What do you think are your greatest strengths that you will bring to Florida?

Massey: I would say I got a lot better as a blocker in junior college and got a better understanding for the game and the speed it’s played at. I know how things go. I am a bigger receiver now from working out at my junior college so I think I am strong blocking.

ITG: What aspects of your game do you think you still could improve on?

Massey: I think I need to improve a little bit on route running. I think I need to get better there.

ITG: You are rooming with Eddy Pineiro and Mark Thompson from your signing class but are there any other players on the team you’ve already started a bond with?

Massey: I got to know Nick Washington pretty good and Daniel McMillian too, he’s real cool. I know a few of the defensive linemen but nothing too serious like how I know Mark and Eddy.

ITG: Do you know what you want to major in yet at Florida?

Massey: I think I am going to go into business marketing with a minor in organizational leadership.

ITG: What is one fun fact about you that people wouldn’t know unless they asked you about it?

Massey: I would say probably that I am a really good swimmer. I did a lot of swimming competition growing up when I was a kid.

InsidetheGators.com recruiting analyst Blake Alderman contributed to this report.