Zook's recruiting approach is working quite well for Gators

He had just underwent foot surgery after a skiing accident last summer. But he wouldn't let it slow his recruiting.

Recruiting is too important to Florida's third-year head coach. So he improvised.

Unable to walk, Zook rode a motorized cart into local high schools to visit with high school football coaches.

The coaches probably weren't surprised. They already knew how much Zook valued recruiting.

They first met him when he was an assistant coach at Florida in the mid-1990s. He returned as a head coach in 2002.

"When he first came in, it was to reintroduce himself," Buchholz High School head coach Jay Godwin said. "He spent some time with us, and shared his vision for the program. He wanted to reenergize recruiting in order to get the best players he could get."

Zook wanted to be known as a recruiter the way his predecessor, Steve Spurrier, was known as an offensive innovator.

"He's one of those guys that likes the recruiting process," Godwin said. "To some coaches, it's a necessary evil. He really enjoys it. He's on the phone hammering away.

"He realizes that recruiting is the crucial part of it. He doesn't think poorly of it."

His style contrasted with Spurrier's.

"He (Spurrier) was able to do things that no one had ever done before at Florida," Godwin said. "His approach to recruiting didn't hurt him. The kids he wanted, he got -- even though he could be perceived as arrogant."

Godwin has seen both styles at Florida. During his tenure, four players from Buchholz have signed on with the Gators, including former quarterback Doug Johnson.

"I think it's important that you treat coaches the way you would want to be treated," Zook said. "Our staff is very personable. They love to recruit. You have to be honest and upfront so they feel like they can pick up the phone and call you."

Zook's first spring was so filled with recruiting trips that the road was more his home than any house in Gainesville, Fla.

"I don't know the address (of his home)," Zook told Gainesville media in 2002. "I don't even know where the light switches are. But I know it's a beautiful house. My wife is happy and I look forward to living there."

After 71 high schools and 1,000 miles of driving, Zook has plenty to show for his first spring of recruiting. The Florida-first approach appears to be working.

Florida has signed 10 Parade All-Americans in his first three classes at UF. Florida had only signed 20 in the previous 12 years.

Zook, who was hired a month before signing day, struggled to piece together a top-25 class in 2002. Since then, Zook's classes have been ranked in or near the top-five by most recruiting services.

Forty-five of 71 players that Zook has signed hail from Florida. Six of eight commitments in Florida's 2005 signing class are in-state prospects.

According to Godwin, Zook's momentum in Florida hasn't slowed.

"They've had several freshmen make an impact," Godwin said. "The buzz among high school kids is that they could play right away. Some skill guys want to be showcased earlier. That's the lure there. You can play at Florida before you can play at Florida State or Miami."