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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2015 16:37:52 GMT -5
Dante Fowler, Jr. is getting high draft marks - this from Gatorzone:
Tuesday February 10, 2015 Dante Fowler Jr. getting high mock draft marks Updated: 9:52am, February 11
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The NFL draft is still weeks away, but the run-up buzz on defensive end Dante Fowler Jr., looks really good as far as the Florida Gators' beastly pass-rusher's chances of becoming the 14th player in school history to be selected in the top 10.
FOWLER The last UF product to be plucked in the first 10 selections was cornerback Joe Haden, who went to the Cleveland Browns with the No. 7 overall choice in 2010.
One of the analysts below believes 6-foot-3, 260-pound Fowler, who had 8 1/2 of his career 14 1/2 sacks during his 2014 junior season, could go as high to as third over to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
I'm sure Fowler would be fine with that.
Here's an overview of where the draft gurus see Fowler falling.
> Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com (Jaguars, No. 3 overall) “Fowler has an explosive burst and strong hands and plays with fanatical effort. He’ll be a great fit for Gus Bradley’s defense.”
> Dane Brugler, CBSSports.com (Redskins, No. 5 overall) “With Brian Orakpo set to hit free agency, pass rusher will be high on the Redskins' wish list. Fowler projects best to the NFL as a stand-up edge rusher, using his relentless energy to be effective disrupting the pocket.”
> Pat Kirwan, CBSSports.com (Jets, No. 6 overall) “The Jets have a ton of needs but without a quarterback at this spot it makes sense to get an OLB/pass rusher to get after Tom Brady.”
> Dan Kadar, SBNation.com (Falcons, No. 8 overall) "By drafting Fowler, the Falcons would have a versatile, movable player up front on defense who gives great effort and will get into the backfield. Under Dan Quinn, the Falcons will need to figure out how to get pressure from the front four. They can do that with Fowler, a player who can work inside and outside, and even move to linebacker. If Fowler is gone, there are players who could slot in as traditional pass rushers."
> Matt Miller, Bleacher Report (Falcons, No. 8 overall) "Dante Fowler is a legitimate top-10 pick, and his combination of athleticism and production makes him a worthy selection at No. 8 overall. He's the type of explosive athlete who can play with his hand in the dirt or standing up in a pass-rushing role. Quinn could see a lot of Cliff Avril in the former Florida Gator."
> Rob Rang, CBSSports.com (Falcons, No. 8 overall) "The Falcons have the firepower on offense to compete, but lack difference-makers on the defensive front. New head coach Dan Quinn recruited and coached Fowler while serving as Florida's defensive coordinator before taking over the same duties for Pete Carroll and the Seahawks. Fowler's versatility is his calling card. The 6-3, 260-pounder's unique combination of power, agility and tenacity earns him time at defensive end, linebacker and defensive tackle for the Gators."
> Jamie Newberg, Scout.com (Falcons, No. 8 overall) "Did you see Fowler play in the Birmingham Bowl? He looked fantastic for the Florida defense. This is an athletic defensive end that has shown great versatility. I once saw him in a high school game play quarterback, running back, full back, tight end, wide receiver and all over the defensive front. Yeah, he’s pretty darn athletic and I think Atlanta would love him here."
> Peter Schrager, FOXSports.com (Vikings, No. 11 overall) "The future is bright in Minnesota, as Teddy Bridgewater and Anthony Barr both appeared to be home run selections in the first round a year ago. Mike Zimmer knows Chad Greenway can't play forever and defense will always be the top priority in the high-powered NFC North. Fowler's arguably the most versatile defensive player in this year's draft. He can line up either on the line with his hand in the ground or play middle or outside linebacker. He was on a horrid Florida squad, but still stood out. Consistent player who can join an already solid defense and make a difference."
> Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN.com (Saints, No. 13 overall) "The Saints aren't without talent on defense, but they were too often exposed in 2014 and took a major step backwards. Adding a pass-rusher of Fowler's pedigree outside the top 10 is a really good get, as I think he's a guy who comes in and competes for a ton of reps right away. Fowler isn't dominant in any one area; he's a good pass-rusher, not a great one, and an effective run defender, but not a destroyer in that area, either. But he also doesn't come in with a clear weakness. He has experience on either edge, can move inside as a 3-4 DE and is also is athletic enough to make plays in the pass rush and the set the edge as a 3-4 OLB. He's a fit almost anywhere and will bring a live motor."
> Todd McShay, ESPN.com (Saints, No. 13 overall) “The Saints could consider Stanford left tackle Andrus Peat here and then move Terron Armstead inside, or they could fill their need at cornerback by drafting either of the top two prospects at the position, Washington's Marcus Peters or Michigan State's Trae Waynes. But Fowler has the versatility and relentlessness that Rob Ryan is looking for. He isn't an elite athlete but has good flexibility, violent hands and efficient counter moves as a pass-rusher, and he has experience playing multiple spots among the D-line, as well as outside linebacker in a 3-4 alignment.”
> Bucky Brooks, NFL.com (Saints, No. 13 overall) “Rob Ryan could tap into Fowler’s versatility as an edge rusher to help solve the Saints’ defensive woes.”
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2015 18:26:05 GMT -5
UF picks up 2 commits today - now has 3 recruits in the 16 class:
By Zach Abolverdi Correspondent
Published: Wednesday, February 18, 2015 at 4:40 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2015 at 4:40 p.m.
Randy Shannon struck again in South Florida on Wednesday.
The Gators landed Miami Norland linebacker Vosean Joseph and Miami Central defensive end Eric Mitchell. Both prospects were offered by Florida in the past week.
“I thought about it and I really like the school,” Joseph said in a text message to The Sun. “When I went there for the (summer) camp I really liked it and the atmosphere was great. My parents think it's a good fit for me.”
Said Mitchell: “UF was my dream school. It felt great to get the offer so I committed.”
Joseph (6-foot-1, 210 pounds) and Mitchell (6-3, 230) were teammates last season at Norland, where they also played with Florida linebacker signee Rayshad Jackson. Another Norland product, Florida State linebacker commit Emmett Rice, was offered by the Gators last week.
Joseph and Mitchell have yet to be rated by Rivals and ESPN, but Shannon is familiar with them having recruited Norland, his high school alma mater, extensively.
UF has now landed a total of nine recruits from South Florida since Shannon was hired in early January and became the area recruiter.
The Gators now have three members in their 2016 class as Smith and Mitchell join Jacksonville Raines wide receiver Rick Wells.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2015 13:43:20 GMT -5
The scUM related UF recruiting violation in which Joker Phillips was turned in by the scUM coaching staff has been resolved with self punishment accepted and no probation. UF quit recruiting the player and Joker's resignation was accepted:
Friday February 20, 2015 Statement from Athletics Director Jeremy Foley on NCAA Release Gainesville, Fla.
Athletics Director Jeremy Foley released the below statement today after a release by the NCAA Committee on Infractions released a report regarding the University of Florida.
"The University of Florida Athletic Association takes pride in the culture of compliance it has built over the years. Integrity is one of the core values of our organization – we act in a fair, ethical and honest manner and we strive to do things the right way every day.
That is why we took quick and decisive action after we learned of a recruiting contact rule violation involving one of our assistant football coaches in January 2014. We stopped recruiting the involved student-athlete, we removed the assistant coach from all recruiting activities, and later secured his resignation.
We thank the NCAA Committee on Infractions for their thoughtful deliberation. We look forward to putting this issue behind us and we will continue to operate with the highest level of integrity and compliance."
The full release from the NCAA follows below.
Former Florida assistant coach commits recruiting violation
A former University of Florida assistant football coach visited a prospect off-campus before NCAA rules allow for recruiting contact, according to a decision issued by a Division I Committee on Infractions panel. The contact with the prospect resulted in the school receiving a recruiting advantage. In its decision, the panel noted that contacts of this nature exceed the boundaries of permissible recruiting and are a serious issue for the membership.
The school immediately suspended the former coach and ended recruitment of the prospect. The panel determined the corrective actions and penalties self-imposed by the school were appropriate and assigned no additional penalties or measures.
Before the former coach talked with the prospect, he was notified by a recruiting service reporter that the prospect would be waiting outside of his high school when they arrived. Once the former coach was at the high school, he spoke with the prospect, let him know the school wanted the prospect to be a part of their football program and got the prospect’s social media contact information.
The panel determined the former coach’s contact with the prospect was a Level II violation because it was not inadvertent and provided more than a minimal recruiting advantage. Specifically, the former coach was able to get the prospect’s contact information at a time when coaches who were following the rules were unable to have the same level of contact.
Penalties and corrective actions self-imposed by the school and adopted by the panel include: •A suspension of the former coach from all off-campus recruiting for 30 days beginning on April 10, 2014. •The end of recruitment of the prospect involved in the contact.
Members of the Committee on Infractions are drawn from NCAA membership and members of the public. The members of the panel who reviewed this case are Greg Christopher, athletics director at Xavier University; Bobby Cremins, former head men's basketball coach Roscoe C. Howard, Jr., attorney; Eleanor W. Myers, chief hearing officer and law professor and faculty athletics representative at Temple University; Jim O’Fallon, law professor and faculty athletics representative at the University of Oregon; and Sankar Suryanarayan, university counsel, Princeton University.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2015 18:31:00 GMT -5
The O'Dome renovation is delayed for a year:
Wednesday February 25, 2015 O'Connell Center Renovations Postponed One Year
GAINESVILLE, Fla. --- Proposed renovations to the Stephen C. O’Connell Center originally scheduled to start in March have been postponed for one year, the University of Florida and the University Athletic Association announced Wednesday.
An aggressive schedule, escalating costs associated with the rehabilitation project and a change in the construction management team contributed to the decision. Current cost estimates for the project are approximately $60 million.
“The renovation proposal is a major renewal of one of our campus’s most iconic buildings. It’s incumbent on us to take the time and do it right,” UF President Kent Fuchs said.
The delay allows for the completion of the construction management team’s design plans, which currently are about 60 percent complete. A new construction manager has been brought in, and a construction schedule and budget should be forthcoming in the next couple of months.
The university is still assessing what effects the change will have on student, community and athletic events generally held in the O’Connell Center. Announcements will be made on any changes once information is confirmed.
UF‘s spring commencement ceremonies already scheduled to be held in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium will remain there.
All athletic team events typically held in the O’Connell Center are expected to continue without interruption for the 2015-16 season, including men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball and gymnastics.
“We remain 100 percent committed to this project,” UF Athletics Director Jeremy Foley said. “The $60 million that we have already earmarked for the project is indicative of this commitment.”
Current plans call for a new entrance to serve as an open circulation area and would house ticketing and retails sales areas. In addition, the renovation would provide new concessions stands, club seating and a club lounge, as well as a new concourse that would allow guests to more easily navigate the facility.
The installation of new chair-back seats would provide guests with more comfortable seating, and new high-definition video boards and sound system would further improve the fan experience.
Finally, the building’s mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems would be updated to improve comfort and reduce energy consumption. All offices and locker rooms will be renovated.
Through private funding, the University Athletic Association will provide most of the money for the project, and fundraising will continue.
Opened in 1981, the O’Connell Center seats 11,548 and has been the venue for athletic events, commencement ceremonies, shows, concerts and a host of other university and community events over the years.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2015 11:00:32 GMT -5
This sucks:
GatorCountry.com @gatorcountry
All of the #Gators spring practices will be closed to the public.
1 Retweet 2 favorites Collapse Reply Retweet Favorite
31m Nick de la Torre @nickdelatorregc
#Gators will begin spring practice on Monday, March 16.
This is the way Muschamp started with closed practices. Good information is hard to obtain and the closed practices lead to a fan disconnect from the team. UF may suck next season, but suck publically in the sunshine. It'll make the 16 season that much sweeter.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 27, 2015 17:38:12 GMT -5
This from Gatorzone on spring practice:
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – First-year Florida head coach Jim McElwain and his staff get to start blowing their whistles and coach their new team starting March 16.
The Gators open their inaugural spring camp under McElwain that day, the first of 15 practices as Florida football transitions into a new era.
Spring practice concludes on April 11 with the Orange & Blue Debut presented by Sunniland. In addition to the spring game, there are other festivities planned on what is being billed as an Orange & Blue weekend. More details will be announced soon.
Florida’s spring practices will not be open to the public, but McElwain is scheduled to be available to the media regularly throughout camp. He will speak to reporters after 12 of the 15 practices and all nine of his assistant coaches will be available to the media once during camp.
Players will also be available to speak to the media regularly during camp.
McElwain will hold a press conference to preview the start of spring practice on March 10 at approximately 12 p.m.
McElwain was hired in December to replace Will Muschamp after three seasons as head coach at Colorado State, where he led the Rams to a 10-2 record last season.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 1, 2015 13:24:02 GMT -5
Gators Beefing Up In Trenches: www.gatorzone.com/football/bios.phpHowever, it looks like Jonathan Bullard and Jay-nard Bostwick dropped 8 and 12 pounds respectively to 277 and 283. I hope that means Bullard is going to stay in his highest and best use position, SDE. I'm not sure what to think about Bostwick as he is a classic DT and is down to 283. For big DTs, I'm very glad to see Caleb Brantley at 319, Khairi Clark at 315, and Thomas Holley at 320. Joey Ivie at DT up from 285 to 293 is also good news. It looks to me like UF is going to be loaded on the DL and especially so if CeCe Jefferson half way lives up to the hype as a true freshman. The OL looks to have size, but lacks experience. Friday February 27, 2015 Gators have packed on weight in trenches since end of last season Updated: 4:17pm, February 27 GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida’s updated football roster reveals some significant weight gain among the offensive and defensive linemen. The biggest gainer is redshirt freshman offensive lineman Andrew Mike, who was listed at 6-foot-6, 276 pounds last season. Mike now checks in at 302 pounds, a 26-pound boost for a young player the Gators hope to contribute in 2015. Another redshirt freshman offensive lineman, Kavaris Harkless, is now listed at 292 pounds, adding 10 pounds to his 6-5 frame. Redshirt sophomore Cameron Dillard is now at 309 pounds, up from 297 pounds last season. Redshirt offensive lineman Antonio Riles Jr., who is 6-foot-4, has added 17 pounds and is listed at 312 pounds. Meanwhile, sophomore David Sharpe, who played a year ago at 330 pounds, is now listed at 6-6, 350 pounds. Sharp is the heaviest player on the roster. On the defensive line, redshirt freshman Taven Bryan is up to 275 pounds. He was listed at 6-5, 260 last season. Junior Joey Ivie, a member of the regular rotation last season, has increased his weight from 285 pounds to 293. Redshirt freshman defensive tackle Thomas Holley has added eight pounds and now checks in at 6-3, 320 pounds. Redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Caleb Brantley, who recorded 21 tackles in 12 games last season, has bulked up to 319 pounds, a 24-pound increase over his 6-2, 295-pound measurables from last fall. Both early enrollees have benefited from Florida’s offseason conditioning program heading into spring practice. Freshman tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe has added 13 pounds and is now listed at 6-3, 225 pounds. Freshman receiver Kalif Jackson (6-4, 201) has added 10 pounds since he joined the program. Overall, 10 scholarship players have added 10 or more pounds from a season ago, including redshirt freshman defensive back Deiondre Porter (from 165 to 176) and redshirt freshman defensive lineman Justus Reed (from 213 to 226).
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2015 11:47:23 GMT -5
Thomas Holley (DT) is ready to rock and roll. This from Gator Country:
Written by Nick de la Torre, March 8, 2015
Name: Thomas Holley Height: 6-3 Weight: 320 Position: DL
Why did he redshirt?
Holley came to the Florida Gators as one of the most highly touted prospects in the class of 2014. The blue-chipper from Brooklyn, New York missed out on an opportunity to play as a freshman when he needed surgery to repair the labrum in his hip. Holley had surgery for a sports hernia before arriving to Florida and the staff and team doctors though that the discomfort he felt was due to lingering affects from that procedure. A second checkup revealed the labrum issue and Holley tried to play through the pain and discomfort, knowing he would need surgery eventually. The pain was just too much to manage and the coaching staff and family decided to shut Holley down.
Depth at the position:
Holley is a versatile player but likely projects to play inside in at tackle. Inside with him are Caleb Brantley, Jay-nard Bostwick, Jon Bullard, Khairi Clark and Joey Ivie. Holley’s probably the most athletic of that bunch and should factor into the rotation on the defensive line.
Geoff Collins will rotate defensive linemen throughout the game. The previous coaching staff did the same and Collins did this at Mississippi State as well. Expect to see a lot of defensive linemen getting reps this season.
Player Evaluation:
Holley has only played two years of football. Growing up, Holley preferred basketball and didn’t get serious about football until his junior year of high school. He’s raw as far as technique though but he moves like most 300-pound human beings only dream of moving.
Holley has raw physical power and speed. His technique needs some work but he’s a sponge on he field; a very coachable player.
2015 Prognosis:
Holley was in line to work his way into the rotation last year. He’s young and raw but his ceiling is so high. Holley is as talented a prospect as Florida has on the roster and is someone to keep an eye on as the Gators move into spring practice and into the season.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2015 12:43:39 GMT -5
Sunday March 8, 2015 Gators Spring Preview: Quarterbacks
Scott Carter By SCOTT CARTER GatorZone.com Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Quarterbacks Treon Harris and Will Grier already have experience competing against one another for position on Florida’s depth chart.
The difference is that the stakes are much higher this spring. Oh, and there’s also a new decision-maker in town.
Those factors are why the Gators’ starting quarterback battle is perhaps the most intriguing aspect of head coach Jim McElwain’s first spring camp at Florida, which opens March 16.
McElwain inherits a Florida program that has struggled to find consistent quarterback play since the guy with a statue outside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium left after the 2009 season.
Over the past five seasons, Florida quarterbacks have thrown 67 touchdown passes, an average of 13.4 per season. In Tim Tebow’s three seasons as Florida’s full-time starter, he threw 83 touchdowns, an average of 27.6 a season.
No need to be a math major to understand that’s a significant drop-off over an extended period of time. The Gators are 37-26 the past five seasons.
The good news for the Gators and their offense-craving fan base: McElwain has a history of producing results and points at his previous stops.
When he took over Colorado State in 2012, the Rams featured a sophomore quarterback named Garrett Grayson who had played sparingly as a freshman. Grayson continued to develop as a sophomore, and then in his final two seasons, threw for 7,7002 yards and 55 touchdowns while completing 63 percent of his passes.
Redshirt freshman Will Grier has a chance to state his case this spring. (Photo: Tim Casey)
McElwain also mentored Alabama quarterbacks Greg McElroy and AJ McCarron during his four seasons as the Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator from 2008-11. Alabama won two nationals titles over that span, helping the 53-year-old McElwain land his first head-coaching job in 2012 at Colorado State.
Now the question is what kind of impact will McElwain and new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier have on the young and talented combination of Harris and Grier.
An All-SEC Freshman selection, Harris replaced Jeff Driskel as the Gators’ starter midway through the season and injected some much-needed confidence into the offense. In a close battle throughout fall camp to backup Driskel, Harris won the job over Grier, who was redshirted.
Harris played in nine games, starting six, and threw of 1,019 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions. Harris also proved a capable runner, finishing third on the team with 332 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Harris’ finest performance came in a victory at Vanderbilt in his second career start. He completed 13 of 21 passes for 215 yards and rushed for 49 yards and two scores.
Meanwhile, after losing his job to Harris, Driskel opted to transfer to Louisiana Tech for his final season of eligibility to see if he can have the kind of breakout year the Gators envisioned a season ago.
Meanwhile, Grier is not your average redshirt freshman hoping to finally get a shot at playing. He came to UF from Davidson (N.C.) Day School, where as a senior in 2013 he was named Parade magazine’s National Player of the Year.
Grier threw for 14,565 yards during his prolific high school career, second to former Gators quarterback Chris Leak in the North Carolina prep record books.
Like Harris, Grier is mobile and has the ability to make plays with his feet. Grier (6-2, 197) has a slight size advantage over Harris (5-11, 193). Harris has an advantage in experience.
Harris also played against better competition than Grier did in high school, leading Miami’s Booker T. Washington to back-to-back state championships.
Redshirt junior Skyler Mornhinweg is the only other scholarship quarterback currently on the roster. Mornhinweg appeared in only one game last season after starting three games in 2013 with Driskel and Tyler Murphy out with injuries.
Mornhinweg is projected as an emergency replacement and mentor for his younger teammates. While the Gators did not sign a quarterback in McElwain’s first recruiting class, he has mentioned the possibility of adding a potential transfer over the summer to add depth.
Since he took over the program in December, a constant mantra from McElwain is that every player has a fresh start. All eyes will be on Harris and Grier this spring to see how each performs during a fresh start for Florida football.
They are on equal footing in many ways. Both must learn a new offensive scheme under McElwain, who has used a variety of offenses in his career to produce results.
The one constant has been productive quarterback play, an element the Gators desperately need to reverse their fortunes.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2015 9:27:57 GMT -5
It looks like UF will play with a ship roster in the mid to upper 70s in 15:
UF stands at 79 players on scholarship, 6 under the NCAA limit of 85
Roster will be primarily composed of freshman and sophomores - 53
Small group of seniors - 9
Presuming UF gets a transfer QB which has been mentioned as a high priority with McElwain, the ship number would rise to 80. With the inevitable attrition that usually comes after spring, the ship roster might slip to as low as 75. For perspective, that's the ship roster limit USC worked with while under probation. However, it'll only be a 1 year event for UF. McElwain will have the shelf stocked after the 16 recruiting class. It's also possible UF doesn't experience the usual attrition this year which would leave the ship roster in the upper 70s.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2015 18:44:26 GMT -5
The biggest positions of concern for 2015:
Monday March 9, 2015 Gators Spring Preview: Offensive Line
Scott Carter By SCOTT CARTER GatorZone.com Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla.
Goodbye Chaz Green and to your 30 career starts.
Goodbye Max Garcia and to your two seasons of excellent service.
Goodbye Tyler Moore and to your 325 pounds of versatility.
Goodbye D.J. Humphries and to your first-round potential.
Goodbye Trenton Brown and to your 6-foot-8 mountain.
The five Florida offensive linemen above combined for 47 starts in 2014 -- or 78.3 percent made by the guys folksy college football announcer Keith Jackson would affectionately refer to as “big uglies.”
In his first season as Florida’s head coach, Jim McElwain is in search of the next wave of big uglies to serve as man movers in his offense. That search begins Monday when the Gators open spring camp.
The Gators were set to lose Green and Brown regardless after last season, but the lack up depth on the offensive line was magnified when Humphries and Moore opted to forego their final seasons of eligibility to enter the draft.
In Humphries’ case, the move is viewed as a wise one. He is projected by several of the most trusted NFL draft analysts as a first-round pick. Moore was not invited to the NFL Combine.
In the wake of the quintet’s departure, the Gators are clearly in a rebuilding mode on the offensive line.
McElwain and his staff made significant strides in that quest on National Signing Day by signing six offensive linemen, highlighted by the addition of 6-foot-6, 290-pound Martez Ivey out of Apopka (Fla.) High. Ivey was one of the most coveted offensive line prospects in the country and is considered by some to have the potential to start immediately.
However, Ivey and the newcomers won’t be around this spring as the Gators get acclimated to McElwain’s offense and try to develop chemistry with the bulk of last season’s unit no longer around.
Still, there is talent returning and perhaps equally important, offensive line coach Mike Summers is back.
In his first season at UF, Summers maximized the talent he had to work with and built a cohesive unit that helped the Gators rush for more than 100 yards in every game and limited opponents to 17 sacks, fourth-fewest in the Southeastern Conference.
Redshirt senior guard Trip Thurman is the most experienced offensive lineman on the roster. Thurman started 10 games last season despite battling chronic shoulder issues. Redshirt sophomore Roderick Johnson, who played tackle and guard, is the other returner who started last season.
The 6-foot-5, 296-pound Johnson improved as the season progressed and started three games, including filling in for an injured Green in Florida’s victory over East Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl. Sophomore tackle David Sharpe, who is listed at 6-6, 350 pounds on Florida’s spring roster – up from 330 pounds a season ago – also gained valuable experience by playing in six games as a true freshman.
Summers is optimistic that Johnson and Sharpe will play vital roles in the future.
“Anytime you see young players that have talent and buy into what you’re telling them and get excited about every day at practice, it’s encouraging,’’ Summers said. “That’s what motivates you as a coach. These guys have got talent and they’ve got energy and they’ve got a whole lot of football in front of them.”
Much of the focus this spring will center on the development of the small group of scholarship offensive linemen the Gators will have available.
The Gators also lost junior-college transfer Drew Savary, who played in the first four games last season until injuries sidelined him. Savary decided to retire from the sport due to injury concerns.
Redshirt sophomore center Cameron Dillard (6-4, 309), redshirt freshman Travaris Dorsey (6-2, 323), redshirt freshman Kavaris Harkless (6-5, 292), redshirt freshman Andrew Mike (6-6, 302) and redshirt sophomore Antonio Riles (6-4, 312) are the remaining scholarship linemen on the spring roster.
Mike has added 26 pounds since the start of last season, the most of any player on the roster. The added bulk should help in his quest to make an impact. Meanwhile, Dorsey has shed 10 pounds to get in better shape.
With the numbers low this spring, there is always the possibility of cross-training players listed as defensive linemen if the coaching staff opts to go that direction.
There is help on the way, but in terms of the current roster, the Gators will be unusually thin on the offensive line during McElwain’s first spring camp.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2015 10:32:58 GMT -5
Wednesday March 11, 2015 Gators Spring Preview: Running Backs
Scott Carter By SCOTT CARTER GatorZone.com Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – There were times last season when it seemed Florida’s backfield had too many quality running backs to keep everyone properly fed.
That won’t be the case starting Monday when the Gators open their first spring camp under head coach Jim McElwain.
Matt Jones, Florida’s leading rusher in 2014, opted to leave school a year early and enter the NFL Draft. Jones rushed for 817 yards and six touchdowns and at 6-foot-2, 235 pounds, provided the Gators with a bruiser in the backfield to contrast the running style of Kelvin Taylor.
The 5-10, 209-pound Taylor runs low to the ground and provides a combination of power and quickness. As a sophomore, Taylor rushed for 565 yards and six touchdowns to emerge as the favorite to pick up many of the 166 carries from a season ago that departed with Jones.
Reserve Mack Brown has also departed. A fifth-year senior last season, Brown’s role was reduced in Kurt Roper’s offensive scheme and he carried just 22 times for 95 yards after playing a key role in 2013 when the Gators spent much of the season without Jones due to an illness and midseason knee injury.
Adam Lane
Redshirt sophomore Adam Lane figures to get plenty of carries this spring. (Photo: Tim Casey)
While Jones and Brown are absent, redshirt sophomore Adam Lane showed he has the potential to play a much more significant role by winning MVP honors in a Birmingham Bowl victory over East Carolina.
Lane entered the game with just eight career carries for 72 yards. However, with Jones out due to a sore shoulder and Taylor carrying only four times, Roper turned to Lane to carry much of the offensive load.
Lane produced with 109 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown in the Gators’ 28-20 victory. He instantly became one of the most unlikely bowl MVPs in Florida football history.
Lane (5-7, 224 pounds) is a bowling-ball type runner who is difficult to tackle and isn’t afraid of contact. He flashed good speed and quickness in the bowl game and reeled off a 48-yard run that led to a Florida touchdown.
Taylor and Lane enter spring as the most proven among Florida’s running backs.
Brandon Powell is another talented player who saw action at running back as a true freshman last season. Powell carried 16 times for 70 yards and added 15 catches for 147 yards.
Powell is perhaps at his best when he gets the ball in open space and McElwain said Tuesday that the plan is to use Powell more at receiver this spring. He split time in the backfield and in the slot last season, playing in all but one game.
“We’re going to primarily put him at wideout and give us an opportunity there,’’ McElwain said. “That obviously makes us thin at running back, but at the same time, you kind of do a guy a disservice when you try to do a little bit of both.”
With Powell getting an extended look at receiver, Taylor and Lane can expect a lot of carries in spring practice.
Senior Mark Herndon and walk-on Darius Masline are also running backs on the roster. Herndon continues to recover from a season-ending knee injury suffered during a kickoff return last season at Alabama.
Herndon is a former walk-on who was placed on scholarship prior to the 2013 season and could factor into the plans once he is healthy. Masline’s only appearance last season was in mop-up duty in the season opener against Eastern Michigan when he ran seven times for 25 yards.
Like McElwain said, the Gators are thin at running back this spring but signed two running backs in February who will be here for fall camp: Jordan Scarlett (5-11, 210) from St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, and Jordan Cronkrite (5-11, 195) from Westminster Christian in Miami.
Scarlett was considered a big get for the Gators. He was being heavily pursued by Miami and Florida State as well.
"I would describe Jordan as number one, elite, and number two, you're getting a guy who creates so much excitement," Aquinas offensive coordinator Jason Milgrom told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel on National Signing Day. “That opportunity is there to hit the home run. The people in The Swamp are going to love this kid. That's a quality certain backs have and certain backs don't have and that's a gift he does have."
Meanwhile, Cronkrite chose the Gators over Miami after rushing for nearly 1,350 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2015 17:26:35 GMT -5
Okay Robbie, we get it - see the article I posted on page 139 by Robbie Andreau. Muschamp left holes on the OL and lack of depth at LB although I think LB will be okay barring any season ending injuries going into the fall. The WRs must improve dramatically as well, but it's huge for Jake McGee to get his 6th year medical. The OL is a train wreck - this from Gatorzone (Besides 5 star Byron Cowart, Muschump also flipped 3 star OL Mike Horton on NSD making the OL even more of a train wreck):
Robbies Playbook A fine Muschamp mess Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at 11:36 by Robbie Andreu
Even though Will Muschamp is long gone, Florida continues to feel his sting. He hurt the Gators in recruiting. Now, he’s going to hurt them this spring.
He did his damage in recruiting by swaying kids to Auburn he’d been recruiting to Florida, including five-star defensive end Byron Cowart. He’ll be negatively impacting spring practice because of how few offensive linemen and linebackers he’s left Jim McElwain and the new staff to work with.
The Gators will have only seven scholarship offensive linemen and four scholarship linebackers available this spring. That’s not enough, especially on the offensive line. With the numbers so low in those two areas, it could severely limit what the Gators do during drills, and it likely will end any chance of UF having a traditional spring game April 11.
The lack of offensive linemen also could have a negative impact on the defensive line. Several young defensive linemen need all the work they can get this spring, and it’s not going to help them going against underweight walk-ons half the time — which they’ll have to do with the offensive linemen seeing limited reps.
Muschamp complained several times about what the previous coaching staff left him at Florida. McElwain is not complaining, even though he probably has every right to.
“Obviously our numbers from a roster numbers standpoint are nowhere near where we need to be. We’re thin at linebacker, very, very thin at offensive line, to the point that — we all knew this was coming, so it’s not a shock — but we’re going to have to adjust how we practice, the amount of reps we get and the different ways in which we do things from a practice structure,” McElwain said Tuesday.
“Normally we like to go two-, three- and four-spot drills, where guys are constantly working, no one is standing. There’s going to be some skel-type work that needs to go on that normally would be in a team situation. But we’ll handle that. That’s the cards we were dealt. That will be all right. The key is to making sure we get as much work as we can with as many people as we can to kind of establish who we are and what we’re all about and the direction we’re going to head with this football team as we move in from spring ball and into the summer sessions.”
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2015 11:54:08 GMT -5
Thursday March 12, 2015 Gators Spring Preview: Receivers and Tight Ends
Junior Demarcus Robinson is the most proven receiver on the roster heading into spring camp.
Scott Carter By SCOTT CARTER GatorZone.com Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The most prevalent question looming for the Gators as they enter spring practice is who will be the starting quarterback.
Regardless of who that turns out to be, he should have a deeper stable of receivers and tight ends to throw the ball to than a year ago.
The top receiver returning is junior Demarcus Robinson, who followed up a disappointing freshman season by leading the Gators with 53 receptions and seven touchdowns. Robinson’s 810 yards were the most by a UF wideout since Riley Cooper had 961 in 2009.
Robinson tied a 45-year-old school record when he caught 15 passes in an overtime victory against Kentucky in Florida’s SEC opener, tying the school mark for most receptions in a game set by Carlos Alvarez in 1969.
Robinson had 32 more receptions than second-leading receiver Quinton Dunbar (21 catches, 353 yards) as he established himself as the Gators’ go-to receiver after catching only five passes and missing time due to discipline issues as a freshman.
While Dunbar has departed, a mix of veterans and young players will vie to play more prominent roles under first-year head coach Jim McElwain and new offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier.
Senior Latroy Pittman (15 receptions, 164 yards in 2014) and junior Ahmad Fulwood (12 for 199) are the most experienced wide receivers behind Robinson. Fulwood flashed some of his potential – and speed – when he took a bubble screen from Treon Harris and raced 86 yards for a touchdown in the second half of Florida’s Birmingham Bowl victory over East Carolina.
Brandon Powell
McElwain said this week that sophomore Brandon Powell, who caught 15 passes last season splitting time at running back and receiver, will get an extended look at receiver during spring camp.
Beyond those four, a group that includes Valdez Showers, Raphael Andrades, Alvin Bailey, Chris Thompson, C.J. Worton, Ryan Sousa and true freshman Kalif Jackson will try to catch new position coach Kerry Dixon’s attention and factor into the plans come fall.
Jackson is one of two early enrollees in camp along with tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe.
While Robinson is clearly the most accomplished of the receivers, if Fulwood and Powell can emerge as dependable threats in the passing game, that would give Nussmeier a solid trio. Worton showed promise in fall camp a season ago until a hand injury derailed any chance of him making an impact as a true freshman.
Meanwhile, McElwain is optimistic about the situation at tight end, a position that has lacked significant production over the past five seasons and is now under the direction of veteran assistant Greg Nord.
“There won’t be a lack of reps,’’ McElwain said. “That’s up to us to strengthen that position. We’ve got a great coach there that’s coached for a long time and part of that reason is that I knew what he could do at that spot.”
Tight end Jake McGee was granted a sixth year of eligibility in the offseason.
In addition to Nord, some of McElwain’s optimism relates to the return of veteran Jake McGee, a sixth-year senior who after transferring from Virginia last season, played only a few snaps in the opener before breaking his leg and missing the rest of the season.
McGee continues to recover from the injury but his healthy enough to participate in non-contact drills this spring.
“We should get a pretty good idea of how he’s going to fit to help the program next fall,’’ McElwain said.
McGee led the Cavaliers with 43 receptions two seasons ago and at 6-foot-6, 245 pounds, offers a combination of size and speed that can stretch the offense in the middle part of the field.
The Gators lost their two regular tight ends from a season ago in Clay Burton and Tevin Westbrook. However, the young foursome of Imatorbhebhe, sophomore DeAndre Goolsby and a pair of redshirt freshmen – Moral Stephens and C’yontai Lewis – should make for strong competition at the position this spring.
“It’ll be interesting moving forward,’’ McElwain said. “We have numbers at that spot.”
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2015 10:05:16 GMT -5
UF picked up 2 commitments yesterday for the 16 class:
2016 Florida Gators Commitments.
National Signing Day Is Wednesday, February 3, 2016.
#1. WR Rick Wells 6-1 185 of Raines High School, Jacksonville FL. *** 1.26.2015 Commitment.
#2. WR Vosean Joseph 6-2 210 of Norland High School, Miami FL. *** 2.18.2015 Commitment.
#3. DE Eric Mitchell 6-3 225 of Central High School, Miami FL. *** 2.18.2015 Commitment.
#4. DE JaQuan Bailey 6-3 235 of William M. Raines Hugh School, Jacksonville FL. *** 3.14.2015 Commitment.
#5. S Chauncey Gardner 6-0 197 of Cocoa High School, Cocoa Beach FL. **** 3.14.2015 Commitment.
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