Florida Gators

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A Look at LB Depth:

David Reese II - 6'1"/248
Vosean Joseph - 6'1"/226
Kylan Johnson - 6'2"/232
Jeremiah Moon - 6'6"/232
Rayshad Jackson - 6'0"/236
Nick Smith - 6'2"/227
James Houston - 6'1"/233
Ventrell Miller - 6'0"/229
David Reese - 6'0"/221
Umstead Sanders - 6'1"/236
Andrew Chatfield - 6'0"/245
Lacedrick Brunson - 6'1"/234

Amari Burney - 6'1"/222 

Out of this group, I think the coaches will cull out a group of LBs who can run like a deer and hit like a ton of bricks. The first 5 listed have playing experience. The next 3 were highly recruited freshmen who were suspended in 17 for credit cardgate. The next 3 are new additions with Sanders being a JUCO and the brother of 5 star RB Trey Sanders who is reportedly leaning towards bama over UF. The last LB was a 2 star work in progress recruit who has played on special teams only. There have already been good reports coming out of camp on newbies Miller, Reese, and Chatfield. With camp closed to the public and limited to the media, we'll just have to wait to see how this group plays out in practice.

I have true freshman and early enrollee Amari Burney separated on the list because he is listed as an ATH on the roster. He is currently practicing at safety and nickelback. However, it wouldn't be much of a stretch to see him develop into a LB with his weight already at 222. He is reportedly performing well at S and NB and he is projected by 247 Swamp to "have the chops" to be Chauncey Gardner Johnson's backup at NB in 18. 

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It's Pat Dooley's version of put up or shut up time with regard to UF's OL:

www.gatorsports.com/2018/08/dooley-its-approaching-show-us-time-for-this-uf-unit/

I agree with Dooley 110% on this, quit yakking and perform.

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A Look at DB Depth:

Cornerback:

Marco Wilson - 6'0"/190
CJ Henderson - 6'1"/191
Brian Edwards - 6'2"/192
CJ McWilliams - 5'11"/184
Trey Dean - 6'3"/194

Nickel Back:

Chauncey Gardner Johnson 6'0"/208 (NB/S)
Amari Burney - 6'1"/222 (NB/LB)

Safety:

Jeawon Taylor - 6'0"/202
Donovan Stiner - 6'1"/203
Brad Stewart - 6'1"/200
Shawn Davis - 5'11"/202
Quincy Lenton - 5'11"/207
John Huggins - 5'11"/207

Marco Wilson and CJ Henderson are starters at CB. The quality drops off after the starters.

Chauncey Gardner Johnson starts and Amari Burney is backup at NB. Johnson will also play S and Burney could play some LB if needed.

Safety is going to be interesting in camp. Jeawon Taylor likely starts at one safety, but it will be a free for all after that. David Reese 6'0"/221 is a wildcard as he is practicing at LB in the first week of camp, but he can also play S.

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Staring 5 OL is looking good. I'm surprised TJ McCoy has been knocked down to 3rd string center. The second and third groups need to compete harder for improvement and playing time. Mullen wants 8 starters and 2 backups. With 15 OL on the roster, that leaves 5 OL for future development/redshirt. This is really the winning combo you want so long as you have the players who can run your system. Again, see the demotion of TJ McCoy who started much of the last 2 seasons.

247sports.com/college/florida/Article/Florida-Gators-Football-UF-still-trying-to-round-out-O-line-rotation-120559287/

Mullen wants to name the starting QB before the game 1 week of practice or sooner - says all 3 QBs are still in the running.

The Gators will have their first scrimmage on Monday night. Redzone offense won't be installed until after the scrimmage. Mullen said retention from spring practice could have been better, but everything will be in by game week practice.

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Saturday practice was open to the media. Reports can't contain formations and injuries, but the practice itself was available to report on:

www.gatorcountry.com/feature/florida-gators-open-practice-report-81118/

www.gatorsports.com/2018/08/plenty-of-highlights-from-uf-practice/

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Robbie Andreu says UF's Receiving Talent & Depth has the potential to be special:

www.gatorsports.com/2018/08/uf-receivers-breakdown-pass-catching-group-has-talent-depth-to-be-special/

The player he couldn't talk about is Jacob Copeland. Rumor is he had his knee scoped and he will miss camp. Mullen has said he will update injuries after camp and he would not discuss Copeland at this time. Copeland has the potential to be a star.

JMHO, UF will be okay at TE. Mullen will get the most out of this group. McElwain seriously under utilized TE..

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10 Early Observations From Camp:

247sports.com/college/florida/LongFormArticle/Florida-Gators-Football-Feleipe-Franks-close-to-winning-starting-job-observations-from-UF-fall-camp-120614091/#120614091_3

Since the media is shutout of all except some segments of practice, take this with a grain of salt.

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Camp Depth Chart After 8 practices:

247sports.com/college/florida/ContentGallery/Florida-Gators-Football-UF-depth-chart-in-fall-camp-2018-under-Dan-Mullen-120610898/#120610898_5

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LBs James Houston and Ventrell Miller are the current LB talk from camp:

247sports.com/college/florida/Article/Florida-Gators-Football-Young-linebacker-duo-James-Houston-Ventrell-Miller-hungry-showing-real-promise-120644445/

I've also heard good things about David Reese and Andrew Chatfield. I'm sure we'll be seeing good things on Nick Smith and Umstead Sanders too. LB has gone from being a depth concern to a day by day growing positive for the defense.

Dan Mullen has all the tools he needs to bring the Gators back to a top 10 defense. Get the OL and QB up to average/good and this will be a Gator team capable of beating everybody they have scheduled. Since UF has only had 1 unbeaten regular season in history, I don't expect that, but this team will likely be highly competitive.

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"Bam-Bam Kids" - Sophomores TJ Slaton and Elijah Conliffe are going to terrorize opposing offenses in 18. Both will be making huge sophomore jumps in performance. Conliffe as starter has passed senior Khairi Clark who will likely be a 2 on the depth chart.

247sports.com/college/florida/Article/Florida-Gators-Football-Bam-Bam-Kids-Tedarrell-Slaton-Elijah-Conliffe-looking-to-make-their-mark-at-UF-in-2018-120668541/

UF is going to have a heckuva DL in 2018. The playing depth is going to be 3 deep or more at every DL position. If Auburn and Alabama have better DLs than UF as projected, I'll believe it when I see it.

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Trevon Grimes at home in his new home:

floridagators.com/news/2018/8/14/scott-carter-difficult-year-leads-to-fresh-start-for-grimes.aspx

Trevon is going to see the field a lot. Ohio State did good to work with Florida to make this work for Trevon and his mother.

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Iverson Clement, one of UF's 5 high quality RBs, has moved to safety at camp:

247sports.com/college/florida/Article/RB-Iverson-Clement-makes-the-move-to-defense-for-the-Florida-Gators-120698309/

It's unclear at this point if the move is temporary due to a rash of camp injuries at safety or if the move is permanent. Someone should ask about the move at Dan Mullen's presser after practice today.

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Safety Quincy Lenton will miss the 2018 season as he has torn his Achilles tendon. He is having surgery today. UF is down to 78 ship players, but does have a couple of ships they will want to give out at the end of camp. Hopefully, UF can avoid any more season ending injuries:

247sports.com/college/florida/Article/Florida-Gators-Football-Quincy-Lenton-suffers-torn-Achilles-out-for-season-120704505/

The article explains why Iverson Clement moved over from RB. JMHO, it's too early to say this will be permanent, but it certainly gives the other 4 RBs a huge advantage to practice and playing time.

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8.15.2018 Mullen Presser:

1. Safety Quincy Lenton tore his Achilles heel, will have surgery today, and is out for the season.

2. Discussed Iverson Clements unselfish move from RB to S to get the team through camp practices.

3. Center is the most wide open competition on the team between the 3 players competing.

4. Starting OL still needs work, but is progressing.

5. Backup OL needs to come along faster to complete the depth for the OL.

6. Wants to know who his starting QB is after the next scrimmage whether he makes the announcement or not.

7. Culture - feel like this has something to do with the goings on at Maryland. Mullen says he came in and set the culture he wanted regardless of what existed in the past. Says he does less yelling at the players during practice.

8. Jordan Shoes - told the players to return the shoes if they do not want them. Do not sell them.

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Mid Camp Position Grades:

247sports.com/college/florida/ContentGallery/Florida-Gators-Football-Mid-Camp-Position-Grades-for-UF-in-2018-120801867/#120801867_1

Florida's season will end up once again being the tale of the QBs and OL. Right now, anything from 7-5 to 10-2 is just as likely. Both positions must have break through growth over the last week of camp. The following week is game week and putting in game strategy.