--UF football springing forward
Will Grier, left, and Treon Harris will battle for the starting quarterback job during spring practice.
Staff photos by Matt Stamey and Elizabeth Hamilton/Illustration by Jon McDonaldBy Robbie Andreu
Gainesville SUN Staff writerPublished: Sunday, March 15, 2015 at 6:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, March 14, 2015 at 11:54 p.m.
New head coach Jim McElwain's first spring at Florida figures to be, well, somewhat unorthodox and unusual.
The Gators have only seven scholarship offensive linemen and just four scholarship linebackers available, which will limit some of the things UF can do in practice.
With the indoor practice facility under construction, the Gators are forced to practice at the lacrosse/soccer facility on the other side of campus.
Given the low numbers on the offensive line and at linebacker, chances are good the Gators will conclude the spring with more of a scrimmage than a traditional game April 11 in The Swamp.
Despite all that, it should be a typical spring in terms of players competing for starting roles and playing time. Perhaps the closest competition could be at quarterback, where true sophomore Treon Harris and redshirt freshman Will Grier will battle for the starting role.
With practice starting Monday, here's a position-by-position look at the Gators:
Quarterback
Who's gone: Former starter Jeff Driskel, who has transferred to Louisiana Tech.
Who's back: Treon Harris (1,019 yards and nine touchdowns in 2014), Will Grier and Skyler Mornhinweg.
What's next: Even though Harris would seem to hold a significant edge on Grier after becoming the starter last year as a true freshman, the two are expected to wage a close and competitive battle for the starting role this spring. McElwain said earlier this week that there is no timeline for naming a starter — which means this competition likely will carry over into training camp in August. Harris is athletic, has a good arm and seems to be a leader, but struggled with accuracy last season. Grier is more of a classic dropback passer with a quick release, but he struggled with some of his reads last season. He and Harris will be learning a new offense this spring, and starting out basically dead even.
Possible starter in the fall: It will either be Harris or Grier, but we probably won't know who until late August.
Tailback
Who's gone: Matt Jones (817 yards, six TDs in 2014), who left early for the NFL draft, Mack Brown and Brandon Powell, who has moved to wide receiver for the start of spring.
Who's back: Kelvin Taylor (565 yards, six TDs), Adam Lane (181 yards, one TD) and Mark Herndon.
What's next: Most are assuming that with Jones gone, Taylor will be the obvious starter (and possible star) in 2015. But he's going to have to beat out the tough and tenacious Lane first. Lane enters the spring as Florida's hottest running back, coming off his 109-yard performance in the Birmingham Bowl. After that effort, many were left wondering why he wasn't used more last season. He won't be overlooked by the new coaching staff, which has to be impressed after watching tape of Lane in the bowl game. Depth is an issue in the spring because Brandon Powell has been moved to wide receiver (in what may or may not be a permanent switch) and Herndon is coming off ACL surgery. Two talented true freshmen should resolve the depth issue in August.
Possible starter in the fall: Taylor is the favorite, but he'll be pushed hard all spring by Lane. Incoming freshman Jordan Scarlett will enter the competition in camp, along with Jordan Cronkrite.
Wide receiver
Who's gone: Quinton Dunbar (21 catches, 353 yards, two TDs) and Andre Debose (one catch, minus-3 yards).
Who's back: Demarcus Robinson (53 catches, 810 yards, seven TDs), Latroy Pittman (15 catches, 164 yards), Brandon Powell (15 catches, 147 yards, one TD), Ahmad Fulwood (12 catches, 199 yards, one TD), Valdez Showers (two catches, 31 yards, one TD), Chris Thompson (two catches, 17 yards) and C.J. Worton (two catches, 12 yards).
What's next: The Gators finally have a proven playmaker again at wide receiver in Robinson. But behind him, there are a lot of talented young players who really haven't done much yet. Fulwood looked like an elite receiver in camp, but then practically disappeared during the season. Pittman plays hard and is a physical blocker, but has yet to consistently produce in the passing game. Thompson and Worton have lots of speed and potential, but again, they haven't really done anything yet. It will be a critical spring for the receivers, who will be put in a position to make plays in McElwain's passing attack. Now, can they consistently make those plays?
Possible starters in the fall: Robinson, Powell and Fulwood.
Tight end
Who's gone: Clay Burton (18 catches, 156 yards, one TD) and Tevin Westbrook (eight catches, 81 yards, two TDs).
Who's back: Jake McGee, DeAndre Goolsby, Moral Stephens and Cyontai Lewis.
What's next: The Gators may not know what this position really looks like until McGee is back to full speed for the start of training camp in August. Before breaking his lower leg in the second game in 2014, McGee was expected to be a major part of the passing game. Once he was lost, the position produced almost nothing, other than some critical drops by Westbrook. If McGee can stay healthy, he could put up some big numbers in McElwain's offense. UF's other tight ends share common traits: they are all young, all athletic, all lacking experience. So, it will be an important spring in the development of Goolsby, Stephens and Lewis.
Possible starter in the fall: McGee, if he stays healthy, could be one of UF's leading receivers.
Offensive line
Who's gone: Max Garcia, D.J. Humphries, Chaz Green, Trenton Brown and Tyler Moore. Humphries and Moore left early for the NFL draft.
Who's back: OT Rod Johnson, OT David Sharpe, OG Travaris Dorsey, OG Kavaris Harkless, OG Antonio Riles, C Trip Thurman, OG/C Cameron Dillard, OG Andrew Mike.
What's next: With the glaring lack of numbers and experience, the offensive line is the biggest area of concern on this team — and it's not even close. The problems certainly can't be rectified this spring, with only seven scholarship players available now that Thurman is out with an injured shoulder. Even when six freshmen are added to the mix this summer, including five-star recruit Martez Ivey, the offensive line is going to be a huge question mark and potential problem area heading into the season. Johnson is the only offensive lineman with extensive playing experience and Sharpe showed potential at the other tackle position as a true freshman last season. But other than those two (and Thurman) there's almost zero playing experience among the other linemen.
Possible starters in the fall: Johnson, Sharpe, Thurman, Dorsey and Dillard.
Defensive line
Who's gone: DE Dante Fowler Jr., DT Leon Orr, DT Darious Cummings and DE Gerald Willis, who has transferred to Miami.
Who's back: DE/LB Alex McCalister, DE/DT Jonathan Bullard, DE Bryan Cox Jr., DT Caleb Brantley, DT Joey Ivie, DT Thomas Holley, DT Khairi Clark, DT Jay-nard Bostwick, DE Taven Bryan, DE Jordan Sherit and DE Justus Reed.
What's next: Even though the Gators lose three starters, led by the All-American Fowler, the defensive line should be a team strength again. Bullard moved from end to tackle last season and developed into a potential All-SEC player at the position. McCalister, Fowler's backup, actually led the team in sacks and is a disruptive player on the edge. Brantley took advantage of Orr's decision to quit the team during the 2014 season and came on strong at tackle down the stretch. Holley and Clark are redshirt freshmen who are expected to push for playing time this spring.
Possible starters in the fall: McCalister, Cox, Bullard and Brantley.
Linebacker
Who's gone: Starters Neiron Ball and Michael Taylor.
Who's back: Antonio Morrison, Matt Rolin, Daniel McMillian, Alex Anzalone, Jarrad Davis and Jeremi Powell.
What's next: With Davis (knee) and Morrison (knee) both expected to miss the spring, the Gators are down to four scholarship linebackers, and only one (Anzalone) has had extensive playing time on defense. Rolin and Powell have had to overcome ACL surgery. Rolin had surgery twice within a year and pretty much sat out last season. McMillian is considered to have a high ceiling, but he's struggled with assignments in the past.
Possible starters in the fall: Morrison, Anzalone, Davis.
Cornerback
Who's gone: None.
Who's back: Vernon Hargreaves III, Brian Poole, Jalen Tabor, Quincy Wilson, J.C. Jackson.
What's next: The Gators could have one of the most talented collection of cornerbacks in the country. Hargreaves is an All-America and is a lock-down cover corner. The competition for the other starting role will be fierce (and close) between Poole, Tabor and Wilson. All three started games last year and all showed playmaking capability. Tabor and Wilson did it as true freshmen. Both have star potential. Jackson also was a highly rated freshman last season, but redshirted after undergoing shoulder surgery. There has been talk that he will move to wide receiver this spring, but McElwain did not mention that possibility earlier in the week.
Possible starters in the fall: Hargreaves and either Poole, Tabor or Wilson.
Safety
Who's gone: Jabari Gorman.
Who's back: Keanu Neal, Duke Dawson, Marcus Maye, Marcell Harris and Nick Washington.
What's next: This is one of the deepest and most talented positions on the team. Neal and Dawson made a lot of mistakes early last season, but learned from experience and developed into very good players by the end of the year. Both have cornerback skill when it comes to man coverage. Maye is one of UF's most experienced defensive backs and will compete for a starting role. Harris was a special teams standout and is a big hitter. His playing time on defense should increase as he grows more comfortable in the defense. Washington is capable of playing safety or corner.
Possible starters in the fall: Neal and Dawson.
Kicker
Who's gone: Frankie Velez.
Who's back: Austin Hardin.
What's next: Hardin won't have much in the way of competition this spring and is the clear starter heading into the season. He started gaining consistency and confidence in the second half of last season and will try to continue that trend through the spring and summer.
Possible starter in the fall: Hardin.
Punter
Who's gone: Kyle Christy.
Who's back: Johnny Townsend, William Few, Connor Gilboy and Dallas Stubbs.
What's next: Like Hardin, Townsend is the only player at his position on scholarship and will be tough to unseat in the spring. He took Christy's starting job away midway through the 2013 season, but then went back to the bench in 2014 when Christy regained his form. Townsend is a proven punter who will work on consistency this spring.
Possible starter in the fall: Townsend.
Sent From Shane's iPhoneGo Gators! & Skål Vikes!ALPCA #8756Europlate #1045
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GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY!
1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions |
Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007)
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GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY!
1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007)
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