2019 Spring Practice and the O&B Game...

[instaGATOR]

Whether it’s for preseason camp, the start of spring practice or simply a summer workout, football coaches will be the first to tell you that everyone looks good in shorts. Everyone looked good in their shorts and helmets on Tuesday for the start of Spring Practice. Everyone appeared in shape. And everyone seemed to be running around like they knew what they were doing, even the tFr QB, Jalon Jones.

“Good. It was good,” Mullen said. “You’re out here day one, you’re putting in base install stuff with no pads on. It’s a pretty simple day. Good attitude. I liked the energy.” Mullen said the Gators are way ahead of where they were for the first day of spring last year under a new coaching staff. The veteran players clearly knew their way around the practice field Tuesday.

Best news for iG was this tidbit: RB Malik Davis, who missed most of last season with a fractured foot, practiced Tuesday and is 100 percent, Mullen said. “He’s healthy, so that’s good,” Mullen said.

http://www.gatorsports.com/2019/03/gators-look-the-part-in-day-1-of-spring-practice/

 

[instaGATOR]

This should be an exciting spring practice for the Florida Gators and one that is a bit different that some in recent years. It is a roster that has plenty of returning players and because of that, there is depth, in terms of numbers, at really every position on the roster in the spring. We have had spring sessions with 5-6 offensive linemen total. This spring there are four freshmen OL'men that arrived early and are added to the mix of the returnees.

Still, there is plenty of opportunity out there for the 9 true freshmen and one grad transfer that arrived this spring to compete as best they can. Even on the offensive line, two of the four freshmen offensive linemen were in the two-deep when the first day of spring kicked off. All four were on the three-deep.

https://247sports.com/college/flori...teele-Mohamoud-Diabate-Jalon-Jones-130014875/

 

[Gator Fever]

Looking forward to the Spring game as if I remember correctly Mullen didn't pull that nonsense in 2018 Mac was pulling having starting QBs and 1st string WRs going against 3rd stringer and walk-on DBs just to try to hide reality from the fans. That will mean Jones shouldn't be totally fed to the wolves and will get to show his skills some. That crap Mac pulled in 2017 was a joke.

 

[Gator Fever]

This should be an exciting spring practice for the Florida Gators and one that is a bit different that some in recent years. It is a roster that has plenty of returning players and because of that, there is depth, in terms of numbers, at really every position on the roster in the spring. We have had spring sessions with 5-6 offensive linemen total. This spring there are four freshmen OL'men that arrived early and are added to the mix of the returnees.

Still, there is plenty of opportunity out there for the 9 true freshmen and one grad transfer that arrived this spring to compete as best they can. Even on the offensive line, two of the four freshmen offensive linemen were in the two-deep when the first day of spring kicked off. All four were on the three-deep.

https://247sports.com/college/flori...teele-Mohamoud-Diabate-Jalon-Jones-130014875/

Unless injuries come into play early I doubt any true freshman O linemen will be playing much in non-garbage time. Maybe one will surprise but they probably need a year to be ready.

 

[Dannygator1989]

Looking forward to the Spring game as if I remember correctly Mullen didn't pull that nonsense in 2018 Mac was pulling having starting QBs and 1st string WRs going against 3rd stringer and walk-on DBs just to try to hide reality from the fans. That will mean Jones shouldn't be totally fed to the wolves and will get to show his skills some. That crap Mac pulled in 2017 was a joke.

That was discussed as nasueum.

Oozie broke it down a dozen times, used screen shots, and you just kept saying "nah, I'm right, I know things."


That's a mentality you might want to start saying away from, considering how utterly moronic you looked this year.

 

[instaGATOR]

Unless injuries come into play early I doubt any true freshman O linemen will be playing much in non-garbage time. Maybe one will surprise but they probably need a year to be ready.

Ivey, F.Johnson, T.Jordan, and J.Taylor all played and started some as Fr. -- Johnson and Taylor were only 3 star rated...

'Don't you ever get tired of being WRONG? (rhetorical)

 

[Gator Fever]

That was discussed as nasueum.

Oozie broke it down a dozen times, used screen shots, and you just kept saying "nah, I'm right, I know things."


That's a mentality you might want to start saying away from, considering how utterly moronic you looked this year.

"Looking forward to the Spring game as if I remember correctly Mullen didn't pull that nonsense in 2018 Mac was pulling having starting QBs and 1st string WRs going against 3rd stringer and walk-on DBs just to try to hide reality from the fans. That will mean Jones shouldn't be totally fed to the wolves and will get to show his skills some. That crap Mac pulled in 2017 was a joke."


Yep and it was a joke what Mac pulled as I showed the 3rd stringer and walk-ons facing 1st stringers. Mac was a joke for pulling that period.

I didn't look moronic it was a 100% fact as I can show in the video again if you doubt it. He just pointed out some route stuff on one TD play discussed I was wrong on and made excuses for Mac as he was in his good graces then. If that happened the next year with Mac after the collapse he would have called it a joke also. Thanks for distorting things so much.

It does make me laugh how hard headed you guys are sometimes like when I was told Franks had someone cause that fumble in the 2017 Michigan game when I said he didn't. I let that one run a little knowing there was another angle clearly showing a defender didn't cause that fumble but had to hear people tell me over and over again I was wrong.

At least I will admit I am wrong when the facts are in and staring me in the face.

 

[Dannygator1989]

"Looking forward to the Spring game as if I remember correctly Mullen didn't pull that nonsense in 2018 Mac was pulling having starting QBs and 1st string WRs going against 3rd stringer and walk-on DBs just to try to hide reality from the fans. That will mean Jones shouldn't be totally fed to the wolves and will get to show his skills some. That crap Mac pulled in 2017 was a joke."


Yep and it was a joke what Mac pulled as I showed the 3rd stringer and walk-ons facing 1st stringers. Mac was a joke for pulling that period.

I didn't look moronic it was a 100% fact as I can show in the video again if you doubt it. He just pointed out some route stuff on one TD play discussed I was wrong on and made excuses for Mac as he was in his good graces then. If that happened the next year with Mac after the collapse he would have called it a joke also. Thanks for distorting things so much.

It does make me laugh how hard headed you guys are sometimes like when I was told Franks had someone cause that fumble in the 2017 Michigan game when I said he didn't. I let that one run a little knowing there was another angle clearly showing a defender didn't cause that fumble but had to hear people tell me over and over again I was wrong.

At least I will admit I am wrong when the facts are in and staring me in the face.

Yeah man.

You kept arguing with oozie over it and every time he would counter argue, you would just sit there with your arms folded like "can't fool me, I know what I know."

Please don't act like you know as much about college football as you.

It gets tiresome.

 

[Gator Fever]

Yeah man.

You kept arguing with oozie over it and every time he would counter argue, you would just sit there with your arms folded like "can't fool me, I know what I know."

Please don't act like you know as much about college football as you.

It gets tiresome.

I was 100% right about what I posted in this thread - do you want me to point it out to you in the video again? Maybe you can jump on the Michigan defender caused Franks to fumble one again also.

As I acknowledged in that thread back then -I was wrong on that one route's responsibility but was right about that joke Mac having Franks and 1st string receivers going against walk-ons and a 3rd string DB on many of those plays.

 

[nail1988]

Ivey, F.Johnson, T.Jordan, and J.Taylor all played and started some as Fr. -- Johnson and Taylor were only 3 star rated...

'Don't you ever get tired of being WRONG? (rhetorical)

Yeah man.

You kept arguing with oozie over it and every time he would counter argue, you would just sit there with your arms folded like "can't fool me, I know what I know."

Please don't act like you know as much about college football as you.

It gets tiresome.

Getting my popcorn out

Instant and Dunny vs Fevered-Brain

 

[instaGATOR]

There is no dunny-goater and insta,,,, ever you choke-la-homo... .

Do some good for a change and put that popcorn where the sun don't shine...
The 'Choker' version of playing 'corn-hole'.....

 

[nail1988]

There is no dunny-goater and insta,,,, ever you choke-la-homo... .

 

[instaGATOR]

Not worth that big laugh,,, but I guess I could give it a grin...

 

[Dannygator1989]

There is no dunny-goater and insta,,,, ever you choke-la-homo... .

Do some good for a change and put that popcorn where the sun don't shine...
The 'Choker' version of playing 'corn-hole'.....

You can't quit me.

 

[instaGATOR]

You can't quit me.

Since you're the one that follows me around with your chit-posting, looks like you have that backwards, much like everything that you do...

There once was a goater named dunny,
who was always trying to be funny.
But with his head up his butt,
and a load of beer in his gutt,
when it came to the girls he got nunny...

 

[PacoGator19]

So far I like what I’m hearing and seeing from the team. It’s all going to come down to our oline.

 

[oozie7]

"Looking forward to the Spring game as if I remember correctly Mullen didn't pull that nonsense in 2018 Mac was pulling having starting QBs and 1st string WRs going against 3rd stringer and walk-on DBs just to try to hide reality from the fans. That will mean Jones shouldn't be totally fed to the wolves and will get to show his skills some. That crap Mac pulled in 2017 was a joke."


Yep and it was a joke what Mac pulled as I showed the 3rd stringer and walk-ons facing 1st stringers. Mac was a joke for pulling that period.

I didn't look moronic it was a 100% fact as I can show in the video again if you doubt it. He just pointed out some route stuff on one TD play discussed I was wrong on and made excuses for Mac as he was in his good graces then. If that happened the next year with Mac after the collapse he would have called it a joke also. Thanks for distorting things so much.

It does make me laugh how hard headed you guys are sometimes like when I was told Franks had someone cause that fumble in the 2017 Michigan game when I said he didn't. I let that one run a little knowing there was another angle clearly showing a defender didn't cause that fumble but had to hear people tell me over and over again I was wrong.

At least I will admit I am wrong when the facts are in and staring me in the face.

When the hell was Mac ever in my good graces? I mean ever? I was arguing with the board his offense was trash year 1 when everybody wanted to blame Treon. Y’all are weird with the stuff y’all will create out of thin air.

 

[sadgator]

sadgator can end the above argument and bring peace and harmony to this Board with a statement upon which we all can agree...

Mac....Bad.
Mullen....Good.

 

[instaGATOR]

sadgator can end the above argument and bring peace and harmony to this Board with a statement upon which we all can agree...

Mac....Bad.
Mullen....Good.

Even more important is this:

Musclecramp & Mac....Gonzo
Mullen...Here to stay.

 

[Dannygator1989]

sadgator can end the above argument and bring peace and harmony to this Board with a statement upon which we all can agree...

Mac....Bad.
Mullen....Good.

Peace and harmony?

It's March.

Bah humbug.

 

[instaGATOR]

Those that do the rankings, or the Gator coaches opinions?
Hard work (Savage & staff) is paying off early for freshman OL Ethan White.

During his Sr season he developed back issues and then gained significant weight. OL coach John Hevesy and head coach Dan Mullen didn’t flinch about it. Mullen says that some kids need to be molded when they come into college. Mullen said last week as practice got underway this spring. “Some guys are gaining weight, some guys are losing weight, some guys are getting stronger, more flexible. There's a lot of development at that position."
“Sometimes take some of the skinnier guys, then you look at the bigger guys, you say 'why don't you go fix your dinner plates, then switch.”

Savage and company have a heck of a workout regimen, but he says that losing the weight had to be up to White to get done. (coach-able with personal pride doesn't show up in the star rankings)

“I don’t force all those guys,” Savage said. “Obviously, he was heavy when he got here. Our biggest thing is that he continues to drop at an appropriate rate, which is safe for him. Okay, so we do work and he’s got extra protocols that we follow and things like that but the biggest thing’s nutrition and putting the time and effort to see the weight continue to come off.” -- He’s got a long way to go no doubt. But without talking to White himself, it seems he is determined to change the perception of a lot of people.

It has been 35-37 pounds off in less than 2.5 months on campus for Ethan White. There have been a lot of questions about the freshman offensive lineman from Clearwater and his extra weight (390) that he was bringing to Gainesville. For those that follow recruiting, he was one of the lowest rated prospects Florida signed and at a position that the Gators signed 7. But this coaching staff offered White early and never wavered. They believed in the kid. He is already riding the 2nd team at LG and even getting some work a LT.

A big solid Attaboy to Mullen, Hevesy, Savage, and especially to White.

 

[instaGATOR]

April 13th @ 1 PM Orange & Blue Game

#6 Gator 2019 schedule with the SBNation Early Poll Rankings:

August 24: #19 Miami (Orlando, Fla.)
Aug 31 BYE
September 7: UT-Martin
September 14: @ #37 Kentucky
September 21: #21 Tennessee
September 28: Towson
**October 5: #8 Auburn (Homecoming)**
October 12: @ #4 LSU
October 19: @ #18 South Carolina
Oct 26 BYE
November 2: #2 Georgia (WLOCP)
November 9: #53 Vanderbilt
November 16: @ #22 Missouri
Nov 23 BYE
November 30: #28 Florida State

Dec 7: SEC-C (lSECe-C likely vs #1 UA)

6 Home - 4 Away - 2 Neutral Site

 

[instaGATOR]

From a general SEC Poll ranking point of view:

SBNation's 'Way Too Early' 2019 Pre-season 130 Poll:
* indicates a UF 2019 opponent.

1 UA - (* ? if in SEC-C)
2. UGA *
4 LSU *
6 UF
8 AU *
10 MsSt
===== 3 of the Top 5, 6 total of the Top 10 are SEC's
13. aTm
16. Mizz *
18. SCa *
~ 19. Mia *
21. TN *
===== 10 total of the Top 21 are SEC's

~ 28 FSU *
37. UK *
39. MS
48 Ark
53. VU *
>>> The lowest ranked SEC team is still in the Top half (65) of the 130 teams.

Does anybody else play 7-8 opponents ranked in the Top 21 teams?

https://www.sbnation.com/college-fo...63/2019-college-football-rankings-projections

 

[instaGATOR]

^ CRICKETS ^
===========

Moving right along....

After Tuesday's practice the receivers went out to dinner and handed their debit cards to the cashier to see which one got picked to pay. Grimes posted on social media he was the unlucky winner.

The close connection off the field seems to help on it.

"We've had a year together,'' Hammond said. "We've all played. We've all caught the ball. It's very unselfish. Everybody wants to help each other get better. I think that's the one thing I admire the most – we all work together to get each other better. We're a family." --- SWEET!

Just as soon as every position group on the team functions that way, championships will follow. -- iG

 

[instaGATOR]

So far I like what I’m hearing and seeing from the team. It’s all going to come down to our oline.

Some seem to believe that the Gators lost everyone on the team after 2018, doom-despair-pain-and -agony....
Sorry, but that's not even close to being true.

Plenty of 3rd-4th-5th year returning players:
Off 21 -- Def 28 + Punter = 50

66. OC/OG Nick Buchanan 6-3 291 rsSr (starting center)
55. RT Noah Banks 6-5 309 rsSr - EE (former starter)
71. OG/OC Nick Villano 6-3 290 rsSr (back-up center)
61. LG/OC Brett Heggie 6-4 314 rsJr (former starter)
72. LT Stone Forsythe 6-7 323 rsJr (former starter)
70. LG Tanner Rowell 6-2 283 rsJr - (he can bench press your car)
56. LT Jean DeLance 6-4 313 rsJr
75. RT T.J. Moore 6-5 300 rsSo
-----
14. TE Lucas Krull 6-6 255 rsJr (2017 JuCo AA xfer)
88. TE Kemore Gamble 6-3 246 rsSo
-----
12. WR Van Jefferson 6-2 197 rsSr
89. WR Tyrie Cleveland 6-2 206 Sr
10. WR Josh Hammond 6-0 194 Sr
16. WR/PR Freddie Swain 6-0 199 Sr
83. WR Rick Wells 6-0 202 rsJr
4. WR/RB Kadarius Toney 5-11 190 Jr (R-11.4 ypc - Rec 10.4 yd/rec)
8. WR Trevon Grimes 6-5 210 Jr
-----
2. Lamical Perine 5-11 227 Sr
20. Malik Davis 5-11 191 rsSo
-----
13. QB Feleipe' Franks 6-6 240 rsJr
11. QB Kyle Trask 6-5 234 rsJr
==========

DT Adam Shuler 6-4 275 Grad-Sr
DT Marlon Dunlap 6-3 295 Sr
DE/LB-Buck Jonathan Greenard 6-4 263 rsJr - UL Grad-xfer
DT Kyree Campbell 6-3 304 Jr
DT Tedarrell Slaton 6-5 343 Jr
/DT Elijah Conliffe 6-4 317 Jr
-----
DE Jabari Zuniga 6-4 257 rsSr
DE/DT Luke Ancrum 6-5 264 rsSr
DE Antonneous Clayton 6-2 255 Sr -- In The Xfer Portal
DE Zach Carter 6-4 277 rsSo
-----
OLB Kylan Johnson 6-2 232 rsSr --- In The Xfer Portal
ILB Rayshad Jackson 6-0 236 rsSr
ILB David Reese 6-1 248 Sr
OLB/DE/Buck Jeremiah Moon 6-4 235 rsJr
ILB Umstead Sanders 6-1 236 rsJr - P-WO
OLB Lacedrick Brunson 6-1 234 rsSo
OLB James Houston IV 6-1 233 rsSo
OLB Ventrell Miller 6-0 229 rsSo
-----
SS Jeawon Taylor 6-1 202 Sr
FS Quincey Lenton 5-11 207 rsJr
FS Brad Stewart 6-1 200 Jr
FS Dnovan Stiner 6-1 203 Jr
SS Shawn Davis 5-11 202 Jr
-----
CB C.J. McWilliams 5-11 184 rsJr
CB C.J. Henderson 6-1 191 Jr
CB/FS Brian Edwards 6-2 192 Jr
CB Marco Wilson 6-0 190 rsSo
-----
P Tommy Thompson 6-1 183 rsSr

While the So's, rsFr, and Fr are filling the few holes, so there should not be a problem at any position on the entire team.

 

[instaGATOR]

Dan's 'Committee RB's' continues, no matter how much a few run their mouths about one guy being the 'chosen-one.' --- (thank-you Dan, iG)

"If you can't protect the ball and you can't protect the QB, you might as well put your name in the portal."
~ Florida RB's coach Greg Knox likes to threaten his players with the transfer portal.
(Lemons has been the only taker so far)

And the RB's figured that out pretty quick."In high school, it's 'give me the ball I'm going to make a play.' You can't just say give me the ball,'' Pierce said. "You have to play your role on that particular play. If you're not playing your role the way it needs to get done, you will get replaced. They will find someone to do that job."
(apparently Lemons couldn't make the cut)

RB/FS Iverson Clement rsFr concurred. -- "One thing I learned is this is the next step,'' Clement said. "Everybody has a role, everybody has a job. It's more structured. That's what I really had to tune into."

Scott Carter article here:
https://floridagators.com/news/2019/3/21/football-young-trio-ready-for-opportunities-ahead.aspx

 

[instaGATOR]

Apparent OL 'experienced' starters for the Spring game:

LT Stone Forsythe rsJr
LG/C Brett Heggie rsJr
C/OG Nick Buchanan rsSr
RG/C/RT Chris Bleich rsFr
RT Jean Delance rsJr
~ Expect some changes / adjustments to the needed 8 OL'men by Aug. 24th.
=====

Actual positions still unsettled, movement expected by Fall.
LT Richard Gourage rsFr
LT/LG Will Harrod Fr
LG/C Tanner Rowell rsJr
LG/LT Ethan White Fr
C/OG Griffin McDowell rsFr- out for Spring, scooter injury
C/RG Kingsley Equakun Fr
RG/RT T.J.Moore rsSo
RT Michael Tarquin Fr
RT Noah Banks rsSr- out with unspecified medical disorder
-----
With 3 more OL are set to arrive in the summer.
#2 RG Deyavie Hammond 6-4 345
#17 LG Riley Simonds 6-4 290
#37 LT Wardrick Wilson 6-5 311

OC/OL Hevesy has said that he needs 8 ready to go for the season, 5 starters and 3 for the rotation. While putting a complete 2nd string of 5 on the field at the same time would likely be a significant drop-off, that's not necessary and won't be happening during the season. The unknown 8 'chosen-ones' should be fun to watch coalesce during Fall practice. I believe that the 2019 OL will be better than most expect them to be...

 

[instaGATOR]

During Saturday’s open practice, Pitts made a leaping reception along UF’s sideline during the 7-on-7 portion, drawing an applause from those in attendance. Kyle Trask’s pass may have been right on the money, yet it was Pitts’ body control and hands that have his teammates salivating at his potential in 2019.
iG -- 2020 commit WR/TE Jeremiah Johnson 6-7 210 looks like he could become another Pitts type of player.
=====

Some good news at DT that some have worried about the depth of.

“I’m pretty versatile. I can play in and out,” said Carter, a redshirt sophomore from Tampa. “I think that’s a good thing. It’s an adjustment just coming from high school to college,” said Langham, a redshirt freshman from Huntsville, Ala. “But anything that can help my team I will do, even moving inside.”

Like Zuniga, Carter and Langham have a DE's skill set — quickness and speed off the edge — that potentially makes them productive pass rushers. Unlike Zuniga 6-4 257, they have the size that is approaching a DT's weight. Carter is 6-foot-4, 280 pounds, while Langham is 6-4, 286. Carter is expected to continue his dual role for the foreseeable future, but Langham might be morphing into a full-time DT. “Play hard, play physical and play fast,” Langham said.
(Clayton is leaving for good reasons imo, so good luck to him at his next gig. - iG)

 

[instaGATOR]

Okay, now I like DT Adam Shuler 6-4 275 even more....

In the spring of 2015, Adam Shuler won the Florida Class 4A State Championship in the Discus and followed that performance with a victory in the Golden South Classic, a notable track meet held each May in Orlando.
Shuler was named The Orlando Sentinel's Boys Track Athlete of the Year.

His discus throw of 192 feet, 9 inches on his final attempt at the state meet his senior year broke a Central Florida record in the event that had stood for 39 years. Shuler also finished 3rd in the shot put.
Note: WVa doesn't have a Men's track team but UF does, helping UF get him when he was a Grad-xfer.

Shuler recently joined the UF men's track team for the outdoor season, returning to competition last weekend at the FSU Relays in Tallahassee. Shuler finished second with a throw of 174-4 in his collegiate debut, 4 years since he last competed in a meet. ~ Shuler has added more than 30 pounds to his frame since he threw the discus in high school. How serious is Shuler about returning to form?
"My goal is to break the UF school record,'' he said.

Currently, that record belongs to Wes Stockbarger, who has owned the mark since 2007 when he made a throw of 201-5 at the NCAA East Regional. That's less than 10 feet beyond what Shuler accomplished in high school, so it's a reasonable thought.

For the rest of the story....
https://floridagators.com/news/2019...r-to-make-mark-in-two-sports-with-gators.aspx

 

[gatorbuilderorlando]

So far I like what I’m hearing and seeing from the team. It’s all going to come down to our oline.

Same - I do think we have to stay relatively healthy especially on the Oline. I just don't think we really have quality starters past the 7th guy. Even with that my expectations for the Oline are about the same for last year. I don't expect to be great early but should have consistent improvement throughout the year.

I also still think there's going to be 4-5 dog fight games and I plan to win them. Mostly - still going to just enjoy this year...have expectations for the following season.

 

[instaGATOR]

Last pre-season, my W-A-G was 9-11 wins, depending on QB play, with 8 wins the minimum. I'm very satisfied with Dan's 1st season going 10-3.
For the coming season, I'm thinking 10-12 wins, with 9 wins the minimum.

I'm holding out some hope for the SEC-C and a CFP spot, but that would take some luck across the season in several areas of the team....

 

[nail1988]

Last pre-season, my W-A-G was 9-11 wins, depending on QB play, with 8 wins the minimum. I'm very satisfied with Dan's 1st season going 10-3.
For the coming season, I'm thinking 10-12 wins, with 9 wins the minimum.

I'm holding out some hope for the SEC-C and a CFP spot, but that would take some luck across the season in several areas of the team....

 

[instaGATOR]

Last pre-season, my W-A-G was 9-11 wins, depending on QB play, with 8 wins the minimum. I'm very satisfied with Dan's 1st season going 10-3.
For the coming season, I'm thinking 10-12 wins, with 9 wins the minimum.

I'm holding out some hope for the SEC-C and a CFP spot, but that would take some luck across the season in several areas of the team....

A dust-bowl CHOKER, busy laughing himself to death....

At the recent annual Tim Tebow Foundation Celebrity Gala and Golf Classic, Urban Meyer was asked how quickly he thinks Mullen can get the Gators into the College Football Playoff. "Oh, Dan's the right guy. I think this year," Meyer said before pausing for a second. "I don't know their, I'm going to talk to him a little bit tonight, but I don't know exactly their talent level. But he's the right guy and if they have the talent level, he'll get them there."

The 5 recruiting classes that will form the bulk of the 2019 roster for the Gators ranked just 21st, 12th, 11th, 14th & 9th nationally (13.4 Ave.). That lags several of Florida's peers, including Auburn, Georgia & LSU, 3 teams that appear on the schedule next fall.
(that average ignores players that have been brought in that weren't counted in the recruiting service classes) Tebow agrees with Meyer,,, IF Franks can take the 'next step' as the returning starting QB... In any case, there's certainly no lack of confidence in Mullen from 2 of his well-known peers.

 

[instaGATOR]

Departing from UF:
OLB/DE-BUCK Jachai Polite 6-2 242 Jr - 19.5 TFL, 11 sacks, ED to NFL.

Arriving at UF:
OLB/DE-BUCK Jonathan Greenard 6-4 263 rsJr - 15.5 TFL, 7 sacks, UL Grad-xfer to UF.

With much better help surrounding him at UF and Grantham's D, Greenard should do even better. Especially with Carter, Langham, & Chatfield all chomping at the bit for some BUCK playing time....

The same kind of deal is occurring at the CB/Nic/S STAR position with CG-J 6-0 208 Jr departing early for the NFL draft. Fr All SEC CB Trey Dean 6-3 194 Soph is moving to STAR, along with S John Huggins 6-1 206 Soph.

IMO, BUCK & STAR were the two biggest losses on the defense, but the replacements look to be as good, or maybe even better,,, so no worries mates...

 

[instaGATOR]

As I've been saying, and as we all know, the Gators are LAY-O-DED at WR for 2019. (and that's not even including the TE's or the RB's as receivers)

Starting quarterback Feleipe Franks is back, along with leading rusher Lamical Perine. There's no dominant receiver in terms of production, but that's part of what makes the Gators' current group of WR's so scary. Just about anyone can beat you. "It isn’t like we have to focus on just one guy who can do it, so let’s just get him the ball," Mullen said. "It allows the quarterback to take advantage of the defense and take what they give you."

https://247sports.com/college/flori...stacked-enough-to-cause-nightmares-131053166/

 

[instaGATOR]

Jefferson: 503 yards receiving and 6 touchdowns. Good, but not earth-shattering. Hammond: 369 yards and 4 touchdowns. Solid. Grimes: 364 yards and 2 touchdowns. Swain: 265 yards receiving and 5 touchdowns.

From just those 4 guys alone:
503 - 6
369 - 4
364 - 2
265 - 5
1,501 Yds with 17 TD's

I'd take that any day over one top WR.
Can't key on one guy, injury protection, open all over the field, etc...

Now throw in another 1,275 yds and 10 more TD's scattered across the rest of the team with only 6 Ints.

 

[instaGATOR]

On the 2019 O-line: "For us, the biggest thing is we’ve got to continue to build depth, so hopefully we add some more guys that we feel comfortable that are ready to play, knowing that we still have summer and 25 more practices before we play a game for more guys to jump on that boat," Mullen said. "You know, to feel that comfort level as you go to put the Fall depth chart together a little bit.

~ The Spring can sort out a few, while the Summer and Fall will do for the rest.
Yet to be added to the active roster or evaluated are the summer O-line arrivals:

E-#2 OG Deyavie Hammond 6-4 345 Fr **** - chose UF over UA, UGly
R-#17 OG Riley Simonds 6-4 290 Fr *** - chose UF over 10 other SEC schools
R-#37 OT Wardrick Wilson 6-5 311 Fr **** - chose UF over Mich and 10 others

Other summer arrivals for the offense include:
#1 TE-H Keon Zipperer Fr 6-3 240 Fr **** UA-AA
#12 WR Arjei Henderson 6-2 190 Fr ****
#33 FS/WR Trent Whittenmore 6-3 190 Fr ****
#45 WR/Ath Ja'markis Weston 6-3 195 Fr ****
#45 WR Dionte Marks 5-11 178 Fr ****

#3 APB Nay'Quan Wright 5-9 193 Fr ****

 

[ocalaman]

I believe the amount of success we will have in the fall is almost totally dependent on the development and play of the offensive line. I think the defense will be deeper, faster and better all around. Same with our running back and wideouts. Special teams, basically the same as last year, with maybe better return guys. I'm counting on even more improved consistency from Franks. Otherwise E. Jones (or Trask) will replace him and give us more versatility from the position. That leaves the O-line. 4 departing starters with a couple of the returning guys injury prone. Appears to be a lot of talent there, but it is largely unproven. The trenches determine games among the big boys in the SEC and if we want to ride with the big dogs our Winn Dixie guys (the beef people) have to be very good. I'm hoping.

 

[instaGATOR]

The OL can be supported by the TE's and RB;s.

The OL can be worked around by roll-outs and quick throws.

The opponents defense can be suckered in by schemes and play calling.

While I do have faith in the new/young OL, they don't have to be all world for the team to still be successful. JMOHO's of course...

 

[instaGATOR]

The Gator's brand new, 'no experience' OL....

LT Stone forsythe 6-7 323 rsJr -- 2018: Played in all 13 games and started Florida’s season opener against Charleston Southern at RT. Spent time at both OG and OT when in the lineup and on the ST's…

LG Brett Heggie rsJr - An experienced starter that has taken the bulk of reps at LG on 1st-team this spring. Staying healthy will be key for injury-plagued Heggie.

OC Nick Buchanan rsSr - The starter in 2018, Buchanan has anchored a young unit this spring and tried to lead by example.

RG Chris Bleich rsFr - He has received most of the reps at RG with the 1st-team offense. Bleich figures notably into the plans next season but specific roles remain cloudy. Noah Banks rsSr will also hopefully be available (currently with an undisclosed medical issue).

RT Jean Delance rsJr - Started his career at Texas, appeared in 4 games a season ago but has emerged as the primary starter at RT in spring camp.

~ The other experienced roster OL'men, the 4 Fr-EE's, and the 3 Fr that will arrive in the summer are for rotation & developmental depth. While it will be a 'new & different' OL, it's not like they will be playing an OL made up of all incoming Fr, or guys that have never played a down. IF any of the Fr get a start, it will because they have shown exceptional skill and development and have 'earned' it, or if one of the starters gets injured out.