We begin this edition of the War Room like we do every week with a couple of ground rules. Everything that is reported in the War Room must stay in the War Room. That is how this works. The information in War Room is detailed to the point that it does not need to be passed beyond the doors of this post. This is a special feature for subscribers only, which is why it is posted on the premium board. Posting here is the only way to ensure that the information is exclusive to The Alley. Anyway, the War Room will only work if everyone helps make it work. And now that no one has read this ... it's on with the news.
INSIDETHEGATORS.COM SPRING PRACTICE REPORTS
Staff Report I
Here are some team and practice tidbits we have received from sources who have observed some practices.
* What was seen by the offense last Saturday during the spring game wasn't wholly unusual. The defense had been outperforming the offense throughout the spring. Some of it has to do with the injury situation along the offensive line. Some of it has to do with the offense being slower to pick up the new schemes than the defense. Some of it is just the amount of talent Florida has on defense compared to what they have offensively.
* Even though it wasn't shown during the game, there's more to come offensively. Charlie Weis only utilized a tiny fraction of his offensive scheme because he didn't want to put it on display during Saturday's televised game. He has several other wrinkles left to show, but wanted to save it for game days on Saturdays. Will Muschamp and Dan Quinn were doing the same. That is why they only played the same four-man line up front all most all day. In closed practices, they come from all angles. They didn't show that on Saturday.
* I know people don't want to believe it but John Brantley did not look as poor in practice as he did in the O&B game. That was a very off day for him and was likely the result of the enormous amount of pressure generated by the defensive line. Both Weis and Muschamp told him directly after the spring game that they consider him to be the starting quarterback. They called out players by name that they expect to lead the team this summer. He was the first. They told him they expect him to lead and he is a team captain. The players were rallying around him after the game because they felt like he didn't show in the game what he is capable of doing this year.
* Of all the players to single out, Jeff Driskel was a guy who was putting in a lot of time in the off-season conditioning program and working very hard on preparing to play. He works as hard as any player on the team. He has had a little bit of trouble at first adjusting to the new playbook. Unless there is an injury, they aren't going to throw him into the fire. Weis has told him that they want to develop him the right way and bring him along at his own pace.
* The walk-on quarterback who threw the touchdown pass, Christian Provancha, has usually looked that good throwing the ball in practice too, but never got significant reps this spring.
* The offense could have done more, but the coaches limited some players. Players like Chris Rainey were limited in the game because the coaches didn't think there was a point in getting him beat up in a scrimmage game. They were trying to preserve him for later, though Rainey was not holding back his own personal effort.
* Though fans thought Quinton Dunbar looked good on the field, the coaches were unhappy with his play and let him know it. They thought he could have performed better.
* Another player they held back in the game was Jordan Reed. He did enough in the first 14 practices for the coaches to feel as though he is an offensive ace-in-the-hole.
* As a sign of how young and inexperienced it is, Jon Halapio, Xavier Nixon and Jon Harrison have emerged as leaders on the offensive line. Players respect them and their work ethic.
* The offensive linemen think that once everyone comes around and they are healthy, they will be fine this year. That came from a offensive lineman who hasn't played that great. We'll see.
* James Wilson did not practice that much this spring. He didn't do a lot when there is contact. That is why it was shocking he played in the game on Saturday. Fans think that he is always hurt, but he has been told he has zero cartilage in either knee. He has had like five knee surgeries since being at UF. Some of the people that know him think that he was rushed back after the first couple of knee issues.
* The coaches talked up players like Sharrif Floyd, Ronald Powell and Dominique Easley all spring. They like Chris Martin too, but has been struggling with consistency. When he gets motivated, he is an unstoppable force. However, he is not always playing with the right amount of fire. They worry about keeping Easley and Martin on track when they aren't allowed around them that much during the summer. If all four of them follow the program this summer, all four can be special players.
* No body talks about them that much but Jon Bostic and Jelani Jenkins had really good springs and have emerged as the team's primary leaders this spring on both sides of the ball.
* Kyle Christy might have looked good in the Orange and Blue game with his 55-yard punt, but he is having consistency issues in practice. He must improve on that as he moves forward as the team's starting punter.
* Moving toward fall, don't expect many roster changes. Muschamp has said he wants to move beyond the basics of the schemes and get into fine tuning what already exists, so sweeping lineup changes are going to be unlikely. He told the team that the depth chart is set right now only until fall practice begins and that they will open it back up again. The players took it to mean that even though he said there will be positions up for grabs, it is doubtful that unless there is an injury or someone falls flat on their face, or a backup impresses mightily, any new starters emerge.
* Also, starters will be playing special teams, so summer conditioning will be extra important for these guys.
* It started on Monday. The team is back in the weight-room. Moving from the running drills they were doing before spring practice to just lifting right now.
* With spring practice over Muschamp is meeting individually with players to give them some face-to-face time to tell them each person-to-person where they stand.
Staff Report II
This information came from someone who hung around some players during Saturday's Orange & Blue Debut.
* There were a lot of former players there. More than you would have thought considering it is an entirely new coaching staff that none of these players played under. Some of the former players who were there that I recognized: Jarvis Moss, Joe Cohen, Steve Harris, Maurkice Pouncey, Ray McDonald, Cornielus Ingram, Eric Wilbur, David Nelson, Riley Cooper, Steven Wilks, Billy Latsko, Brandon Spikes, Javier Estopinon, Butch Rowley, James Smith, Rick Burgess and Tim Tebow.
* Marcus Gilbert said that he is being told he will be drafted in the late 1st to 2nd round. He has had several meetings with teams including Cleveland, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Diego and Miami. He worked out for Miami this week.
* Cornelius Ingram said he is 100 percent healthy for the first time since he was a freshman in college.
* There was a former player fish fry before the game. Percy Harvincalled and said he couldn't come, but he wanted to pay the whole bill. There were tons of former guys milling around.
Kyle Maistri's Spring Report
Here are some thoughts on several players who improved their stock as spring practice comes to an end:
* Quinton Dunbar: Without question, Dunbar was the biggest mover of the spring. He went from a guy who was fifth or sixth at wide receiver, at best, to the No. 1 spot. Former Florida wide receiver Jacquez Green said he always tries to watch the receivers when he comes back to Gainesville and was very impressed with Dunbar, who he thinks has the strength and speed to be a difference maker this season. Dunbar is fast enough to get behind the defense and athletic enough to go get the ball at its highest point, the ideal deep threat. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound receiver looks a little wiry in his uniform, but teammates have said he has surprising strength for his frame and isn’t afraid to mix it up, as he showed with his big catch-and-run in the spring game.
* Jon Halapio: Looking for the next leader of the offensive line? Forget upperclassmen Xavier Nixon and Matt Patchan. It’s going to be redshirt sophomore Halapio. Halapio had a rough start to his career, as he was forced into action at the beginning of last season after James Wilson went down with an injury. Halapio graded out at under 50 percent (no on knows exactly what that means, but it’s not good) in his first game and looked over-matched for the first few weeks. But he steadily improved every week and became a reliable lineman by the end of the season. In spring camp, he’s embraced the role of leader with the four seniors departed and has the respect of everyone on the team. Ronald Powell said he’s the best lineman on the team and hits surprisingly hard for such a “cuddly” guy.
* Josh Evans: At 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds Evans has always looked the part of a starting safety. But his play was inconsistent when he had his chances last year, and he could never pass Will Hill for a starting spot despite Hill’s spotty play and off-the-field drama. With Ahmad Black and Hill leaving for the NFL Draft after last season, Matt Elam and Evans were thrust into their positions almost by default. Evans impressed Muschamp during spring practice with his ability to play the ball in the air and close on receivers. Evans showed how far he has come in the Orange and Blue Debut with a few nice tackles and big hits.
* De’Ante Saunders: Simply put: Muschamp gushes about “Pop” Saunders any chance he gets. Fans didn’t get a chance to see the true freshman in the spring game because of a sprained ankle, but Muschamp has said multiple times that he expects Saunders to be a great player for the Gators, be it at cornerback or safety. Saunders played quarterback in high school and made the transition to defensive back seamlessly thanks to his superior athleticism and quickness. Saunders may not be an everyday contributor right away, but Muschamp will find a way to get him on the field.
* Tyler Murphy: Murphy, who some thought was an ill fit for a pro-style offense, popped up on everyone’s radar when Charlie Weis dropped his name in his introductory press conference at the beginning of spring. Since then, Muschamp has frequently praised him and gave him run of the second team during the spring game, ahead of true freshman Jeff Driskel. Still, I can’t remember a time that any of his teammates pointed him out as a guy who was standing out on the field, though Brantley and Driskel were frequently discussed. The consensus seems to be that Murphy is a good game-managing quarterback at best, but just doesn’t bring the exceptional physical gifts to the table. Still, if Driskel and Brissett aren’t game ready yet and Brantley proves he can’t even be a game manager, Murphy could sneak in as the starting quarterback at some point next year.
* Pro-style offense running game: The common sentiment is the pro-style offense requires bigger backs, and Florida has a bunch of guys on the roster recruited for the spread offense. But after talking with Jacquez Green, he thinks the running backs will have a HUGE year, collectively, this season. Green said people underestimate just how much is put on the quarterback in the spread offense and how much that can take away from the other skill position players. With more responsibility, Green thinks Chris Rainey and Co. are primed for a monster season. The pro-style offense gives the running backs more freedom to choose their hole and find the lanes, which will give the shiftier backs more room to operate.
INSIDETHEGATORS.COM RECRUITING TIDBITS
From Keith Niebuhr
* It sure looks like Stone Mountain (Ga.) Stephenson running back Mike Davis will stick to his Florida commit. Davis sported a Gators sweatshirt at last weekend's Rivals/VTO Elite 100 in Marietta, Ga. He said he was 100 percent solid. Interestingly, the schools Davis said are still pursuing him the hardest are two of UF's biggest current rivals -- FSU and South Carolina. He said neither will quit. Davis has taken only one visit -- to Florida. And it looks like that really might be it. He asked me what I thought about Matt Jones, and we joked about how much older Jones looks.
* Two of Davis' teammates, defensive end Jarontay Jones and linebacker Ralphael Kirby, just might join him in Gainesville. Jones maintains UF and Auburn are his co-leaders with Clemson giving chase, but when talking to him you just get the feeling the Gators are the team to beat. Kirby admitted to me last week he was leaning toward the Gators. His offer list has soared in recent weeks. Both players say they plan on making another trip to Gainesville soon. It really wouldn't be a shock if one or both are locked up by summer, though in recruiting anything can change.
* Marietta (Ga.) Lassiter 2013 quarterback Eddie Printz canceled a trip last week to Gainesville at the last minute. Basically, he wanted to watch UF practice Thursday, meet with coaches Friday and attend the spring game. But when UF shelved Thursday's practice for a team-building event, Printz and his dad decided not to make the 6-hour drive. A UF staffer wanted to make sure there were no hard feelings. Don't worry, the father told me Saturday, there aren't. Printz likes Florida a good bit and looks forward to coming down soon. He's particularly excited about meeting Charlie Weis. On the flip side, he was disappointed he didn't get to meet Tim Tebow last week.
From Mike Farrell
* Running back Mike Davis from Stone Mountain (Ga.) Stephenson was impressive at the Rivals.com/VTO Sports Elite 100 camp last weekend in Georgia. Although Davis didn’t take a ton of reps, he was clearly explosive in drills and when he did go at it in skeleton and one-on-ones he showed good change of direction and up-field speed. Davis measured in at 5-foot-9 and a muscled-up 192 pounds and ran a 4.28 shuttle. He also had a 34 inch vertical. He either scratched his 40 time or didn’t run it and he didn’t bench. His teammate, UF commit, defensive lineman Jafar Mann, was expected to attend but wasn’t able to make it. Davis said he is working on teammates Raphael Kirby and Jarontay Jones and both said they have Florida high on their list. Kirby came out and said the Gators were his leader.
* Defensive end Eli Harold is a strong lean to Florida despite recent visits to North Carolina and Tennessee. UNC has been doing a great job recruiting Hampton Roads the last couple of years and Tennessee has his friend and former teammate Justin Hunter, but the Gators are still out on top. He will visit Gainesville later this month.
* Linebacker Deaysean Rippy is also a lean towards Florida as the Gators hold the edge over Ohio State and Tennessee. Pitt and Michigan are also in the mix but Florida has always been his apparent dream school. However, unlike Harold, it is easier to see Rippy staying closer to home in the end especially with Steelers safety and former Michigan and West Virginia prospect Ryan Mundy acting as his mentor. But for now, the Gators are still in the lead.
* The Gators also lead for Shelby (N.C.) Crest defensive end/tackle Jonathan Bullard who lists Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee on top with North Carolina, Clemson, Alabama, Auburn and others all in the mix. Bullard is in no hurry to make a decision and will take numerous visits before he decides, but Florida is one of the schools that stand out to him. Former Crest five-star Brandon Spikes played at Florida so there is a tie to the school. His teammate, Rhaheim Ledbetter, likes Florida even more than Bullard but it is unclear if he has a committable offer. With Florida taking on a couple of defensive backs this year, it is unlikely Ledbetter is at the top of their board. The two are very tight and want to play at the same school together if possible.
INSIDETHEGATORS.COM's JUSTIN JOHNSON's OFFENSE BIG BOARD
Quarterback
Since Florida took two top rated quarterback prospects last year in Jeff Driskel and Jacoby Brissett, this recruiting cycle the Gators will likely end up with zero commits at quarterback.
The quarterbacks they have offered include Zeke Pike (Edgewood, KY); Gunner Kiel (Columbus, IN) and Jameis Winston (Hueytown, AL) All three prospects have stated that depth will be a big factor in where they ultimately wind up, and Florida cannot provide that having three freshmen on the roster for the 2011 season.
Prospects to keep an eye on if UF decides they want a quarterback: Tyler Cameron (Jupiter, FL), Austin Appleby (North Canton, OH), Bennie Coney (Tampa, FL), and E.J. Hilliard (Miami, FL). Cameron is the most likely of the bunch, being a Gator legacy and showing off a nice arm with excellent accuracy. Appleby was on a recent visit to UF, so the Gators are at least showing interest. Coney and Hilliard are both solid quarterbacks who have impressed during spring camps. Hilliard had to sit behind Louisville signee Teddy Bridgewater last year, but it is his team this year. Coney doesn’t have impressive statistics, but he has an extremely impressive offer list, with offers from the likes of Auburn, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Texas Tech and Virginia Tech.
Overall though, look for the Gators to not get a quarterback commit for 2012 and fully focus their efforts in 2013 for a blue-chip prospect.
Johnson's Position Ranking
1. Gunner Kiel
2. Zeke Pike
3. Greyson Lambert
4. Jameis Winston
5. Tyler Cameron
6. Bennie Coney
7. Austin Appleby
8. E.J. Hilliard
Running back
If things stay as is, the Gators are likely done at running back unless elite running backs such as Keith Marshall (Raleigh, NC) or Rushel Shell (Aliquippa, PA) want to jump on ship. With commitments Matt Jones (Seffner, FL) and Mike Davis (Stone Mountain, GA), the Gators already have two top 20 running back prospects nationally.
Marshall seems to have pretty high interest in Florida, already visiting two times since December. He came away impressed by the new Gator coaching staff, saying the fact they all have professional football experience was a huge plus. I don’t expect to see him in Orange and Blue though, as Georgia and North Carolina are thought to be the main two schools in the running.
Shell hasn’t been very outspoken during the recruiting process, but before Jones or Davis were committed he had the Gators in his top five. With the combination of UF already having two solid commits at running back and Shell being from Pennsylvania, one would have to think Florida’s chances are slim to none.
Johnson's Position Ranking
1. Keith Marshall
2. Rushel Shell
3. Matt Jones (committed)
4. Mike Davis (committed)
Wide receiver
UF already has one wide receiver commit in Latroy Pittman (Citra, FL), but he has already began taking visits to other schools. Pittman may currently be solid to UF, but as long as he is taking visits, the commitment must be considered soft. With the lack of elite level receiver recruits on the UF roster, this position should be a primary concern for the 2012 class.
The first tier of receivers UF is after include Dorial Beckham-Green (Springfield, MO), Stefon Diggs (Olney, MD) and Chris Black (Jacksonville, FL). Beckham-Green should be the nation’s top receiver, if not overall prospect. His combination of size, speed, athleticism and catching ability is a once in every five years type. He has not spoken very much about his recruitment, but it is thought he would like to stay somewhat close to home, which Gainesville is not.
Diggs, a five-star prospect, is an intriguing player. He has elite speed to go with excellent route running abilities and solid pass catching skills. This is someone Gator Nation needs to watch out for as the recruiting process goes on. He said that depth chart will be huge in his decision as he wants to see the field early. With his kind of abilities, this is a very plausible scenario if he came to UF. He has been quoted saying he would love to play in the south as well. As of right now, Diggs would be my surprise pick to end up in Gainesville if they have a successful 2011 season.
Black is the top wide receiver in Florida and he is from a family of Gator fans, including himself. The problem that arises for the Gators is his high school, First Coast, has become a Florida State pipeline over the past few seasons. Black has been very high on Florida State from the get-go, but Florida has made up significant ground after recent visits. It will ultimately come down to whether or not he wants to play with his teammates and good friends, or play for his childhood favorite. I’m predicting Florida State.
JaQuay Williams (Tyrone, GA) is an interesting player to watch for as well. He was dominant at the recent VTO camp in Marietta, GA, beating one of the best cornerback prospects in Geno Smith more often than not. He has excellent hands, runs smooth routes, and is deceptively fast. Ohio State will be the team to beat, but it is thought if/when Florida and Georgia offer, that might change.
Other prospects to keep an eye are a slew of Florida prospects with Gator offers: Avery Johnson (Pompano Beach, FL), Angelo Jean-Louis (Wellington, FL), D’Vario Montgomery (Winter Park, FL), Jaime Wilson (Belle Glades, FL), Alton Howard (Orlando, FL), Justin Ferguson (Pembroke Pines, FL) and Malcolm Lewis (Miramar, FL).
Johnson's Position Ranking
1. Dorial Beckham-Green
2. Stefon Diggs
3. Chris Black
4. Avery Johnson
5. JaQuay Williams
6. Latroy Pittman (committed)
7. D’Vario Montgomery
8. Angelo Jean-Louis
9. Alton Howard
10. Justin Ferguson
11. Jaime Wilson
12. Malcolm Lewis
Tight end
This will be an important position to get a big physical blocking tight end for 2012. Currently on the Gators roster, they have a converted quarterback in Jordan Reed, a pass-catching tight end in A.C. Leonard, and Michael McFarland rounding out the depth chart. UF doesn’t have a true blocking tight end on the roster, but they are in on a couple this cycle.
Kent Taylor (Land O’Lakes, FL) who’s 6’5” 220-pounds and Colin Thompson (Warminster, PA) who’s 6’5” 255-pounds are the two best blocking tight ends the Gators are after this cycle. Both are solid in the passing game as well, using their size to catch jump balls and outmuscle defenders.
If the Gators don’t land one of those two, Sean Price (Citra, FL), Kelvin Rainey (Yulee, FL) and Kurt Freitag (Buford, GA) all become a huge priority for UF.
Price is thought to be a Miami lean, Rainey is being recruited as an outside linebacker by UF, and Freitag is rumored to have Alabama in the lead. It should be an interesting position to watch for the class of 2012, and some sleeper targets may see an increase in the Gators interest if they strike out on the above listed names.
Johnson's Position Ranking
1. Kent Taylor
2. Colin Thompson
3. Sean Price
4. Kelvin Rainey
5. Kurt Freitag
Offensive Line
Without a doubt the most important position for the Gators in the 2012 class. Florida has very little depth along the offensive line after this season, especially at tackle. With the amount of elite prospects UF is after on the o-line and the lack of depth they have, UF could end up having an exceptional class at this position.
The Gators lucked out that the state of Florida is extremely deep with offensive lineman. They already have a commitment from perhaps the state’s best lineman in Jessamen Dunker. The two other prospects fighting for the title of state’s best are: John Theus (Jacksonville, FL) and Avery Young (Palm Beach Gardens, FL).
Theus is a five-star on the Rivals network and is probably the best run-blocking tackle in the nation. This will likely be a Georgia vs. Florida battle, as his older brother is a member of the UGA football team. For this reason and the family ties to Mark Richt, I think Theus ends up in red and black.
I will however predict that the Gators land Young. It was reported by Gator commit Matt Jones that Young had committed to UF during his visit last weekend, but those claims were denied. However, the Gators currently lead for Young’s services by a lot, and it could be a matter of time before he jumps on board.
Another five-star prospect the Gators are after is D.J. Humphries (Charlotte, NC). The Gators are in the driver’s seat right now for the elite tackle, even after taking several visits to other schools. There is no reason to think UF shouldn’t like their chances to land Humphries barring a major change.
Andrus Peat (Tempe, AZ), Vadal Alexander (Buford, GA), Jordan Simmons (Encino, CA), Patrick Miller (West Palm Beach, FL), Evan Goodman (Lakeland, FL), Chris Muller (Boyertown, PA), Brock Stadnik (Greensboro, NC), Patrick Destefano (Roebuck, SC) and Blake Bars (Nashville, TN) are other prospects the Gators have offered.
Miller has so many connections with UF, as he has four teammates over the past two years currently on the UF roster as well as many friends going to UF. One would have to like the Gators chances, but Auburn could be a sleeper. Goodman comes from a strong pipeline to UF in Lakeland High School and they are as high as any other school. His brother is on his way to Arizona State, which could be a factor. I think both wind up Gators.
Johnson's Position Ranking
1. Jessamen Dunker
2. D.J. Humphries
3. John Theus
4. Andrus Peat
5. Avery Young
6. Jordan Simmons
7. Vadal Alexander
8. Patrick Miller
9. Brock Stadnik
10. Evan Goodman
11. Chris Muller
12. Patrick Destefano
13. Blake Bars
14. Cody Waldrop
15. Ty Darlington
16. Abraham Garcia
This post was edited on 4/15 12:03 PM by Mark Wheeler
INSIDETHEGATORS.COM SPRING PRACTICE REPORTS
Staff Report I
Here are some team and practice tidbits we have received from sources who have observed some practices.
* What was seen by the offense last Saturday during the spring game wasn't wholly unusual. The defense had been outperforming the offense throughout the spring. Some of it has to do with the injury situation along the offensive line. Some of it has to do with the offense being slower to pick up the new schemes than the defense. Some of it is just the amount of talent Florida has on defense compared to what they have offensively.
* Even though it wasn't shown during the game, there's more to come offensively. Charlie Weis only utilized a tiny fraction of his offensive scheme because he didn't want to put it on display during Saturday's televised game. He has several other wrinkles left to show, but wanted to save it for game days on Saturdays. Will Muschamp and Dan Quinn were doing the same. That is why they only played the same four-man line up front all most all day. In closed practices, they come from all angles. They didn't show that on Saturday.
* I know people don't want to believe it but John Brantley did not look as poor in practice as he did in the O&B game. That was a very off day for him and was likely the result of the enormous amount of pressure generated by the defensive line. Both Weis and Muschamp told him directly after the spring game that they consider him to be the starting quarterback. They called out players by name that they expect to lead the team this summer. He was the first. They told him they expect him to lead and he is a team captain. The players were rallying around him after the game because they felt like he didn't show in the game what he is capable of doing this year.
* Of all the players to single out, Jeff Driskel was a guy who was putting in a lot of time in the off-season conditioning program and working very hard on preparing to play. He works as hard as any player on the team. He has had a little bit of trouble at first adjusting to the new playbook. Unless there is an injury, they aren't going to throw him into the fire. Weis has told him that they want to develop him the right way and bring him along at his own pace.
* The walk-on quarterback who threw the touchdown pass, Christian Provancha, has usually looked that good throwing the ball in practice too, but never got significant reps this spring.
* The offense could have done more, but the coaches limited some players. Players like Chris Rainey were limited in the game because the coaches didn't think there was a point in getting him beat up in a scrimmage game. They were trying to preserve him for later, though Rainey was not holding back his own personal effort.
* Though fans thought Quinton Dunbar looked good on the field, the coaches were unhappy with his play and let him know it. They thought he could have performed better.
* Another player they held back in the game was Jordan Reed. He did enough in the first 14 practices for the coaches to feel as though he is an offensive ace-in-the-hole.
* As a sign of how young and inexperienced it is, Jon Halapio, Xavier Nixon and Jon Harrison have emerged as leaders on the offensive line. Players respect them and their work ethic.
* The offensive linemen think that once everyone comes around and they are healthy, they will be fine this year. That came from a offensive lineman who hasn't played that great. We'll see.
* James Wilson did not practice that much this spring. He didn't do a lot when there is contact. That is why it was shocking he played in the game on Saturday. Fans think that he is always hurt, but he has been told he has zero cartilage in either knee. He has had like five knee surgeries since being at UF. Some of the people that know him think that he was rushed back after the first couple of knee issues.
* The coaches talked up players like Sharrif Floyd, Ronald Powell and Dominique Easley all spring. They like Chris Martin too, but has been struggling with consistency. When he gets motivated, he is an unstoppable force. However, he is not always playing with the right amount of fire. They worry about keeping Easley and Martin on track when they aren't allowed around them that much during the summer. If all four of them follow the program this summer, all four can be special players.
* No body talks about them that much but Jon Bostic and Jelani Jenkins had really good springs and have emerged as the team's primary leaders this spring on both sides of the ball.
* Kyle Christy might have looked good in the Orange and Blue game with his 55-yard punt, but he is having consistency issues in practice. He must improve on that as he moves forward as the team's starting punter.
* Moving toward fall, don't expect many roster changes. Muschamp has said he wants to move beyond the basics of the schemes and get into fine tuning what already exists, so sweeping lineup changes are going to be unlikely. He told the team that the depth chart is set right now only until fall practice begins and that they will open it back up again. The players took it to mean that even though he said there will be positions up for grabs, it is doubtful that unless there is an injury or someone falls flat on their face, or a backup impresses mightily, any new starters emerge.
* Also, starters will be playing special teams, so summer conditioning will be extra important for these guys.
* It started on Monday. The team is back in the weight-room. Moving from the running drills they were doing before spring practice to just lifting right now.
* With spring practice over Muschamp is meeting individually with players to give them some face-to-face time to tell them each person-to-person where they stand.
Staff Report II
This information came from someone who hung around some players during Saturday's Orange & Blue Debut.
* There were a lot of former players there. More than you would have thought considering it is an entirely new coaching staff that none of these players played under. Some of the former players who were there that I recognized: Jarvis Moss, Joe Cohen, Steve Harris, Maurkice Pouncey, Ray McDonald, Cornielus Ingram, Eric Wilbur, David Nelson, Riley Cooper, Steven Wilks, Billy Latsko, Brandon Spikes, Javier Estopinon, Butch Rowley, James Smith, Rick Burgess and Tim Tebow.
* Marcus Gilbert said that he is being told he will be drafted in the late 1st to 2nd round. He has had several meetings with teams including Cleveland, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Diego and Miami. He worked out for Miami this week.
* Cornelius Ingram said he is 100 percent healthy for the first time since he was a freshman in college.
* There was a former player fish fry before the game. Percy Harvincalled and said he couldn't come, but he wanted to pay the whole bill. There were tons of former guys milling around.
Kyle Maistri's Spring Report
Here are some thoughts on several players who improved their stock as spring practice comes to an end:
* Quinton Dunbar: Without question, Dunbar was the biggest mover of the spring. He went from a guy who was fifth or sixth at wide receiver, at best, to the No. 1 spot. Former Florida wide receiver Jacquez Green said he always tries to watch the receivers when he comes back to Gainesville and was very impressed with Dunbar, who he thinks has the strength and speed to be a difference maker this season. Dunbar is fast enough to get behind the defense and athletic enough to go get the ball at its highest point, the ideal deep threat. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound receiver looks a little wiry in his uniform, but teammates have said he has surprising strength for his frame and isn’t afraid to mix it up, as he showed with his big catch-and-run in the spring game.
* Jon Halapio: Looking for the next leader of the offensive line? Forget upperclassmen Xavier Nixon and Matt Patchan. It’s going to be redshirt sophomore Halapio. Halapio had a rough start to his career, as he was forced into action at the beginning of last season after James Wilson went down with an injury. Halapio graded out at under 50 percent (no on knows exactly what that means, but it’s not good) in his first game and looked over-matched for the first few weeks. But he steadily improved every week and became a reliable lineman by the end of the season. In spring camp, he’s embraced the role of leader with the four seniors departed and has the respect of everyone on the team. Ronald Powell said he’s the best lineman on the team and hits surprisingly hard for such a “cuddly” guy.
* Josh Evans: At 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds Evans has always looked the part of a starting safety. But his play was inconsistent when he had his chances last year, and he could never pass Will Hill for a starting spot despite Hill’s spotty play and off-the-field drama. With Ahmad Black and Hill leaving for the NFL Draft after last season, Matt Elam and Evans were thrust into their positions almost by default. Evans impressed Muschamp during spring practice with his ability to play the ball in the air and close on receivers. Evans showed how far he has come in the Orange and Blue Debut with a few nice tackles and big hits.
* De’Ante Saunders: Simply put: Muschamp gushes about “Pop” Saunders any chance he gets. Fans didn’t get a chance to see the true freshman in the spring game because of a sprained ankle, but Muschamp has said multiple times that he expects Saunders to be a great player for the Gators, be it at cornerback or safety. Saunders played quarterback in high school and made the transition to defensive back seamlessly thanks to his superior athleticism and quickness. Saunders may not be an everyday contributor right away, but Muschamp will find a way to get him on the field.
* Tyler Murphy: Murphy, who some thought was an ill fit for a pro-style offense, popped up on everyone’s radar when Charlie Weis dropped his name in his introductory press conference at the beginning of spring. Since then, Muschamp has frequently praised him and gave him run of the second team during the spring game, ahead of true freshman Jeff Driskel. Still, I can’t remember a time that any of his teammates pointed him out as a guy who was standing out on the field, though Brantley and Driskel were frequently discussed. The consensus seems to be that Murphy is a good game-managing quarterback at best, but just doesn’t bring the exceptional physical gifts to the table. Still, if Driskel and Brissett aren’t game ready yet and Brantley proves he can’t even be a game manager, Murphy could sneak in as the starting quarterback at some point next year.
* Pro-style offense running game: The common sentiment is the pro-style offense requires bigger backs, and Florida has a bunch of guys on the roster recruited for the spread offense. But after talking with Jacquez Green, he thinks the running backs will have a HUGE year, collectively, this season. Green said people underestimate just how much is put on the quarterback in the spread offense and how much that can take away from the other skill position players. With more responsibility, Green thinks Chris Rainey and Co. are primed for a monster season. The pro-style offense gives the running backs more freedom to choose their hole and find the lanes, which will give the shiftier backs more room to operate.
INSIDETHEGATORS.COM RECRUITING TIDBITS
From Keith Niebuhr
* It sure looks like Stone Mountain (Ga.) Stephenson running back Mike Davis will stick to his Florida commit. Davis sported a Gators sweatshirt at last weekend's Rivals/VTO Elite 100 in Marietta, Ga. He said he was 100 percent solid. Interestingly, the schools Davis said are still pursuing him the hardest are two of UF's biggest current rivals -- FSU and South Carolina. He said neither will quit. Davis has taken only one visit -- to Florida. And it looks like that really might be it. He asked me what I thought about Matt Jones, and we joked about how much older Jones looks.
* Two of Davis' teammates, defensive end Jarontay Jones and linebacker Ralphael Kirby, just might join him in Gainesville. Jones maintains UF and Auburn are his co-leaders with Clemson giving chase, but when talking to him you just get the feeling the Gators are the team to beat. Kirby admitted to me last week he was leaning toward the Gators. His offer list has soared in recent weeks. Both players say they plan on making another trip to Gainesville soon. It really wouldn't be a shock if one or both are locked up by summer, though in recruiting anything can change.
* Marietta (Ga.) Lassiter 2013 quarterback Eddie Printz canceled a trip last week to Gainesville at the last minute. Basically, he wanted to watch UF practice Thursday, meet with coaches Friday and attend the spring game. But when UF shelved Thursday's practice for a team-building event, Printz and his dad decided not to make the 6-hour drive. A UF staffer wanted to make sure there were no hard feelings. Don't worry, the father told me Saturday, there aren't. Printz likes Florida a good bit and looks forward to coming down soon. He's particularly excited about meeting Charlie Weis. On the flip side, he was disappointed he didn't get to meet Tim Tebow last week.
From Mike Farrell
* Running back Mike Davis from Stone Mountain (Ga.) Stephenson was impressive at the Rivals.com/VTO Sports Elite 100 camp last weekend in Georgia. Although Davis didn’t take a ton of reps, he was clearly explosive in drills and when he did go at it in skeleton and one-on-ones he showed good change of direction and up-field speed. Davis measured in at 5-foot-9 and a muscled-up 192 pounds and ran a 4.28 shuttle. He also had a 34 inch vertical. He either scratched his 40 time or didn’t run it and he didn’t bench. His teammate, UF commit, defensive lineman Jafar Mann, was expected to attend but wasn’t able to make it. Davis said he is working on teammates Raphael Kirby and Jarontay Jones and both said they have Florida high on their list. Kirby came out and said the Gators were his leader.
* Defensive end Eli Harold is a strong lean to Florida despite recent visits to North Carolina and Tennessee. UNC has been doing a great job recruiting Hampton Roads the last couple of years and Tennessee has his friend and former teammate Justin Hunter, but the Gators are still out on top. He will visit Gainesville later this month.
* Linebacker Deaysean Rippy is also a lean towards Florida as the Gators hold the edge over Ohio State and Tennessee. Pitt and Michigan are also in the mix but Florida has always been his apparent dream school. However, unlike Harold, it is easier to see Rippy staying closer to home in the end especially with Steelers safety and former Michigan and West Virginia prospect Ryan Mundy acting as his mentor. But for now, the Gators are still in the lead.
* The Gators also lead for Shelby (N.C.) Crest defensive end/tackle Jonathan Bullard who lists Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee on top with North Carolina, Clemson, Alabama, Auburn and others all in the mix. Bullard is in no hurry to make a decision and will take numerous visits before he decides, but Florida is one of the schools that stand out to him. Former Crest five-star Brandon Spikes played at Florida so there is a tie to the school. His teammate, Rhaheim Ledbetter, likes Florida even more than Bullard but it is unclear if he has a committable offer. With Florida taking on a couple of defensive backs this year, it is unlikely Ledbetter is at the top of their board. The two are very tight and want to play at the same school together if possible.
INSIDETHEGATORS.COM's JUSTIN JOHNSON's OFFENSE BIG BOARD
Quarterback
Since Florida took two top rated quarterback prospects last year in Jeff Driskel and Jacoby Brissett, this recruiting cycle the Gators will likely end up with zero commits at quarterback.
The quarterbacks they have offered include Zeke Pike (Edgewood, KY); Gunner Kiel (Columbus, IN) and Jameis Winston (Hueytown, AL) All three prospects have stated that depth will be a big factor in where they ultimately wind up, and Florida cannot provide that having three freshmen on the roster for the 2011 season.
Prospects to keep an eye on if UF decides they want a quarterback: Tyler Cameron (Jupiter, FL), Austin Appleby (North Canton, OH), Bennie Coney (Tampa, FL), and E.J. Hilliard (Miami, FL). Cameron is the most likely of the bunch, being a Gator legacy and showing off a nice arm with excellent accuracy. Appleby was on a recent visit to UF, so the Gators are at least showing interest. Coney and Hilliard are both solid quarterbacks who have impressed during spring camps. Hilliard had to sit behind Louisville signee Teddy Bridgewater last year, but it is his team this year. Coney doesn’t have impressive statistics, but he has an extremely impressive offer list, with offers from the likes of Auburn, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Texas Tech and Virginia Tech.
Overall though, look for the Gators to not get a quarterback commit for 2012 and fully focus their efforts in 2013 for a blue-chip prospect.
Johnson's Position Ranking
1. Gunner Kiel
2. Zeke Pike
3. Greyson Lambert
4. Jameis Winston
5. Tyler Cameron
6. Bennie Coney
7. Austin Appleby
8. E.J. Hilliard
Running back
If things stay as is, the Gators are likely done at running back unless elite running backs such as Keith Marshall (Raleigh, NC) or Rushel Shell (Aliquippa, PA) want to jump on ship. With commitments Matt Jones (Seffner, FL) and Mike Davis (Stone Mountain, GA), the Gators already have two top 20 running back prospects nationally.
Marshall seems to have pretty high interest in Florida, already visiting two times since December. He came away impressed by the new Gator coaching staff, saying the fact they all have professional football experience was a huge plus. I don’t expect to see him in Orange and Blue though, as Georgia and North Carolina are thought to be the main two schools in the running.
Shell hasn’t been very outspoken during the recruiting process, but before Jones or Davis were committed he had the Gators in his top five. With the combination of UF already having two solid commits at running back and Shell being from Pennsylvania, one would have to think Florida’s chances are slim to none.
Johnson's Position Ranking
1. Keith Marshall
2. Rushel Shell
3. Matt Jones (committed)
4. Mike Davis (committed)
Wide receiver
UF already has one wide receiver commit in Latroy Pittman (Citra, FL), but he has already began taking visits to other schools. Pittman may currently be solid to UF, but as long as he is taking visits, the commitment must be considered soft. With the lack of elite level receiver recruits on the UF roster, this position should be a primary concern for the 2012 class.
The first tier of receivers UF is after include Dorial Beckham-Green (Springfield, MO), Stefon Diggs (Olney, MD) and Chris Black (Jacksonville, FL). Beckham-Green should be the nation’s top receiver, if not overall prospect. His combination of size, speed, athleticism and catching ability is a once in every five years type. He has not spoken very much about his recruitment, but it is thought he would like to stay somewhat close to home, which Gainesville is not.
Diggs, a five-star prospect, is an intriguing player. He has elite speed to go with excellent route running abilities and solid pass catching skills. This is someone Gator Nation needs to watch out for as the recruiting process goes on. He said that depth chart will be huge in his decision as he wants to see the field early. With his kind of abilities, this is a very plausible scenario if he came to UF. He has been quoted saying he would love to play in the south as well. As of right now, Diggs would be my surprise pick to end up in Gainesville if they have a successful 2011 season.
Black is the top wide receiver in Florida and he is from a family of Gator fans, including himself. The problem that arises for the Gators is his high school, First Coast, has become a Florida State pipeline over the past few seasons. Black has been very high on Florida State from the get-go, but Florida has made up significant ground after recent visits. It will ultimately come down to whether or not he wants to play with his teammates and good friends, or play for his childhood favorite. I’m predicting Florida State.
JaQuay Williams (Tyrone, GA) is an interesting player to watch for as well. He was dominant at the recent VTO camp in Marietta, GA, beating one of the best cornerback prospects in Geno Smith more often than not. He has excellent hands, runs smooth routes, and is deceptively fast. Ohio State will be the team to beat, but it is thought if/when Florida and Georgia offer, that might change.
Other prospects to keep an eye are a slew of Florida prospects with Gator offers: Avery Johnson (Pompano Beach, FL), Angelo Jean-Louis (Wellington, FL), D’Vario Montgomery (Winter Park, FL), Jaime Wilson (Belle Glades, FL), Alton Howard (Orlando, FL), Justin Ferguson (Pembroke Pines, FL) and Malcolm Lewis (Miramar, FL).
Johnson's Position Ranking
1. Dorial Beckham-Green
2. Stefon Diggs
3. Chris Black
4. Avery Johnson
5. JaQuay Williams
6. Latroy Pittman (committed)
7. D’Vario Montgomery
8. Angelo Jean-Louis
9. Alton Howard
10. Justin Ferguson
11. Jaime Wilson
12. Malcolm Lewis
Tight end
This will be an important position to get a big physical blocking tight end for 2012. Currently on the Gators roster, they have a converted quarterback in Jordan Reed, a pass-catching tight end in A.C. Leonard, and Michael McFarland rounding out the depth chart. UF doesn’t have a true blocking tight end on the roster, but they are in on a couple this cycle.
Kent Taylor (Land O’Lakes, FL) who’s 6’5” 220-pounds and Colin Thompson (Warminster, PA) who’s 6’5” 255-pounds are the two best blocking tight ends the Gators are after this cycle. Both are solid in the passing game as well, using their size to catch jump balls and outmuscle defenders.
If the Gators don’t land one of those two, Sean Price (Citra, FL), Kelvin Rainey (Yulee, FL) and Kurt Freitag (Buford, GA) all become a huge priority for UF.
Price is thought to be a Miami lean, Rainey is being recruited as an outside linebacker by UF, and Freitag is rumored to have Alabama in the lead. It should be an interesting position to watch for the class of 2012, and some sleeper targets may see an increase in the Gators interest if they strike out on the above listed names.
Johnson's Position Ranking
1. Kent Taylor
2. Colin Thompson
3. Sean Price
4. Kelvin Rainey
5. Kurt Freitag
Offensive Line
Without a doubt the most important position for the Gators in the 2012 class. Florida has very little depth along the offensive line after this season, especially at tackle. With the amount of elite prospects UF is after on the o-line and the lack of depth they have, UF could end up having an exceptional class at this position.
The Gators lucked out that the state of Florida is extremely deep with offensive lineman. They already have a commitment from perhaps the state’s best lineman in Jessamen Dunker. The two other prospects fighting for the title of state’s best are: John Theus (Jacksonville, FL) and Avery Young (Palm Beach Gardens, FL).
Theus is a five-star on the Rivals network and is probably the best run-blocking tackle in the nation. This will likely be a Georgia vs. Florida battle, as his older brother is a member of the UGA football team. For this reason and the family ties to Mark Richt, I think Theus ends up in red and black.
I will however predict that the Gators land Young. It was reported by Gator commit Matt Jones that Young had committed to UF during his visit last weekend, but those claims were denied. However, the Gators currently lead for Young’s services by a lot, and it could be a matter of time before he jumps on board.
Another five-star prospect the Gators are after is D.J. Humphries (Charlotte, NC). The Gators are in the driver’s seat right now for the elite tackle, even after taking several visits to other schools. There is no reason to think UF shouldn’t like their chances to land Humphries barring a major change.
Andrus Peat (Tempe, AZ), Vadal Alexander (Buford, GA), Jordan Simmons (Encino, CA), Patrick Miller (West Palm Beach, FL), Evan Goodman (Lakeland, FL), Chris Muller (Boyertown, PA), Brock Stadnik (Greensboro, NC), Patrick Destefano (Roebuck, SC) and Blake Bars (Nashville, TN) are other prospects the Gators have offered.
Miller has so many connections with UF, as he has four teammates over the past two years currently on the UF roster as well as many friends going to UF. One would have to like the Gators chances, but Auburn could be a sleeper. Goodman comes from a strong pipeline to UF in Lakeland High School and they are as high as any other school. His brother is on his way to Arizona State, which could be a factor. I think both wind up Gators.
Johnson's Position Ranking
1. Jessamen Dunker
2. D.J. Humphries
3. John Theus
4. Andrus Peat
5. Avery Young
6. Jordan Simmons
7. Vadal Alexander
8. Patrick Miller
9. Brock Stadnik
10. Evan Goodman
11. Chris Muller
12. Patrick Destefano
13. Blake Bars
14. Cody Waldrop
15. Ty Darlington
16. Abraham Garcia
This post was edited on 4/15 12:03 PM by Mark Wheeler
