Gators to Hire Ron Roberts as LB Coach, Co-Defensive Coordinator ?
- Thread starter Jeff from Jax
- Start date
Luke Del Rio went 5-1 as a starter for UF beating Kirby Smart's Georgia Bulldogs and led the Gators back from a 27-14 deficit to win @ Kentucky in 2017 after the other QB was yanked for poor play.
Fever,
Agree !
FYI
"Sports kids roughly fall into three categories: gamers, chokers or steady Eddie.
Some kids perform better in competition than in practice. Some struggle with maintaining their focus during practice because it lacks the excitement of a match or game.
Gamers live for competition; that’s what excites them."
https://www.youthsportspsychology.c...gy_blog/is-your-sports-kid-a-gamer-or-choker/
When I look at his tape, I see Max Brown as an absolute Gamer.
IMO, Miller has lost his fizz; he has under performed consistently & isn't getting any better.
PT in spring practice doesn't cost anything.
At least take an honest look at your 3rd scholarship QB !
CBN should be smart enough to give Max a check out ride with the 1st team offense in the next scrimmage.
Give Max the ball & the 1st team offense for at least a full quarter.
Brown can't do everything Mertz can do - so what.
Mertz can't can't do everything Max Brown can do either - Max is much more mobile - a better runner then either Mertz or Miller & CBN seems to think we are a run 1st team.
Think about what FSU's QB did to us last year.
Put in some plays designed to take advantage of Max's athletic ability & let him do what he does best.
Bring the media in, let them watch the whole scrimmage. film it. post it, & let Gator Nation see all 3 QBs.
CBN, After last year's losing record & Vandy & L V Bowl, you probably need to get Gator Nation excited & sell some damn tickets.
No one knows how well Gators will play on the road at Utah - hoping they win, but reading the future not one of my talents.
We have 3 home games in a row after Utah - McNeese, Tennessee, & Charlotte. Selling out BHG stadium for all three would be huge - especially for Tenn.
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Paco,
Interesting comment !
What is it based on ?
Have all 3 QBs received equivalent exposure ?
Neither Mertz nor Miller is mobile; in a run first offense that seems incongruous.
How many snaps has each QB had - with the 1st team offense - in our two scrimmages so far ?
Did CBN even give Max any snaps in the scrimmages ?
Saying Miller is better than Brown stretches my imagination.
Especially after the fiasco in the L V Bowl - where CBN gave him every snap - was CBN waiting for Miller to get warmed up ?
Jalen Kina beat him out even after his thumb healed.
A QB who can walk & chew gum at the same time would be better than Miller.
Paco, as you have pointed out, our next HC will start out with a better team than CBN.
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I havent heard much about the 2 scrimmages except that we had turnover issues in both. Brown did hit Mizell for a long TD in the first one.
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Coach Napier said we were still having tackling issues in the 2nd scrimmage and I remember this clip from the 1st scrimmage. I think that is Mitchell who may end up being a starting safety. Some things seem to not change much over the years.
Fever,
Things which don't seem to change -
Defense/tackling
OL
QB play
Secondary so far off the receivers they need binoculars
Special teams
clock / game management
Did I miss any ? LOL
We are LOADED at RB. Cam Carroll has been doing very good as well. He just has 2 studs in front of him. Even Webb is flashing.
Paco,
Cam (6-0, 225 lbs) a load carrying the ball & a pretty good receiver as well -
A quick, short pass to a back keeps the chains moving.
career receiving - 23 receptions - 247 yds - 5 TDs - 10.7 yds / catch
career rushing - 312 rushes - 1638 yds - 19 TDs - 5.3 yds / carry
https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/cameron-carroll-1.html#all_rushing
JMOHO, but if Max still has any major deficiencies in his play, then that falls on the coaches that have had him for a fall practice, a full season, off-season training phases, and now a Spring practice.
Considering what his HS coach did with him coming in as a raw, (had never played organized football before) Jr in HS: 12-1, then Sr 13-1 seasons = 25-2, 71% passing and 7.8 ypc running, with 101 TD's to just 10 combined Int/Fum TO's.... >>> So far what I mostly see from this coaching staff is WASTED POTENTIAL, while attempting to concentrate on and spoon feed failed xfer QB's! Again JMOHO's.
Considering what his HS coach did with him coming in as a raw, (had never played organized football before) Jr in HS: 12-1, then Sr 13-1 seasons = 25-2, 71% passing and 7.8 ypc running, with 101 TD's to just 10 combined Int/Fum TO's.... >>> So far what I mostly see from this coaching staff is WASTED POTENTIAL, while attempting to concentrate on and spoon feed failed xfer QB's! Again JMOHO's.
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2023 SEC WR Rankings: South Carolina’s Antwane Wells Jr. Tops the List of Returning SEC Receivers
Our TE room is seriously injured.
Florida's tight end position is lacking available depth in spring camp due to injuries, much like a year ago. But this time around, freshmen are stepping up to fill the void.
https://www.si.com/college/florida/...er-dante-zanders-jonathan-odom-injury-updates
We definitely have RBs & maybe an OL; our Offense is a huge unknow until we visit Salt Lake City for Game 1.
Gators, we have a tough schedule & a tough season ahead of us.
https://collegefootballnetwork.com/...-jr-tops-the-list-of-returning-sec-receivers/
- Ricky Pearsall - Honorable mention
Our TE room is seriously injured.
Florida's tight end position is lacking available depth in spring camp due to injuries, much like a year ago. But this time around, freshmen are stepping up to fill the void.
https://www.si.com/college/florida/...er-dante-zanders-jonathan-odom-injury-updates
We definitely have RBs & maybe an OL; our Offense is a huge unknow until we visit Salt Lake City for Game 1.
Gators, we have a tough schedule & a tough season ahead of us.
https://collegefootballnetwork.com/...-jr-tops-the-list-of-returning-sec-receivers/
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Fever, who wanted Mertz to be a clear-cut winner by the end of spring practice, will be delighted with this headline !!!
Florida Gators' QB battle far from over after 2 scrimmages
Through the 12 practices and two scrimmages this spring, Graham Mertz and Jack Miller III are neck and neck in the QB race. Both signal callers have had their moments in camp (good and bad), but the competition is still ongoing.Following the scrimmage Thursday, Florida coach Billy Napier declined to discuss whether one of the quarterbacks has distanced himself at all.
“I don’t necessarily know that we’re ready to define that in public, if that makes sense,” Napier said. “We don’t play a game anytime soon, right?”
Napier assesses the Florida Gators QBs
Napier offered his assessment on all three quarterbacks following the team’s second scrimmage, including redshirt freshman Max Brown.On Graham Mertz:
“Graham Mertz has been impressive to watch. Just his maturity, his ability to learn a new system in a very quick manner. He did two-a-days basically since the day he got here. He’s been grinding away behind the scenes and he’s hit the ground running. I mean, he operates like a guy who’s been around here. So, the most important thing here is that he has forced the other players to rise to the occasion.”
On Jack Miller III:
“Jack Miller has really made drastic improvement. I mean, I hadn’t watched Jack. He was out for basically the entire season and then we throw him to the wolves in the bowl game. But he has really impressed me with his response to the competition.”
On Max Brown:
“And then Max obviously is a young player who flashes and does a lot of things well, and is still learning and can be more consistent.”
Well he has passed Broward All-Star Kyle Engel apparently this Spring and may be in the mix some. Curious to see these QBs in the Spring game.
We only have one QB on the roster that has ever played against an SEC opponent.
Kyle Engel - 2022 (Redshirt Sophomore*): Made collegiate debut in the home finale in Week 11 vs. South Carolina (Nov. 12).
Could not find any passing or rushing stats
https://floridagators.com/sports/football/roster/kyle--engel/15190
Personally, I would get all 3 of my scholarship QBs as prepared as possible - play them in every game - & hope one of them catches fire.
CBN will undoubtedly handle this season like he did the L V Bowl - where Miller took every snap
Could not find any passing or rushing stats
https://floridagators.com/sports/football/roster/kyle--engel/15190
Personally, I would get all 3 of my scholarship QBs as prepared as possible - play them in every game - & hope one of them catches fire.
CBN will undoubtedly handle this season like he did the L V Bowl - where Miller took every snap
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Mertz will be the starter. I will be very surprised if he’s not.
Paco,
Your eyes & ears sharper than mine. will take your word for it.
CBN the one who anointed Mertz & proclaimed him to be such a great QB - what else can he do but start him -
NO MATTER WHAT.
If CBN doesn't start his 2nd straight Transfer QB & has a 2nd straight losing season, how long will he stay the UF Head Coach ?
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One thing for sure is the starter might not have a long leash if we lose to Utah. Especially if Utah's QB doesnt make it back for game 1. A loss there and at home against Tennessee would create a lot of pressure to try someone else.
Utah’s Cam Rising continues to be on schedule in rehab from ACL tear
March 2, 2023In a recent interview with Josh Newman of The Salt Lake Tribune, Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham offered an update on Utes start quarterback Cam Rising.
“Whittingham told The Salt Lake Tribune last week in a wide-ranging interview that Rising is on, if not ahead of schedule in his recovery,” Newman said in his article regarding Rising’s return. He suffered an ACL tear in the first half of Utah’s Rose Bowl 35-21 defeat to Penn State on January 2.
However, while he remains on schedule, it still is unclear if he will be ready for week one of the Utes season when they host the Florida Gators on August 31. Newman notes that for Rising to play in their season opener he would likely have to be available to practice at least by the mid-way point of the Utes fall camp.
“If he’s not ready until a few days before the game, it’s unlikely he would play in that game because he just wouldn’t be completely sharp in all other areas,” Whittingham also said in the interview.
If Rising is unavailable for the Utes’ season opener on August 31, the Utes will decide between fourth-year quarterback Bryson Barnes and a pair of second-year quarterbacks, Brandon Rose and Nate Johnson.
https://collegesportswire.usatoday....ball-cam-rising-quarterback-acl-rehab-pac-12/
Utah fans seem to think they will be about the same as last season once Rising is healthy. Its a lot harder to beat a team like that on the road though.
Fever,
Not sure the weather will bother us too much (Dry Heat - LOL)
but Change in sleep cycle (going east to west harder than the reverse) will be noticeable.
With or without Rising, Utes will be a good team - ask Lincoln Riley !
CBN has been getting quite a few high quality players on campus the last 2 weeks.
Should have a stellar group here for Thursday's Orange & Blue Game.
5-star Jerrick Gibson visited the Gators today
5-star running back Jerrick Gibson out of IMG Academy is making a trip to Gainesville today, per Blake Alderman.
247 Sports Composite Rankings had Gibson as the 23rd-best player in the country, the top running back in his class, and the 6th-best player coming out of Florida.
This will be Gibson’s fourth visit to The Swamp since he de-committed from the Gators in February of 2022 amidst coaching changes.
"He’s got pretty good speed out in open space, with an 11.33 second 100m dash as a freshman, and a laser timed 4.5 40-yard dash.
Along with his speed, he’s a wrecking ball for defenders. It’s hard to find a play on his film where the first defender got him down."
https://hailfloridahail.com/2023/04/08/florida-football-recruiting-jerrick-gibson-visit-gators/
FSU’s top commit visiting the Gators today
https://hailfloridahail.com/2023/04/08/florida-football-recruiting-kameron-davis-visit-gators/
247 Sports has Davis ranked as the 32nd-best player in the country, the 2nd-best RB second only to Gibson, and the 6th-best player out of Georgia.
Davis plays quarterback in high school but will be a pure running back once he gets to the college ranks. He has a great frame for a running back, standing at 5’10”-205 pounds.
He isn’t just a bowling ball, however. His tape shows his elite ability to cut and explode in space, making defenders miss and wonder why they even tried.
Despite his future as a running back, he still had a pretty good year throwing the ball. In his junior season, he completed 164 passes for 2,736 yards, 20 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
On the ground, he showed why he’s an elite running back prospect. He carried the ball 144 times for 1,115 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Fans always want to think that they are okay and the 'next guys' or coach is going to carry them. Maybe they will be but Rising has been the starter for a reason. The backup is the backup for a reason, it will make a difference.
You misunderstood. He said Utah fans think they'll be OK once Rising is back starting. He didn't say they thought they'd be fine without Rising starting.
Doesn't seem not too long ago we couldn't even get a sniff out of any of FSU's top recruits. FSU fans ain't getting any sympathy from us nowadays.
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We will likely land 2 studs at RB in the 24 class. We already have 1 committed. Gibson is fishing for the biggest NIL he can get though and we aren’t going to pay that kind of money for a RB. For the most part RBs are a dime a dozen these days.
I agree, hell we had a walk-on last yr lead the ACC for us in yards per carry and I think he was top 2 or 3 this yr. In the right system, backs don't need to be elite but if they are (I think Etienne fits that bill, the run game can carry you to some wins).
Billy Napier and the Gators made a major splash on Monday afternoon, as On300 running back Kahnen Daniels announced his commitment to Florida. He is the second running back to team up with the SEC program, joining fellow On300 prospect Chauncey Bowens.
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And there pops the 2nd stud RB commitment I was referring too.
Paco.
Good call !
RB Kahnen Daniels
The consensus four-star back committed to Florida over offers from 18 programs, including Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi State, Oregon and Texas A&M among others.
School: West Point (Miss.) High
H/W: 5-foot-11, 190 pounds
Bio: Forming a one-two punch with Bowens in the future of Florida's backfield, Daniels committed to the Gators over offers from Alabama, Auburn, Texas A&M, Mississippi State and Oregon among other programs. A do-it-all talent for his high school, Daniels aligned as a true running back (although less often than in other capacities), Wildcat quarterback and even wide receiver in order to get the ball into his hands during his junior 2022 season.
The results were 2,032 rushing yards, 24 touchdowns and ten yards per carry on average.
Having Gibson & Davis on Campus this last weekend may have gotten Daniels to go ahead & commit.
https://www.si.com/college/florida/...g-running-back-kahnen-daniels-commitment-2024
Jabbar Juluke moved the needle on behalf of the Gators
Much of that early buzz can be credited to the outstanding job of recruiting done by running backs coach Jabbar Juluke.
Daniels, who boasts a 3.3 GPA, finished the 2022 season with 203 carries for 2,032 yards and 24 touchdowns. He currently ranks as the No. 20 running back and No. 280 prospect overall with On3.
https://www.on3.com/teams/florida-g...-rb-kahnen-daniels-commits-to-florida-gators/
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O-line taking hits.
247sports.com
Gators OL David Conner leaves team, will enter NCAA transfer portal
Conner suffered an injury in 2022 and redshirted.
247sports.com
OL Woes - as Usual
Preface to my thoughts from Ocala's article -
In addition to Conner, the Gators lost guard Micah Mazzcua for the foreseeable future due to a shoulder injury, while guard Kamryn Waites (6-8, 362) suffered a torn Achilles tendon in January.
OL Jalen Farmer has been a limited participant in spring camp, while Bryce Lovett dealt with an injury during the first two weeks of spring.
Redshirt sophomores Austin Barber, Damieon George Jr. and Jordan Herman, sophomore Kiyaunta Goodwin and freshman Bryce Lovett comprise Florida's projected offensive tackle depth following Conner's exit and entering the 2023 season.
Additionally, Florida anticipates the enrollment of New Orleans (La.) De La Salle 2023 offensive tackle Caden Jones this summer.
With Jones coming in right before Fall Practice, he won't know the offense / line plays well enough to get many snaps; IMO, he will play the allowable 4 games & then Red Shirt this year.
Barber is considered locked into a starting position on Florida's 2023 offensive line, likely at left tackle, after earning first-team Freshman All-American recognition by College Football News for his play in a rotational and spot-starting last season.
On the opposite side of the line, George and Goodwin — offseason transfer acquisitions from Alabama and Kentucky, respectively — have appeared to split first-team reps at right tackle in the media viewing windows of UF's spring camp.
Depending on who gets the starting slot (George or Goodwin) the other one will likely be this year's rotational OT.
Jordan Herman (6-8, 372 as of Feb 27, 2023) too slow to contend with speed of SEC rush ends; needs to drop 20 lbs.
If he gets quicker by end of Fall practice, Herman will get increased game snaps.
Kamryn Waites probably not out for the entire season, but unlikely to challenge for starting role or to be at full speed this year; Medical Red Shirt likely.
https://www.si.com/college/florida/football/florida-gators-david-conner-to-enter-transfer-portal
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The Florida Gators hosted 4* CB Wardell Mack over the final weekend of spring practice, and he left town with plans to return to Gainesville, according to Swamp247.
Mack got to meet with head coach Billy Napier before the end of his trip and set tentative dates of June 16-18 for his official visit to the Swamp.
“I talked with him (CBN) and we set an official for the third weekend of June 16th-18th,” Mack said. “That will be my first official visit and the only one I got set up. I pretty much saw everything today, but I want to come back and get back on campus.”
Mack is a consensus four-star recruit, ranked as high as No. 26 overall in the class of 2024 by On3. The On3 industry ranking, which considers all four major recruiting services, puts Mack at No. 73 overall and No. 9 among cornerbacks in his class.
He’s also the third-highest-ranked player out of Louisiana, so getting Mack away from LSU will be key.
David Connor not a loss at all. Best of luck to him
Paco,
Next Transfer window for Connor is May 1 until May 15, 2023. Not sure how he will do on the transfer market.
Once he enters his name in Transfer Data Base UF not required to maintain his scholarship; so a roll of the dice for him.
1,695 FBS players entered the portal in the 2019-20 cycle, and that number increased to 3,085 in 2021-22.
Transfers in all sports - 2022 -
8,197 Undergraduates
3,705 Graduate
According to the NCAA 43% of 2021 Division I Transfer Students (all sports ?) have not been picked up by new schools.
NCAA concludes that they are "still exploring options" (still looking / hoping); have transferred to a Non NCAA school, or may have "left" their sport.
22% of Division I Transfers have to drop down in classification - 20% division II; 2% Division III
NCAA Transfer Portal data base
https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2022/4/...vision-i-student-athlete-transfer-trends.aspx
If they drop down in classification, new school won't have the same money/resources/NIL as an SEC or other Power 5 Conference has.
We've seen the results on the field: In 2020, 10.7% of FBS starters were transfers. This season (2022), that number nearly doubled, to 20.9%, according to SportSource Analytics.
In May 2022, because of the number of players not picked up from the Portal, the NCAA allowed schools to go over the 25 initial counter limit, which capped teams at 25 transfers and HS recruits per year. Schools, however, still have to stay at or under the 85 total scholarship limit.
Just throw a few more off the island,
Florida coach Billy Napier said. "You know, I think we all sleep better when that portal closes. And then obviously, if you're in need of a player, it creates opportunity, so I think it's good and bad."
More Transfer Portal Info From ESPN - Nov 9, 2022
https://www.espn.com/college-footba...ootball-new-transfer-portal-windows-explained
Florida Victorious Absorbs Gator Collective to Reform UF NIL Efforts
CEO Nate Barbera explains Florida Victorious' goal to "unify" Name, Image and Likeness efforts surrounding Gators athletics.CBN & Golden have had one hand tied behind their backs because of the confusion surrounding UF's NIL program.
Will this put on an even footing with Bama & UGA - no way !
UGA ($4.5 MM) spending 3 times what we spend on recruiting.
But I do believe we will be closer & CBN & Golden will be able to recruit much better & close the gap.
Can't guarantee that this will solve all of our problems; but if we never have another Rashada incident again, that will be too soon.
https://www.si.com/college/florida/...or-collective-reform-uf-nil-efforts-interview
Florida Victorious replaces Gator Collective as lead NIL entity for UF
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Gator Collective has changed ownership, with creator and owner Eddie Rojas passing the baton to Jose Costa and Nate Barbera. The new name of Florida’s leading NIL entity will be Florida Victorious.https://www.on3.com/teams/florida-g...tive-sold-will-rebrand-as-florida-victorious/
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