By Franz Beard
A few thoughts to jump start your Wednesday morning:
FROM THE MANNING PASSING ACADEMY: AR15 TURNED HEADS
The word out of the Manning Passing Academy is that Anthony Richardson was very impressive, both in the way he threw the ball and understood concepts as well as how he conducted himself. Everybody knew AR15 was an extraordinary talent when arrived at the camp in Thibodaux, Louisiana, but his performance easily exceeded expectations per a couple of insiders who watched Florida’s future starter.
What Richardson did at the Manning camp seemed to confirm the confidence UF head coach Billy Napier has in his third-year sophomore. Speaking on 1010XL in Jacksonville Tuesday, Napier sounded quite confident in AR15’s ability to lead the Gators in 2022.
“I believe [Anthony] is an elite talent,” Napier said. “Sometimes we got to remind ourselves around here that he started one game and completed 33 (it was 38) passes [in 2021]. A phenomenal skillset. He’s big, athletic, got a lot of talent. I think he is smart, he processes well for him to be in a new system and he has really hit the ground running.
“Our system is very quarterback driven. I think Anthony is excited about opportunities that come with that. This summer is huge for him becoming more familiar with our system and learning about defensive structure. Our summer routine for the quarterbacks is pretty rigorous but I wouldn’t trade him. I can promise you that.”
From a purely physical standpoint, Richardson might very well be the top prospect in the Southeastern Conference and perhaps the nation. He’s 6-4, 240 pounds and he has sprinter’s speed. He has elite arm talent although his opportunities were limited last season because former UF coach Dan Mullen was fully committed to Emory Jones. Richardson completed 38-64 passes for six touchdowns (five interceptions) and 529 yards (8.3 per attempt). He was 51-401 (7.86 yards per carry) on the ground with another three touchdowns.
That isn’t a large body of work, but it’s enough to show that the potential is there. Napier saw Richardson every day during the spring, so he’s got a pretty good idea what he has.
“I’m excited to work with him,” Napier said. “He is a guy that Gator Nation should be fired up to watch. I think he has done a great job representing himself and representing the university the right way.”
DL CHRIS THOMAS IN THE PORTAL
Defensive lineman Chris Thomas (6-5, 314), a former 4-star recruit, has placed his name in the NCAA transfer portal. Thomas played only a handful of plays last season as a true freshman. On3’s Matt Zenitz described Thomas as “another one of the players cut by Florida.”
Demarkcus Bowman has transferred to UCF. Since he has already transferred once in his career he will need a waiver from the NCAA to be immediately eligible.
GATORS AND THE 2022 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL DRAFT
The Major League Baseball Draft is three weeks away. This will be the second year of the 20-round draft that will select somewhere between 750-850 college, junior college and high school prospects. Nearly every baseball publication has re-evaluated its draft prospect lists. Here are the Gators, transfers and signees that are listed by Baseball America, Prospects Live and The Athletic.
Gators in Baseball America’s top 500 draft prospects
Current Gators: 36. Sterlin Thompson, IF/OF; 50. Brandon Sproat, RHP; 59. Jud Fabian, OF; 70. Hunter Barco, LHP; 241. Colby Halter, 3B/2B; 397. BT Ripoelle, C/1B; 487. Josh Rivera, SS
Transfers: 159. Colby Thomas, OF, Mercer
Signees: 94. Xavier Isaac, 1B, Kernersville, NC/East Forsyth; 220, Cade Fisher, LHP, Dalton, GA/Northwest Whitfield; 235. Luke Heyman, C, Altamonte Springs, FL/Lake Brantley; 365. Jake Clemente, RHP, Parkland, FL/Marjory Stoneman Douglas; 368. Yoel Tejada Jr., 1B/RHP, Davie, FL/North Broward Prep; 397. Magnus Ellerts, RHP, Woodbridge, VA/Florida Southwestern
Prospect Live’s top 500 draft prospects
Current Gators: 36. Sterlin Thompson, INF/OF; 80. Jud Fabian, OF; 83. Hunter Barco, LHP; 108. Brandon Sproat, RHP; 325. Josh Rivera, SS; 379. Tyler Nesbitt, RHP; 432. Colby Halter, 3B/2B
Signees: 158. Xavier Isaac, 1B, Kernersville, GA/East Forsyth; 172. Jake Clemente, RHP, Parkland, FL/Marjory Stoneman Douglas; 311. Cade Fisher, LHP, Dalton, GA/Northwest Whitfield; 377. Luke Heyman, C, Altamonte Springs, FL/Lake Brantley; 498. Chris Arroyo, LHP, Coral Springs, FL/Marjory Stoneman Douglas
Gators in The Athletic’s top 100 draft prospects
Keith Law of The Athletic updated his top 100 draft prospects on June 25.
Current Gators: 19. Sterlin Thompson, INF/OF; 47. Jud Fabian, OF; 74. Hunter Barco, LHP; 81. Brandon Sproat, RHP.
Evaluating who goes, who stays:
Sterlin Thompson: His draft stock has continued to rise, in part because he proved he can play second base at a high level. First round for sure, could be top 20. He will sign.
Brandon Sproat: His draft stock is blowing up. Baseball America has him top 50 and he could go higher than that. That’s what throwing strikes with a 99mph fast ball will do for you. He will sign.
Jud Fabian: He turned down $2 million from the Red Sox last year. He may not get offered $2 million this year, but he should go first two rounds. He will sign this time.
Hunter Barco: He’s committed to the draft and seems likely to go first three rounds. He can come back if he doesn’t like the team or the money, but right now figure he’s a goner.
BT Riopelle: There are concerns that he strikes out way too much. He seems likely to go in the final five rounds. If it’s not the right team, he probably comes back. He needs to.
Josh Rivera: He’s late round. The defense is good and he hits with power, but he needs to make better contact. He has two years of eligibility so unless it’s a wowser of an offer, figure he’s back.
Tyler Nesbitt: It took awhile for him to get back into a groove since he injured his arm as a true freshman in 2021, but he throws hard. If he is drafted it will be very late rounds. He will be back almost certainly.
Colby Halter: He blossomed in the field when he switched to third base. He showed power but he had a couple of big slumps that will cost him with the scouts. He needs to come back and become a more consistent contact hitter.
The transfer
Colby Thomas: His stock is rising, but he has leverage since he has two seasons of eligibility remaining. He is recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum, so unless he gets the right team and the right money, figure he’s a Gator next year.
The signees
Xavier Isaac: He’s strictly a first baseman or DH. He’s not very fast and not very good in the field, but he hits moonshots. Maybe generates the best bat speed of any prospect in the draft. If he goes first three rounds, he’s a goner for sure. Age: 18 years, 7 months.
Jake Clemente: He’s got the size (6-4, 220) and the fast ball (96-97). He seems likely to be a Gator unless he goes first five rounds. Age: 18 years, 6 months.
Cade Fisher: He’s got a long, lanky fame (6-4, 190) and the ability to add 20-25 pounds. Throws low 90s but the ball moves well and his slider is wicked. He’s a great student. Seems likely to be a Gator. Age: 18 years, 10 months.
Luke Heyman: Injured during his senior year but he’s a tremendous prospect with a big arm and serious power. He will be 19 on draft day which means he will be draft eligible after two years at UF. That could tilt the odds that he will spend the next two years as a Gator.
Chris Arroyo: He’s a lefty with a 93 mph heater and a good slider, but he may be a better prospect as an outfielder. Good contact hitter with gap power. He’s projected outside the first 10 rounds so it’s likely he will be in Gainesville. Age: 17 years, 11 months.
Yoel Tejada Jr.: He's 6-7, 220 and still growing. He throws low 90s, hits for power. The big question is what position will be his best? He may get drafted in the later rounds, but needs to spend three years in Gainesville finding his niche. Age: 19 years.
Magnus Ellerts: He's a big (6-5, 225) hard-throwing righty from Florida Southwestern juco who throws a consistent 94-95 heater that elevates occasionally to 97-98. High strikeout ratio. If he gets taken in the first 10 rounds there's a good chance he will sign.
SEC FOOTBALL/BASEBALL
Kentucky: The Wildcats have added former Tennessee running back Dee Beckwith (6-5, 230), who had four carries for 27 yards in two years in Knoxville. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining … Former Sam Houston State running back Ramon Jefferson, who gained 1,155 yards and scored 13 touchdowns yards last season, has transferred to Kentucky.
LSU: Vanderbilt shortstop Carter Young (207, 7 HR, 26 RBI) has transferred to LSU.
Mississippi State: HBC Mike Leach signed a two-year contract extension.
Best of the SEC: The league’s 14 sports information directors voted the following superlatives while looking ahead to 2022:
MVP: Bryce Young and Will Anderson, both from Alabama; Top Heisman candidate: Young; Most versatile: Ainias Smith, Texas A&M; Most underrated: Will Rogers, Mississippi State; Best athlete: Anderson; Best leader: Young; Best outside linebacker: Anderson; Best inside linebacker: Henry To’oTo’o, Alabama; Best cornerback: Cam Smith, South Carolina; Best safety: Jordan Battle, Alabama; Best defensive lineman: Jalen Carter, Georgia; Best offensive lineman: Ricky Stromberg, Arkansas; Best receiver: Kayshon Boutte, LSU; Best running back: Tank Bigsby, Auburn; Best blocking back: Casey Kelly, Ole Miss; Best passer: Young; Best kick returner: Ainias Smith; Best punter: Nick Constantinou, Texas A&M; Top newcomer: Spencer Rattler, South Carolina.
ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: I know, maybe the last thing in the world you’re expecting are words of wisdom from Coach O. He has emerged from wherever he’s been hanging out lately to pay a visit to the Legends camp at the University of Miami, the place he made his name as an assistant coach while working for Jimmy Johnson and Dennis Erickson. While at Miami, the former LSU head coach weighed in on NIL and transfers.
On the subject of NIL: “First of all, the game is changing and if you want to have success, you better change. Number one, you’ve got to find a way to compete at the highest level and now it’s different. It’s a different lay of the land, but, my own personal opinion, they don’t care about it but I will say it anyway: They have to govern it. There’s got to be something and I think the players would appreciate it.
“The players that get way too much money in the beginning may not be as hungry, and maybe not in the end get all that he needs to get. So, I think players will learn to appreciate it, that you’ve got to earn things. I’m not against them getting money but I think there needs to be some kind of governing.”
Orgeron isn’t all that gung-ho about current transfer rules although it should be noted that he landed the most famous transfer of the past four years in Joe Burrow. Burrow, didn’t have to sit a year because he had already graduated from Ohio State when he showed up at LSU.
Coach O on the portal: “It’s like free agency. It’s moving too fast. For me, I was all for the graduate transfer portal. I think once you’ve graduated, hey, you’ve got a shot, go take another shot. It was good for Joe. Thank God we had him for two years, but I think this transferring – hopping from school to school, especially within the conference and within your division is a little tough. You wear one uniform the next day you’re wearing your rival’s.”
It's rather hard to argue with his logic. There should be rules regarding NIL, but it’s going to be very difficult since the NCAA never had a plan in place complete with a set of rules when it lost the Alston case in the Supreme Court. The transfer portal is here to stay although the NCAA is putting more structure in place. If the new transfer guidelines are passed, then players will have only a couple of times a year they can enter the transfer portal in order to transfer without having to sit a year. I’d like to see a rule in place that require a player to be on campus for two full semesters (fall and spring) before he can transfer without having to sit a year.
A few thoughts to jump start your Wednesday morning:
FROM THE MANNING PASSING ACADEMY: AR15 TURNED HEADS
The word out of the Manning Passing Academy is that Anthony Richardson was very impressive, both in the way he threw the ball and understood concepts as well as how he conducted himself. Everybody knew AR15 was an extraordinary talent when arrived at the camp in Thibodaux, Louisiana, but his performance easily exceeded expectations per a couple of insiders who watched Florida’s future starter.
What Richardson did at the Manning camp seemed to confirm the confidence UF head coach Billy Napier has in his third-year sophomore. Speaking on 1010XL in Jacksonville Tuesday, Napier sounded quite confident in AR15’s ability to lead the Gators in 2022.
“I believe [Anthony] is an elite talent,” Napier said. “Sometimes we got to remind ourselves around here that he started one game and completed 33 (it was 38) passes [in 2021]. A phenomenal skillset. He’s big, athletic, got a lot of talent. I think he is smart, he processes well for him to be in a new system and he has really hit the ground running.
“Our system is very quarterback driven. I think Anthony is excited about opportunities that come with that. This summer is huge for him becoming more familiar with our system and learning about defensive structure. Our summer routine for the quarterbacks is pretty rigorous but I wouldn’t trade him. I can promise you that.”
From a purely physical standpoint, Richardson might very well be the top prospect in the Southeastern Conference and perhaps the nation. He’s 6-4, 240 pounds and he has sprinter’s speed. He has elite arm talent although his opportunities were limited last season because former UF coach Dan Mullen was fully committed to Emory Jones. Richardson completed 38-64 passes for six touchdowns (five interceptions) and 529 yards (8.3 per attempt). He was 51-401 (7.86 yards per carry) on the ground with another three touchdowns.
That isn’t a large body of work, but it’s enough to show that the potential is there. Napier saw Richardson every day during the spring, so he’s got a pretty good idea what he has.
“I’m excited to work with him,” Napier said. “He is a guy that Gator Nation should be fired up to watch. I think he has done a great job representing himself and representing the university the right way.”
DL CHRIS THOMAS IN THE PORTAL
Defensive lineman Chris Thomas (6-5, 314), a former 4-star recruit, has placed his name in the NCAA transfer portal. Thomas played only a handful of plays last season as a true freshman. On3’s Matt Zenitz described Thomas as “another one of the players cut by Florida.”
Demarkcus Bowman has transferred to UCF. Since he has already transferred once in his career he will need a waiver from the NCAA to be immediately eligible.
GATORS AND THE 2022 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL DRAFT
The Major League Baseball Draft is three weeks away. This will be the second year of the 20-round draft that will select somewhere between 750-850 college, junior college and high school prospects. Nearly every baseball publication has re-evaluated its draft prospect lists. Here are the Gators, transfers and signees that are listed by Baseball America, Prospects Live and The Athletic.
Gators in Baseball America’s top 500 draft prospects
Current Gators: 36. Sterlin Thompson, IF/OF; 50. Brandon Sproat, RHP; 59. Jud Fabian, OF; 70. Hunter Barco, LHP; 241. Colby Halter, 3B/2B; 397. BT Ripoelle, C/1B; 487. Josh Rivera, SS
Transfers: 159. Colby Thomas, OF, Mercer
Signees: 94. Xavier Isaac, 1B, Kernersville, NC/East Forsyth; 220, Cade Fisher, LHP, Dalton, GA/Northwest Whitfield; 235. Luke Heyman, C, Altamonte Springs, FL/Lake Brantley; 365. Jake Clemente, RHP, Parkland, FL/Marjory Stoneman Douglas; 368. Yoel Tejada Jr., 1B/RHP, Davie, FL/North Broward Prep; 397. Magnus Ellerts, RHP, Woodbridge, VA/Florida Southwestern
Prospect Live’s top 500 draft prospects
Current Gators: 36. Sterlin Thompson, INF/OF; 80. Jud Fabian, OF; 83. Hunter Barco, LHP; 108. Brandon Sproat, RHP; 325. Josh Rivera, SS; 379. Tyler Nesbitt, RHP; 432. Colby Halter, 3B/2B
Signees: 158. Xavier Isaac, 1B, Kernersville, GA/East Forsyth; 172. Jake Clemente, RHP, Parkland, FL/Marjory Stoneman Douglas; 311. Cade Fisher, LHP, Dalton, GA/Northwest Whitfield; 377. Luke Heyman, C, Altamonte Springs, FL/Lake Brantley; 498. Chris Arroyo, LHP, Coral Springs, FL/Marjory Stoneman Douglas
Gators in The Athletic’s top 100 draft prospects
Keith Law of The Athletic updated his top 100 draft prospects on June 25.
Current Gators: 19. Sterlin Thompson, INF/OF; 47. Jud Fabian, OF; 74. Hunter Barco, LHP; 81. Brandon Sproat, RHP.
Evaluating who goes, who stays:
Sterlin Thompson: His draft stock has continued to rise, in part because he proved he can play second base at a high level. First round for sure, could be top 20. He will sign.
Brandon Sproat: His draft stock is blowing up. Baseball America has him top 50 and he could go higher than that. That’s what throwing strikes with a 99mph fast ball will do for you. He will sign.
Jud Fabian: He turned down $2 million from the Red Sox last year. He may not get offered $2 million this year, but he should go first two rounds. He will sign this time.
Hunter Barco: He’s committed to the draft and seems likely to go first three rounds. He can come back if he doesn’t like the team or the money, but right now figure he’s a goner.
BT Riopelle: There are concerns that he strikes out way too much. He seems likely to go in the final five rounds. If it’s not the right team, he probably comes back. He needs to.
Josh Rivera: He’s late round. The defense is good and he hits with power, but he needs to make better contact. He has two years of eligibility so unless it’s a wowser of an offer, figure he’s back.
Tyler Nesbitt: It took awhile for him to get back into a groove since he injured his arm as a true freshman in 2021, but he throws hard. If he is drafted it will be very late rounds. He will be back almost certainly.
Colby Halter: He blossomed in the field when he switched to third base. He showed power but he had a couple of big slumps that will cost him with the scouts. He needs to come back and become a more consistent contact hitter.
The transfer
Colby Thomas: His stock is rising, but he has leverage since he has two seasons of eligibility remaining. He is recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum, so unless he gets the right team and the right money, figure he’s a Gator next year.
The signees
Xavier Isaac: He’s strictly a first baseman or DH. He’s not very fast and not very good in the field, but he hits moonshots. Maybe generates the best bat speed of any prospect in the draft. If he goes first three rounds, he’s a goner for sure. Age: 18 years, 7 months.
Jake Clemente: He’s got the size (6-4, 220) and the fast ball (96-97). He seems likely to be a Gator unless he goes first five rounds. Age: 18 years, 6 months.
Cade Fisher: He’s got a long, lanky fame (6-4, 190) and the ability to add 20-25 pounds. Throws low 90s but the ball moves well and his slider is wicked. He’s a great student. Seems likely to be a Gator. Age: 18 years, 10 months.
Luke Heyman: Injured during his senior year but he’s a tremendous prospect with a big arm and serious power. He will be 19 on draft day which means he will be draft eligible after two years at UF. That could tilt the odds that he will spend the next two years as a Gator.
Chris Arroyo: He’s a lefty with a 93 mph heater and a good slider, but he may be a better prospect as an outfielder. Good contact hitter with gap power. He’s projected outside the first 10 rounds so it’s likely he will be in Gainesville. Age: 17 years, 11 months.
Yoel Tejada Jr.: He's 6-7, 220 and still growing. He throws low 90s, hits for power. The big question is what position will be his best? He may get drafted in the later rounds, but needs to spend three years in Gainesville finding his niche. Age: 19 years.
Magnus Ellerts: He's a big (6-5, 225) hard-throwing righty from Florida Southwestern juco who throws a consistent 94-95 heater that elevates occasionally to 97-98. High strikeout ratio. If he gets taken in the first 10 rounds there's a good chance he will sign.
SEC FOOTBALL/BASEBALL
Kentucky: The Wildcats have added former Tennessee running back Dee Beckwith (6-5, 230), who had four carries for 27 yards in two years in Knoxville. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining … Former Sam Houston State running back Ramon Jefferson, who gained 1,155 yards and scored 13 touchdowns yards last season, has transferred to Kentucky.
LSU: Vanderbilt shortstop Carter Young (207, 7 HR, 26 RBI) has transferred to LSU.
Mississippi State: HBC Mike Leach signed a two-year contract extension.
Best of the SEC: The league’s 14 sports information directors voted the following superlatives while looking ahead to 2022:
MVP: Bryce Young and Will Anderson, both from Alabama; Top Heisman candidate: Young; Most versatile: Ainias Smith, Texas A&M; Most underrated: Will Rogers, Mississippi State; Best athlete: Anderson; Best leader: Young; Best outside linebacker: Anderson; Best inside linebacker: Henry To’oTo’o, Alabama; Best cornerback: Cam Smith, South Carolina; Best safety: Jordan Battle, Alabama; Best defensive lineman: Jalen Carter, Georgia; Best offensive lineman: Ricky Stromberg, Arkansas; Best receiver: Kayshon Boutte, LSU; Best running back: Tank Bigsby, Auburn; Best blocking back: Casey Kelly, Ole Miss; Best passer: Young; Best kick returner: Ainias Smith; Best punter: Nick Constantinou, Texas A&M; Top newcomer: Spencer Rattler, South Carolina.
ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: I know, maybe the last thing in the world you’re expecting are words of wisdom from Coach O. He has emerged from wherever he’s been hanging out lately to pay a visit to the Legends camp at the University of Miami, the place he made his name as an assistant coach while working for Jimmy Johnson and Dennis Erickson. While at Miami, the former LSU head coach weighed in on NIL and transfers.
On the subject of NIL: “First of all, the game is changing and if you want to have success, you better change. Number one, you’ve got to find a way to compete at the highest level and now it’s different. It’s a different lay of the land, but, my own personal opinion, they don’t care about it but I will say it anyway: They have to govern it. There’s got to be something and I think the players would appreciate it.
“The players that get way too much money in the beginning may not be as hungry, and maybe not in the end get all that he needs to get. So, I think players will learn to appreciate it, that you’ve got to earn things. I’m not against them getting money but I think there needs to be some kind of governing.”
Orgeron isn’t all that gung-ho about current transfer rules although it should be noted that he landed the most famous transfer of the past four years in Joe Burrow. Burrow, didn’t have to sit a year because he had already graduated from Ohio State when he showed up at LSU.
Coach O on the portal: “It’s like free agency. It’s moving too fast. For me, I was all for the graduate transfer portal. I think once you’ve graduated, hey, you’ve got a shot, go take another shot. It was good for Joe. Thank God we had him for two years, but I think this transferring – hopping from school to school, especially within the conference and within your division is a little tough. You wear one uniform the next day you’re wearing your rival’s.”
It's rather hard to argue with his logic. There should be rules regarding NIL, but it’s going to be very difficult since the NCAA never had a plan in place complete with a set of rules when it lost the Alston case in the Supreme Court. The transfer portal is here to stay although the NCAA is putting more structure in place. If the new transfer guidelines are passed, then players will have only a couple of times a year they can enter the transfer portal in order to transfer without having to sit a year. I’d like to see a rule in place that require a player to be on campus for two full semesters (fall and spring) before he can transfer without having to sit a year.
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