GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The Gators left for Orlando on Sunday afternoon without two fifth-year seniors who provided experience and depth in
Jim McElwain's first season.
Offensive lineman
Mason Halter and linebacker
Anthony Harrell are unavailable for the Citrus Bowl. A transfer from Fordham, the 6-foot-6, 295-pound Halter earned a starting spot on UF's thin offensive line. He started 13 games and spent stints at both guard and tackle.
Meanwhile, Harrell transferred from Georgia Tech last summer and played in all 13 games, primarily on special teams. Harrell finished the season with three tackles.
The absence of Halter likely provides true freshman
Fred Johnson an opportunity for extended playing time in the Citrus Bowl on Friday against Michigan.
Johnson has appeared in seven games and made his first career start against Vanderbilt.
When the Gators returned to practice prior to the holiday break, Johnson and some of the other young offensive linemen received extra reps to get a jumpstart on next season.
Johnson and true freshmen
Nick Buchanan and
Brandon Sandifer, neither of whom played during the regular season, were among that group.
"That's what's exciting about this, you're preparing for a game and you're getting spring-ball-type work,'' McElwain said. "There's a lot of competition at some of those spots. This will only help you as you head into the offseason."
BACK TO WORK: The Gators practiced Sunday prior to departing for Orlando and practice Monday at Dr. Phillips High in Orlando. They also have some fun planned. The Gators are scheduled to make a trip to Disney's Hollywood Studios as part of the festivities surrounding the Citrus Bowl.
McElwain wants the players to enjoy their time in Central Florida but not lose focus of why they are there.
"They deserve it because they've done a heck of a job for us out here,'' McElwain said. "But what we try to do is understand, "Look, we're here to win a ballgame.' ''
RETURN THREAT: The plan to use junior cornerback
Vernon Hargreaves III on offense was scrapped when Hargreaves suffered a leg injury early in the season.
Other than his 6-yard reception in the season opener against New Mexico State, Hargreaves' role was to shut down receivers rather than play one.
However, he did return two kickoffs for 44 yards in the SEC Championship Game as the Gators looked for a way to get the ball to a healthy Hargreaves.
Don't be surprised if Hargreaves gets another opportunity in his final college game.
"Pretty good chance he'll still return in this game, be a returner, which will show some of his ability," McElwain said. "I thought he did a good job of that in that last game."
IN OR OUT: Michigan held its first practice in Orlando on Sunday afternoon at West Orange High. Big Ten Freshman of the Year
Jabrill Peppers was there but Wolverines coach
Jim Harbaugh wasn't saying much about Peppers' availability for the Citrus Bowl.
"He's out here,'' Harbaugh told reporters. "He's working through something."
Peppers was seen recently on campus with his hand in a cast. Peppers played primarily as a nickel/safety in his first season and recorded 45 tackles and 10 pass breakups in 12 starts.
Peppers also lined up at receiver, running back and quarterback for the Wolverines, rushing 18 times for 72 yards and two touchdowns.
HARBAUGH ON MCELWAIN: Both McElwain and Harbaugh took over programs that struggled in recent years but quickly turned them around in their first seasons.
Harbaugh and McElwain have never met but have drawn comparisons due to quicker-than-expected turnarounds of two traditional powers.
"It's been very, very impressive and I very much look forward to talking with him," Harbaugh said of McElwain on Sunday. "There's a couple of things I want to talk to him about and learn from him. In terms of the job, we see it on tape. Very, very good football team."
EXTRA POINTS: Gators junior running back
Kelvin Taylor needs 15 yards to reach 1,000 for the season. He can join his father, former Gators running back
Fred Taylor, as the first father-son combo in school history to each have a 1,000-yard season ... Michigan running back
Derrick Green, ranked as the No. 1 running back in the 2013 recruiting class, did not make the bowl trip due to "internal matters" according to Harbaugh. Green has rushed 212 times for 942 yards and seven touchdowns in his career, most of that in 2014 ... Harbaugh has hired Boston College defensive coordinator
Don Brown to replace
D.J. Durkin, who left to become head coach at Maryland after the regular season.
